Comedy on Mackay named #1 Best Comedy Night by CultMTL

It’s been a long time since I wrote a blog here, and I’ve been wanting to get back into the swing of things. I also wanted to take a moment to reflect on something that means a lot to me: Comedy on Mackay was recently named #1 Best Comedy Night by CultMTL readers.

In our first year, when the show was only a few months old, we ranked #4. Being voted #1 now feels surreal. It would not have been possible without my amazing co-producers Alan Fregtman, Erik Intrevado and Saba Jakeman, along with our hosts, our volunteers, the comedians who keep showing up, the audiences who keep coming back, and the venue that has trusted us with the room.
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When I first brought this show to N sur Mackay, I wanted it to be collaborative. What a lot of people don’t realize is that running a comedy room is a two-way street. It’s not just about putting on a good show. It’s about building a relationship with the venue, respecting the space, and remembering that when we do comedy, we are guests in someone else’s house. That means being mindful of the room we create and leaving the space with the same care we were given.​

Of course, there have been challenges too. It is not always easy being a BIPOC queer woman running a comedy room. I have had people call me names because I would not book them, or show up expecting a spot without understanding the work, care, and trust that goes into building a room. Not everyone belongs in every space, and that is okay.
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There have been moments when people have tried to belittle the work we do or undermine the show's well-being. There have also been nights when we did not fill the room. But one thing I have learned is that a room is not only defined by how many people are in it. It is defined by how you frame the experience, how you care for the audience, and how you protect the space's energy.

Sometimes a smaller room becomes an intimate experience. Sometimes the most important work is not chasing numbers, but building trust. I share this because I want other producers, hosts, and comedians to be successful too. Comedy on Mackay works because it is a collective effort by people who are genuinely passionate about comedy, believe in standards, and care about how those standards are achieved.

I’m also incredibly proud of how the team has grown. This year, two of our co-producers and one of our hosts showcased at Just for Laughs, and one will be featured on the Off-JFL Montreal Series. Congratulations Andrina! We love you! That is exactly what I hoped this room could become: a stepping stone for comedians before their next big thing. It has also been exciting to welcome surprise guests like Che Durena, Janelle Niles, and Michael Harrison, who brought even more energy into the room.

When I first started Comedy on Mackay, my dream was not only to get better at comedy but also to see my friends get better, grow, and reach their own dreams. The only thing I ever ask is this: as we keep building, don’t forget the family that helped build the room with you.