Five Comedy Show Formats at Comedy Kiss, What Do They Mean?

We have loads of shows, 15 a month in five different Comedy formats. You'd have to be a Comedy Kiss geek to understand them all. Luckily I am, well, because I invented them. Well, me and Richard did.

So what do you need to know? I guess it's important to understand our ethos of supporting local talent and bringing in the best professional comedians we can.

Seen from one angle, each show type represents a point on the hero's journey of becoming a comedian. Comedians start out at open mics, they then progress to 10 minute spots, then to 20 minute spots, then to 30 minute spots and then to their own shows. Our formats mirror this progression.

Seen from another, each show format gives the audience member a different level of quality guarantee. The more you pay, the more you can be certain the show is going to be good. The less you pay, the more you're rolling the dice, but you could still end up with something magical. Especially, because our lower cost comedians are those that we don't have to pay flights and hotels for, meaning you'll get content more tailored to Switzerland and your life here.

Open Mic Nights: Where it all began and for new talent, where it begins!

There on that stage, picture above, is where we eight years ago had our first open mic show. We ourselves were born there and many comedians on the Swiss circuit were born or raised there too.

These shows are informal, intimate and experimental. The whole idea is to give comedians a stage to try, to fail and succeed on. I get very upset when people leave us reviews complaining that they went to an open mic and one of the comedians was off, a bit borderline and not very good. THAT'S THE POINT!

There is no quality guarantee, no one is vetted, literally anyone can have a go! Of course, if people are repeatedly offensive, they will not be invited back. But in my experience, no one is trying to offend. They just haven't figured out the craft yet.

But when it goes well, and it does maybe 80% of the time, these shows are fantastic. You've got a supportive audience excited to see if the next amateur can crack the code of being funny. And when they do, it's a riot of laughter for everyone! I love them, they are brilliant.

Benefits:

• Audience Engagement: The intimate setting fosters a close connection between performers and the audience. Viewers often feel like part of the creative process.

• Creativity: Comedians can try out fresh jokes or improvise, receiving immediate feedback.

• Great Hosts: This is unique and what Comedy Kiss does well, we ensure you get an amazing host to carry you through the evening. It'll make any bad open mic, great.

• Entertainment Value: The unpredictability of open mic nights keeps the audience on their toes, as every performance is unique.

• Value for Money: let's face it, they are a cheap and easy mid-week adventure. For that you can't get better.

  
  

Comedians who have benefited from this stage:

• Comedians like Benjamin Delahaye, Mike Casa, Richard Cunha, Chris Darwa and Teddy Hall have all benefited from this stage.

Showcases: Highlighting Rising Stars

Showcases at Comedy Kiss bring together a curated group of comedians who have done well at the open mics and show promise for a bigger stage. These events are more polished than open mics but there is still a rawness, as inexperienced comedians stand along long standing local heroes to make a memorable night.

They also include our dating show "Comedy Kiss & Tell". That's a really fun concept with a few extra games to get the audiences talking and sharing their own dating tragedies.

Benefits:

• Intimacy and Atmosphere: We're in the same small intimate room as the open mic but the comedians and their jokes are more polished. This makes for lots of loud laughter.

• Better Quality: as said above the comedians and their jokes are more polished and professional.

• Swiss Focus: the comedians will all be local organically homegrown talent. Expect the content to be relevant.

• Intensity: Performers are doing shorter and tighter sets, expect laugh after laugh.

• Variety: You've got three acts. You can dislike one and you'll have two more to love.

• Great Host: This is Richard Cunha's baby. Expect him there giving his all.

  
  

Top Tip:

• These shows are small and are always sold out, act early to get your tickets.

Big Comedy Kiss: The Original Big Comedy Show Format That Now Feels Mid-Sized

That's right, these were our big shows, when we thought 150 people in a room was big. These shows also started when we didn't have good local comedians. They relied on UK professional acts flown over to Switzerland. These days the foreign openers have been replaced by quality local talent and the headliner remains a five star rated professional comedian.

The mix is tremendous and in a recent survey, these shows turned out to be our audiences favourite. Think SBB jokes in the first half, and professional unwavering and confident comedy and storytelling in the second.

Benefits:

• Top Quality Headliners: Five star reviewed comedians only. Most have appeared on shows like "Live at the Apollo", "Mock the Week" or "Live from the BBC"

• Atmosphere: The larger crowd energy amplifies the experience, creating a lively atmosphere.

• Swiss and internationally based comedians: This is the best of both worlds and makes Comedy Kiss unique. You can't have local talent if you don't develop it and we have top contacts in the UK industry to being in top UK comedians.

• Variety: You've got three acts. You can dislike one and you'll have two more to love. Plus the mix of established and new comedians offers a balanced show that appeals to both casual viewers and comedy aficionados.

• Great Host: You'll have me, Richard Cunha or Chris Darwa. Either way, you're in safe hands

  
  

Favourite Memory:

• Seeing Benjamin Delahaye opening for Fern Brady at one of first ever sold out events.

The Biggest Comedy Kiss: The Jewel in the Crown

Our premier night. I really didn't believe we'd repeatably be able to organise such incredible shows. Each line-up I create has me exceptionally excited. These shows have genuinely become the only reason my parents visit me.

Each show has three headliners. And I really use the power of those Swiss Francs and shoot for the best. This is the night to attend, when you don't get out much and want to ensure you have the very best night out of laughs possible.

All three acts are guaranteed to be brilliant. I never miss one of these shows. They are a fantastic night out.

Benefits:

• Three Top Acts: Each act is brilliant and some bring genuine star power that make for memorable experiences that resonates long after the show ends.

• Big Room Laughs: When you laugh, 300 people laugh with you, it's infectious.

• Something for everyone: I always book three acts with distinct backgrounds, maybe you struggle to relate to a 30 year old single man, but the 45 year old female comedian with three kids is describing your life.

• Entertainment Value: These shows deliver polished, high-energy performances that appeal to a wide audience.

  
  

Memorable Performance:

• My favourite still has to be when Maisie Adam found out about Schmützli. She held the tension and wonder in the room so skilfully.

Comedy Kiss Presents: The Best Comedians Telling Their Story

Comedians that have made it, rarely appear on mixed bill show. Instead you get them, just them, telling their story for an hour or so. We get weekly requests from comedians wanting to bring their tour shows to Switzerland. And we say no to 90% of them. Because the truth is, even if they want to, most comedians can't hold an audiences' attention for a whole hour. The ones we say yes to are those that can really do what they promise. So with Comedy Kiss Presents you're getting a guaranteed joy of a show.

Benefits:

• Quality Guaranteed: We are strict and vet all the acts who appear on these shows

• Long Format: When a comedian has an hour, they relax, it becomes less about jokes and more about telling a well crafted, insightful, entertaining, heartfelt and funny story.

• Some Incredible Names: We are lucky enough to be trusted by agents to bring you some incredible acts. You may not know the act, but trust us they are special.

  
  

How we made it to the Theatersaal of the Volkshaus Zurich:

• It was all thanks to ALOK,  the internationally acclaimed poet, comedian, public speaker, and actor. They got us to the Theatersaal  of the Volkshaus Zurich and had our first audience breaking the 900 mark. It was one hell of a memorable night

The Recap

We offer a rich variety of comedy events, each with a different flavour, a different price point, a different level of quality control. Choose between supporting up and coming talent or choose a safe pair of hands and a guaranteed good night out. We've got it all.

The formats:

• The Open Mic - raw new talent trying out new jokes.

• The Showcase -  inexperienced comedians standing alongside established local comedians telling their best polished jokes.

• The Big Comedy Kiss - The best of both worlds, local talent meets international headliner.

• The Biggest Comedy Kiss - Three top professional acts, a guaranteed amazing night out.

• Comedy Kiss Presents - The best comedians telling their story

Find out what shows are coming:

Upcoming Shows!

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