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Conventional wisdom says it's tougher out there for a woman in stand-up comedy, and Abbi Crutchfield and Jen Dziura want to make it less tough — or at least as tough for a woman as it is for a man. You know how Secret deodorant is strong enough for a man but made for a woman? That's what Ladybits comedy is.
They're having their preview show tonight (see the flyer), and launching a weekly series in October.
I do know that NYC had a regular show for a few years called Chicks and Giggles. Ladybits picks up where that left off, but hopes to do more. Since I'm a man with man parts, let me let the women explain what their vision is for Ladybits. They have a vision statement, an apprentice program for women thinking about starting a career in comedy, and a "token male" program to book one guy on each show. Here is their vision statement:
- To entertain women who don’t like traditional comedy clubs.
- To hold our show someplace where the food is tasty, the ladies’ bathrooms are clean, and you don’t feel like you’re in a frat basement. (Done!)
- To create a community.
To warmly welcome male audience members, without unduly catering our show to them. - To generate more work for female comedians, rather than simply promoting competition for the limited amount of work that actually exists.
- To reach out via The Internets to women comedy fans and comedians all over the world.
- To offer a lineup that reflects the talent of women of all races, sexual orientations, body types, physical abilities, and ages (and probably some other forms of diversity that we’re tragically forgetting at the moment).
- To put on an awesome show that makes you laugh, where you make friends, and where you identify with the voices on stage, and that is funnier than anything you can see staying at home watching your television.
- To make you laugh until you cry.
