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Full Steam Ahead!

It’s been almost one year since we opened and just over a year since we first announced to the public and launched our Kickstarter campaign, letting everyone know we was a’comin’.

It’s been a year. Holy shit, it’s been a year!

If you’ve been following us you know what’s up. If this is the first you’re hearing about us, WTF?! Catch up!

Like any 1 year anniversary we’re looking back and reflecting on all the things we’ve gone through – remembering the lessons learned, the battles won and lost and HOPEFULLY making the right decisions to keep us going forward and growing. Those decisions, we realize, often mean (to borrow from the startup world) pivoting and boy we’ve done that! Remember pretzels?

So in the spirit of improvement and looking forward, here’s what’s in store:
 

  1. CHAIRS – You won’t believe it but we’re ditching the theater stools (well most of them) and getting foldable chairs that you can all lean back on. They’re ordered and on the way.

  2. BARROOM – We’ve rethought the layout with space and comfort in mind. This means the big square tables are gone! So kick off your shoes and relax your socks. This is still a work in progress and you’re likely to see things continue to change here.

  3. DRINKS – We’re adding some new items to the menu including another tasty keg of Vagabund beer. A DOUBLE IPA KICK IN THE GODDAMN FACE. Get ready.

  4. FOOD – Here’s a doozy buried in the 4th bullet point: We’re closing The CCB Kitchen starting this week. Casper and Rich have decided to move on to other adventures and it’s a good opportunity for us to explore more exciting food options. We thank them for all the efforts they put into their tasty sandwiches! For now CCB is focusing on the drinks, the comfort and as always, the laughs.

  5. THE LAUGHS – Shows continue to kick ass and we will continue to bring in outside acts (see La Carpe Haute this Friday!) as well as cultivate local talent. We’ve already unveiled most of the Fall program which includes solo shows by Paul Salamone (Robot Suit), Chris Davis (The Wandering Barman, this Saturday!) and Josh Telson (Happy F*cking Birthday). And we fully intend to make an improv tournament (like the August Offensive) a regular event. Tickets are already, as always, available online.

  6. CROWDFUNDING – That’s right! One year down the road and we’ll be once again appealing to you lovely supporters to help us finance some of the projects we don’t have the cash flow for just yet i.e. ventilation (y’all know what I’m talking about), further soundproofing (for the theater floor so we can do midnight showssss!) A second round Kickstarter will naturally tie into…

  7. A ONE YEAR BIRTHDAY PARTY – October 28th – Mark your calendars. Details to come soon!

And there you have it! A lot to do!

Thank you all for your continued support and we hope to see you around soon!

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The CCB State of the Union

The CCB State of the Union

In many ways this summer has been very challenging for us at CCB. Weathering the storm of the Ordnungsamt was just the tip of the iceberg, it was immediately followed by beautiful scaffolding engulfing our building (everywhere is a bike rack!) plus stupid EURO2016 distracting our audiences, oh, and it just being summer and hot and nice outside (GAAWD) and YES we get that our air conditioner isn’t most well functioning device for the theater. AND YES, we knowthat the neighbor situation sucks! No one hates the “quiet outdoors after 10pm” situation more than us. The list goes on.

Though we are indeed weathering the storm, they feel at times like pyrrhic victories (victories won at too high a cost — I’ve been watching lots of Jeopardy lately).

BUT all the stress and uncertainty vanish when I see the crowds file in through the door to watch a show. I hate to say I’m proud because I’m part German and pride is a shameful thing — but something inside me ticks and I feel like somehow the struggles and challenges have been and are worth it.

Here’s what I mean:

The past two weeks we’ve held host to some of the world’s finest comedians as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival Previews. Amazing! A tip of the hat to all the performers and especially to Damien of the Plague of iDiOTs. And just a week week before that I hosted the monthly CCB Improv Jam, where anyone can sign up to perform improv on stage with other complete strangers. Roughly 50 people attended with 35 signed up to play. On a Sunday. In July. That. Is. Humbling. Period. There were new faces and familiar faces, there were family and friends. It was so great to see, especially after the last 2 months. AND then there was that week prior when 2 improv teams, Hot Box and Guillotine, and The Weird Show a sketch group, all formed from Hive classes, packed the house with their first shows ever. Gosh dangit.

Like a little oasis in the desert.

The CCB State of the Union is strengthening and our resolve is strong. We’ll keep trudging on; providing a stage for this growing scene.

So now what?

We’re back to semi-regular programming with some exciting new SCHTUFF! New shows and new programming and, of course, Berlin’s very first improv cage match tournament, The August Offensive! 8 teams, 3 Saturdays, 1 winner.

We’re excited to see you there, being a part of it all!

– Noah

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Edinburgh Fringe Festival Previews

People of Laughland — this is important! The EdFringe Preview at CCB starts tomorrow!

What does this mean? It means some of the funniest acts are coming through Berlin to preview their acts before bringing them to the world famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland this August. This is a great chance to see something completely new and we’re kicking it off with a bang! with Zach & Viggo previewing their show Thunderflop which just won the best act at the Brighton Fringe Festival. And it only gets better from there:

Tickets are available online WITH NO PROCESSING FEES! That’s right! No additional fees to buy your tickets online!

All preview shows are in English! 
Show start: 8:00p
Door: 7:30p
Tickets: 8€/6€

As always come early for food from The CCB Kitchen.

Just another reminder! We’ve changed our opening hours.

They are as such:
Wednesday – Friday: 6:00p – ??
Sunday – Saturday: 11:00a – ??

Mondays will be open for select shows.

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Oh my gosh we’re back again.

Good news everyone! We’re back as a fully licensed “event place”. Which means we can have events like other places. Exciting times.

What’s new?

We spent the last two weeks making small improvements here and there while we had the time. You most likely won’t notice them except for the fact that we have AIR CONDITIONING in the theater now. AAwww yis!

What’s in the works?

While we are super pleased with our modular theater seating, we do realize some people like to ‘lean back’ rather than ‘lean in’ during shows. We’re looking at a modular bench solution so we can keep our seating but provide some additional comfort.

Furthermore! Because we were forced to re-test our soundproofing we learned that it’s better than we thought and almost good enough to carry on shows past 10pm. We’re looking into small fixes to be able to do this – then we’re in real good shape! 

In the meantime…

Continue coming to see shows and laughing your nuts off. 

 

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Berlin Regulatory Agency cares deeply about CCB inventory.

Shows at the Comedy Café Berlin (CCB) will be on a minimum 2 week hiatus as of May 19 after the Berlin ‘Ordnungsamt’ expressed its deep concern for the safety of some stuff stored in the CCB basement. The agency, which enforces rules and regulations for businesses throughout Germany, has told the owners to install an emergency exit in the cellar, for what they can only assume is the safe evacuation of  beer kegs and old signs, since the area is off limits to the public and used solely for storage.

“We’re taking this very, very seriously,” said Noah Telson, co-owner of CCB, “we do not wish to be fined or even worse shut down.” Telson, who struck an oddly positive tone about the recent developments, says he likes to spend extended periods of time in the basement lying amongst the kegs of Vagabund Brauerei beer, and realizes that the Ordnungsamt “has a good point and we should definitely spend exorbitant amounts of money on this door. I’d hate to think what would happen to all this stuff.” Indeed, the Ordnungsamt has threatened CCB with fines of “up to 4 digits” and possible permanent closure if shows continue while regulations aren’t met.

When asked about the countless bars in the neighborhood that most certainly do not have emergency exits in their cellars, Telson said CCB deserves to be treated differently, “I mean, we’re not just a bar, we’re an independent alternative theater space that sells only the finest quality beer and wine. And we’re really thankful that someone is actually thinking about the drinks down there. Not to mention, we attract the kind of people that would definitely lift a 20kg trap door and sequester themselves downwards into a cellar in a mad panic. It just makes sense.”

The Comedy Café Berlin, which opened its doors in Neukölln in October 2015 and boasts itself as the city’s first international alternative comedy stage, bar and café, was also told by the agency that they will need to re-test their soundproofing because, “why not?” While their biggest draw are the comedy shows, owners Noah Telson, Nina Spiri, and Dino Spiri are confident that business won’t be affected too much by this unexpected hiatus, particularly at this most important moment in the growth of their business. “We’ll have drink specials and some non-event events just to make sure we’re attracting people to come out.”

If anyone has any leads on cheap emergency doors and/or knows someone who can do the work please contact the owners at [email protected].

If you’d like to support CCB with a donation, please also send an email.

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Happy Hour Beer Special – This week only!

We’ve updated the menu, let’s drink.

Introducing the Happy Hour Beer Special!

In preparation for warm weather we’ve added some new items to the menu, including Yoyo’s Dark & Stormy and Mellen & Katz Gin & Tonic. Let’s celebrate this change and the arrival of Spring with a good ol’ binge drink. This weekend only!

Happy Hour Beer Special!
From end of show to 11pm, all bottled Pils are €1,50.
Just present your show stamp* to the bartender and say “BEER ME”. 

*You have to buy a ticket to the show to be eligible.

So buy a goddamned ticket and see a goddamned comedy show.

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Introducing The Komedy Kindergarten!

Comedy Café Berlin is expanding its business into childcare with The Komedy Kindergarten.

Here at CCB we believe that being funny is a skill that can be learned and what better way to ensure an innate and intimate knowledge of humor than learning young? They say children who learn multiple languages grow up speaking fluently and with a greater capacity to absorb more knowledge. Beyond languages, we see a similar phenomenon in physical learning like Karate and gymnastics. And let us not forget the numerous examples of violin and piano virtuosi who began their careers just barely out of the womb. The advantages to young learning are infinite and we’re so excited to apply this same concept to joke-telling. 

Our staff of highly trained comedians have spent the last 6 months researching and fine-tuning joke-telling methods for the young and impressionable mind. From basic humor skills for newborns to more complex joke structures for the 5 year olds.

The Komedy Kindergarten skill module includes:

  • Key dangling for newborns
  • Peekaboo for the uninitiated
  • Poop and fart jokes
  • Dealing with clowns and hecklers
  • The double punchline

Starting this month, CCB will be opening up registration for babies and toddlers between the ages of 6 months to 5 years of age. Registration is limited to just 20 spots. We expect a long list so please act quick as we operate on a first come, first serve basis.

For a full prospectus and pricing information please visit our special Komedy Kindergarten page:

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Wall of Fame!

Lovely people! Especially those of you who contributed to the Kickstarter campaign: BEHOLD! the Wall of Fame!

Our hallway is adorned with your names and we couldn’t be happier. If you contributed at the “Wall of Fame” tier, please make sure you swing by and snap a shot of your name!

Likewise, if you contributed at the “Reserved Seating” or “Name of Thrones” tier, your plaques have been up and are waiting for you to gawk at them!

While we’re at it…

We’ve got some new photos from the CCB Kitchen for you to drool over.

Feast your eyes on this:

Photos of food by Kalle Kuikkaniemi


The week’s roundup

Donnerstag
Comedy Reise präsentiert: Labor der spontanen Testreihen – RELOADED!
Impro mit Die Improbanden – Auf Deutsch
5€/3€

Friday
Friday Night Improv with CCB at the MOVIES
Improv with Good Luck, Barbara! – In English
8€/6€

Saturday
Stand-Up Saturdays! with Andrew O’Neill
Stand-up comedy – In English
8€/6€

Sunday
Radio Spätkauf – The Berlin Podcast
Podcast recording – In English
Free
&
The Campfire – Comedy Story-Telling
Stand-up comedy – In English
8€/6€

Secure tickets online or get them at the door. 
And make sure to come early and get food a the CCB Kitchen!

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March Madness!

Spring is almost here!

To celebrate like pagans, we’re giving away 1 free ticket to each show this weekend!

Use the discount code i-promise-to-bring-friends when ordering online for any show this week (Except Sunday – it’s free anyways). First to act gets it. EASY. 

Thursday (Comedy Reise – German Stand-Up with Daniel Wolfson)

Friday (Friday Night Improv with GOOD LUCK BARBARA!)

Saturday (Stand-Up Saturdays! with Chris Davis)

~

And, as always, come early for food from the CCB Kitchen or just grab a tasty Vagabund American Pale Ale.

Spotlight on March shows:
 

ORDER TICKETS NOW!

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The Swedes are coming!

Swedish comedy in English? Yes. Please.

The Swedes are coming! And they’re attacking with hilarity. 
CCB is featuring two nights of Swedish comedy this week. In English. Plus our very own resident Swede, Zacarias Branzell, is performing tonight at Comedy Reise! Get up ah! Get on up!

Scent ID

This Friday, Swedish improv group Scent ID are performing as part of our #FridayNightImprov series. They perform a show that is all about human relationships. Whether dysfunctional, functional, neurotic, or erotic, the show is usually funny, occasionally serious, and always entertaining. The ensemble makes a point of hanging out with the audience before shows, talking to them, asking questions, chatting. Sometimes they offer sweets as an icebreaker. They use this interaction instead of the usual audience suggestions as inspiration for their show. 

As an added bonus, they’ll be joined by world class improviser Lori Inbal. 

Berlin doesn’t get much outside improv so it’s a great chance to expand your horizons!

Check the event page for more details. 

 Scent ID
Scent ID

 

Evelyn Mok

This Saturday, Swedish comedian Evelyn Mok is headlining #StandUpSaturdays

Born in Sweden to immigrant Chinese parents, Evelyn challenges pre-disposed norms, blending social commentary with sharp gags about everyday observations. Time Out Introduces 2014, Pleasance Comedy Reserve 2014. As seen and heard on Channel 4’s Comedy Blaps, BBC Radio 2. 

“she’s not someone who panders to a room to get them to love her – as proved beyond doubt with a brutal but funny description of her sexual appetite or her period, that carries an inherent ‘sod you’ to any man who’s not comfortable with such talk“
– Steve Bennett, Chortle

Check the event page for more details. 

 Evelyn Mok
Evelyn Mok

Also…

And, as always, come early for food from the CCB Kitchen or just grab a tasty Vagabund American Pale Ale.

xoxo,
Noah
@Telsonia