Amateur Comedy Show a Success

A new platform for comics in Guelph

Guelph comedy lovers gathered at the ANAF Club 344 on Friday, Jan. 24 for The Making-Box Comedy Company’s third amateur comedian show, First Timers: The Superbowl of Amateur Comedy. The show featured first-time comics who performed five minute sets to the packed venue.

The show opened with a skit from members of the Making-Box Brigade, involving an ongoing joke that the group is now sponsored by McCain’s Tasty Taters. Jay Reid, the founding father of the company, was the host for the evening and provided humourous introductions and commentary between all the acts.

The comics’ names were drawn from a hat to determine when they would perform, and each was introduced with short autobiographies and embarrassing posts dug up from their social media profiles. During the half time show the Tasty Taters, a musically talented group of spuds, entertained the audience while McCain’s Tasty Taters were passed out to the crowd.

The evening was a great success with an electric atmosphere, a group of talented and brave first-time comics, and an encouraging audience. The comedians were: Josh Anderson-Coats, Brett Banks, Andrew Bell, Tom Brown, Craig Daikin, Andrew Dougherty, Eitan Gallant, Geoff Reed, and Floyd Pinto. They made jokes about topics including the pros and cons of going bald, trendy super-foods, having scoliosis, and even Ukrainian dancing.

The Making Box Company was created when Jay Reid promised himself on his birthday that, among other things, he would try stand-up comedy. After talking to other people, he found that there were many people in Guelph interested in trying stand-up but did not have a platform to do so. The group bravely decided to put on their debut amateur comedy First Timers event on November 15, which has lead to many other successful events.

Reid credits the success of the group to individuals that have gotten involved, as well as to his roommate, Ric Mangley, whom he describes as “positivity personified.” “The essential pieces of the Making-Box are the hilarious and courageous people that take the stage, and the wonderful people that come to watch. We are very lucky to have the absolute best audiences,” said Reid.

The company has further events planned, including an improv show with their house group The Making Brigade on Feb. 15, and their first Second Timers show on Feb. 28. They also hope to move towards hosting bi-weekly events.