Happy Valley Comedy
How We Turned a Sugar House Outlet into a Comedy Room
By Happy Valley Comedy ·
Behind the scenes of a Don’t Tell Comedy pop-up at the Patagonia outlet in Sugar House, from a lineup change to a tight load-out.
A store becomes a show room
At the Patagonia outlet in Sugar House, the display fixtures were on wheels. That made it possible to clear space for a Don’t Tell Comedy pop-up in a room built for shoppers. Producer Ryan Provstgaard was already working around a late lineup change. On the way to the venue, he also took a call about a possible future sponsorship from Holistic Spirits. There was still a show to get on its feet that night.
The clock starts running
The footage gives a quick look at the sets before the producer’s debrief. While the show was still going, Ryan says he learned that the whole building had to be cleared shortly after the scheduled finish. In a pop-up room, the last laugh is only one deadline. There’s also an audience to get out, equipment to pack, and a store to hand back.
One more job on the way home
Ryan pulled over on the drive home to pay the comics. That little detour says more about producing a night like this than the stage footage alone. The job starts with making a room feel welcoming and ends when the people who worked it are taken care of. Hearing from people who had just been to their first comedy show made the scramble worth it.
Vlog credits
Produced by Ryan Provstgaard, with Dylan Anderson on crew. The video credits Aaron Woodall, Karan Reddy, Anna Tibbitts, Adam Broud, and Chan B as comedians and lists Kendra Green as featured.