Even before midterms started, Tufts was a pretty unfunny campus. It's this uptight atmosphere that drives many Jumbos off−campus for laughs. This past Friday, The Precinct Bar in Union Square played host to several comedians for a free comedy show entitled "Midnight Comedy for the Undead."
The Precinct is a great bar in an unexplored area. What was once the home of the Somerville Police Department is now a large and lively bar, complete with a performance stage in the back. While The Precinct does serve brunch, the comedy is served up late at night: "Midnight Comedy for the Undead" started — fittingly — at midnight.
The show featured a variety of comics such as Phoebe Angle and Nick Ed Palm. Shawn Donovan and Mr. Goodnight — whose real name is Joe Possemato — headlined the show. Donovan just released a comedy CD on iTunes, and Mr. Goodnight just wrapped a guest appearance on the hit television show "Weeds."
Scott Oddo (LA '87) organized the show. Oddo lives in the area, pursuing comedy and various entrepreneurial ventures. When asked to organize a free show, Oddo saw an opportunity to feature up−and−coming comics.
"I wanted to make a certain kind of show," Oddo said, "not with the typical kind of comedian."
One of these comedians, Tufts alum Katherine Ghiloni (LA '02), got into comedy after losing her job in journalism.
"I wanted to write, and decided I wanted to write comedy," she says.
Both Ghiloni and Oddo spoke highly of Boston's comedy scene.
According to Oddo, Boston is a great town from both a comic and audience perspective. "Boston is great for comics to train because it's very supportive, more so than New York," he said.
Ghiloni echoed that feeling. "It's definitely collaborative, not as competitive. Boston is a very academic town, and that spills over into comedy," she said. "Boston comedians are concerned with joke structure, and they're all comedy nerds, so it's very self−policing. It's like a baby grad school. A less expensive grad school spent in dark, dingy bars."
Boston's reputation as a training ground has its downsides, too. Oddo spoke about the financial and critical consequences of Boston's glut of amateur comedians.
Oddo said, "It's a big debate in the Boston comedy scene. Start−up comedians are in a hurry to get stage time, and it's devaluing the comedy to do free shows. The feeling within the establishment is that there has been a devaluation of the Boston comedy scene."
However, Oddo immediately regained his optimism, praising young comics for bringing a fresh perspective to comedy.
Ghiloni and Oddo had interesting observations on Boston audiences as well. Oddo praised Bostonians for their intelligence.
"Boston is a very smart audience, which means that there's a lot of smart humor. Other places are more low−brow. New Hampshire can be … it's also more opinionated. If they don't agree with your point politically, they won't laugh," he said.
Ghiloni tempered Oddo's comments on Boston's sense of humor, saying that Boston's liberal mindset doesn't necessarily translate into a comedic openness.
"In terms of gender norms, Boston is very puritanical. Trying to get people to laugh at certain bits … you have to deal with a lot of silence."
Ghiloni's self−deprecating set included jokes about female masturbation, Facebook stalking and self−mutilation.
"I'm working on training myself to just do my character. I'm not gonna alter it for audiences. Let the audience come to you. It takes a little while, because you never get up as a comedian and not want someone to like you," she said. "Regular people aren't socialized [to be offensive.] You want to be likeable."
Oddo mentioned plenty of places where Tufts students can go to watch comedy, including but not limited to The Comedy Studio in Harvard Square, Mottley's near Faneuil Hall and the Middle East in Central Square.
Ghiloni performs at Nick's Comedy Stop on the third Thursday of every month. Her set, "Baggage Claim with Kate Ghiloni," costs only $5 with student ID.
Oddo encouraged Tufts students to get involved.
"There are tons of open−mics around town for anyone looking to learn," he said.
