Ever been to a swanky hostel? It sounds like an oxymoron, but I’ve
done stand-up at Montreal’s finest hostel bar a couple of times now. Comic/producer
Jon Selig’s latest venture, Stand-Up at
the “M” runs Thursday nights at the M Montreal, a newly renovated hostel on
the edge of the village.
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| The Comedy Hostel in action at Montreal's "M" Bar |
I haven't stayed in hostels for a while, but my recollection doesn't involve modern comforts. Or comedy shows. They were usually boxes constructed for worn-out,
budget-conscious travelers to crash in before washing their socks in the sink
and heading down to the train station. But this place is different. I can’t
speak for the rooms or restaurant, but the M Montreal’s staff is fresh-faced
and friendly. And the comedy venue is unique: cavernous and a tad
self-conscious, the lively basement bar features inexpensive beer – Sleeman’s
on tap – antlers, varnished tree stump stools and an international clientele. There
are of course regular bar chairs and tables, a couch or two next to a pool
table, and flat screens partout. A
bit like your friend’s parents built a rumpus room for their kids and left
town.
Enter comedians.
I hosted last Thursday to a full house. Not more than a few
minutes in, I was prying audience members for info on their travels, which is cliché
but is also pretty cool at these shows since people come from places as far off
and far out as Singapore or Scandinavia. I spoke to a guy named Tobias from
Germany and later on discovered that the largest table was
from Montreal. When I asked if there were people from elsewhere in Canada, I
noticed a woman waving her arms at the back of the room.
‘Where in Canada are you from?’ I asked.
‘You were my grade 9 English teacher,’ she said.
The room exploded.
It was as absurd for me as it was for everyone else, because the
joke was accidental. And this happened two minutes in, so the
tone was set by a former student of mine, Dorian. A few minutes later, a guy at
the Montreal table claimed he was my son. What a great night.
Especially in light of the fact that the previous night I performed for three
audience members and a dozen comics, and I wanted to crawl under the nearest
table and cry my jokes into the beer-soaked carpet.
These are the kind of nights that keep us coming back. Emma
Wilke’s zingers had me falling off my chair before the show even started; Jon
Selig and I discussed set lists like generals plotting to overthrow countries. Most
of the comedy-junkies stuck around after the show to ride the adrenaline wave
over beers and to let the night’s finer moments wash over us like a morphine
drip.
I spoke to my former student after the show. She’s an English
teacher now, has travelled around quite a bit and is as sharp as ever. I’d like
to think she represented the IQ of the room, but who knows. They were giving,
but made us work. They laughed, but not during set-ups. And they put enough
money in the hat for me to stay away from the ATM for a whole day.
Ciao for now.
John St. Godard (Follow me on Twitter @st_godard)
For more info on Jon Selig’s Comedy Hostel:
Facebook:
/MTLComedyHostel
Twitter:
@MTLComedyHostel
Jon Selig's Twitter: @jonselig
Jon Selig's Twitter: @jonselig
