Bisbee, Arizona was once a booming mining town that became the largest U.S. city between St. Louis and San Francisco. In recent years it has become a haven for artists and hippies. Last month, Arizona’s newest comedy club, Chuckleheads, opened at 41 Brewery Avenue in a century old building that has previously been a warehouse and a thrift shop.
Mathew Becker opened Chuckleheads with help from famous comedian and Bisbee resident Doug Stanhope. Stanhope is an investor in the club and headlined the sold-out, grand opening show on April 18th. So far the club has featured Richard Sarvate and Dave Waite, and has upcoming shows planned with Brendon Burns on May 16 and Billy Wayne Davis on May 23.
We spoke with Mathew Becker to learn more about the 70 seat club, including how to get booked there if you’re a comic.
Tucson Comedy: How did you get the idea to open a club in Bisbee?
Mathew Becker: My wife and I moved here last year and spent a few months looking around. I wanted to find a venue and then I found this warehouse that was opened in 1902. It’s a great venue. It’s built into the mountain and has a cooler in the back, meat hooks in the green room. There’s not a bad seat in the house and the acoustics are amazing. It was a matter of just getting the building into shape for it. Remodeling, getting it up to code.
Tucson Comedy: Is Bisbee really big enough to sustain a comedy club? Did you worry about that?
Mathew Becker: Well with the surrounding area, we’ve got people coming from Sierra Vista, Tombstone, Douglas… We even have people coming from Tucson and Phoenix. And we’ve actually had people fly in. One person came from Florida.
Tucson Comedy: Are you planning to have shows every weekend?
Mathew Becker: We’re still testing the waters. We’re going through the summer months where it gets a little quiet. We’re pushing to do a lot of shows and we’re working with the themes of the city, all the different events that happen here. Like for Sidepony, a musical event weekend, we’re planing to bring in musical comedy acts. We’re also looking at doing all-Spanish shows.
Tucson Comedy: How involved with the club is Doug Stanhope?
Mathew Becker: He’s a part investor. He certainly supports it, he likes it in his hometown. We’ve got Dave Waite this week, and Doug has come down and hung out with Dave. And he helps out with housing the comedians when they’re in town so it’s working out pretty good.
Tucson Comedy: If you come to see a show and Stanhope is in town, is there a good chance you’re going to see him do a set?
Mathew Becker: Yeah, he’ll pop in- last night he basically hosted the show. People said, “I can’t believe he’s here,” and I said, “he lives here!”
Tucson Comedy: How is business so far?
Mathew Becker: It’s been great. We have a very open, fun bar. The locals are still a little unsure what it is so far, but we have a very wonderful, eclectic crowd that’s coming in. We also do bar magic and I have a live mike at all times. Everyone knows a joke, so we’ll just pass the mike around and that’s been really fun.
Tucson Comedy: Are you open every day?
Mathew Becker: We’re open every day but Monday. A lot of people thought we’d only be open for shows, but no it’s a bar too.
Tucson Comedy: Are there any bigger names you can drop who might be coming?
Mathew Becker: I can’t drop them right now– I don’t want to jinx myself. But we’ll be announcing some really fun things. And we’re going to have a lot of drop-ins too, where they’ll just pop in and do some stuff. People who just happen to be in town. Get on our mailing list and you’ll get an email that says, “so and so is here tonight, just happens to be in town for one night only.”
Tucson Comedy: I also have to ask, for all the comics who read this– other than coming to the weekly open mike, how can local comics get booked as openers or features? Can they send a video clip or do they need to show up?
Mathew Becker: Send a clip or show up. Showing up is preferred because it’s better to see it live and in person. I’ve had some people who are very funny in person and then it’s just flat on tape. If you come for the open mike, I can see it live and say, yeah, I laughed my ass off. Then the proof is in the pudding.
Tucson Comedy: So you’re typically there at the open mike and watch the show?
Mathew Becker: Yep I’m at all the open mikes and all the shows. It’s what I do.
Chuckleheads is located at 41 Brewery Avenue in Bisbee. For more information, visit chuckleheadsaz.com. All of Chuckleheads upcoming show are listed at Upcoming Shows
