Home for the weekend
Some weekends in comedy feel like coming home. A three-night stretch at Tacoma Comedy Club brought great crowds, touring comedians, and the kind of rhythm that makes live stand-up unforgettable.
Some weekends just feel like coming home.
Not in the literal sense, but in that deeper way where the people, the energy, and the environment all feel familiar. Comfortable. Like family. That’s what a weekend at Tacoma Comedy Club feels like.
The comedy scene can be fast-paced and unpredictable. Performers are constantly traveling from city to city, stepping into different rooms, reading new crowds, and adapting to whatever energy walks through the door that night. But spending a three-night stretch at the same club brings a welcome sense of comfort.
Mike Coletta | Comedian
Mike Coletta | Comedian
When a strong headliner is in town, they bring a crowd that came specifically to see them. Even though it’s technically a different group of people every show, the vibe tends to be surprisingly consistent. That predictability becomes a gift for the comics. They can start to feel out the rhythm of the room, find the pockets where jokes land best, and know how to navigate the space before the doors even open.
And every once in a while you get a weekend where everything just clicks. The room feels right, the crowd feels familiar, and you’re reminded how much of this world is built on relationships. It starts to feel less like a revolving door of strangers and more like a small community that just keeps showing up night after night.
A big part of that feeling comes from the people behind the scenes who keep the venue running. The manager at 6th and Proctor is an absolute powerhouse. She runs a tight ship, keeps everything moving smoothly, and somehow still manages to be one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet.
Mike Coletta | Comedian
When she’s running the room, you know everything is handled. Performers are taken care of, staff knows exactly what they’re doing, and the guests feel it too. She and the rest of the staff create an environment where comics can relax a little, focus on their set, and trust that the rest of the night is going to run the way it should.
Rooms don’t feel that good by accident. It takes someone who understands how all the moving pieces fit together and knows how to keep them moving without anyone even noticing the work happening behind the scenes.
Mike Coletta | Comedian
I really enjoyed getting to know Joe Machi a bit behind the scenes. We had the chance to chat about travel, day-to-day life on the road, where he calls home, and how the crowd was shaping up that evening. Joe opted not to have his photo taken, which is totally fine, I genuinely just enjoy hearing people’s stories. Those real, human conversations are often the best part of the night, getting to know someone as a person rather than just the persona that comes with a recognizable name.
JR Berard | Comedian
I also got to work with the wonderful Mike Coletta. He’s one of my husband’s best friends, so having them both on the same show made the night even more fun. It’s always special when work and community overlap like that, and getting to capture those moments while everyone is doing what they love is a pretty great place to be.
From a photography perspective, comedy is one of the most fun environments to document. Expressions are animated, gestures are big, and every laugh break creates a new moment to capture. No two shows are the same, which means every night tells a slightly different story.
JR Berard | Comedian
And when the room is full and the crowd is fully locked in, the energy is something you can actually feel.
Weekends like this are a reminder of why I love documenting the comedy scene. It’s creative, unpredictable, and full of fleeting moments that only exist for a few seconds before the next joke lands and the room erupts again.
But more than anything, it’s about the people: the performers, the staff, the audience, and the small community that forms around a stage for a few hours each night.
And weekends like this one?
They feel a lot like coming home. 🎤
Host: JR Berard
Feature: Mike Coletta
Headliner: Joe Machi
My Life as a Comic’s Wife
A behind-the-scenes look at life married to a stand-up comedian. From comedy club nights to touring stories, it’s a glimpse into the world behind the stage.
“My husband is a comic”
whenever I say this, faces light up. Eyes get big. People lean in, and I can practically see the thought bubble forming over their heads.
“I love comedy! Whats his name?”
I smile, because I know that they are expecting me to drop some big name like Pete Davidson or John Mulaney because the reality is, most people say they like comedy but they really have no idea who the big shakers in their city are. The reality is, there is so much going on around you that you just don’t see. Every major city has a comedy club, most local bars host a monthly comedy night and there are more talented stand up comics who aren’t necessarily big on TikTok, instagram, Netflix or made it onto Kill Tony.
Some comics dream of fame & recognition while some are happy where they are. Being able to still go grocery shopping without being recognized while still booking shows when and where they want.
Some comics work full time jobs by day, light up a stage by night and then some are attending weekly open mics, working on new material and trying to find the pops.
If you want a close to accurate representation to what it’s like behind the scenes, watch the movie, Is This Thing On (2025) written by Bradley Cooper, Will Arnett & Mark Chappell
JR Berard on stage at the Everett Historic Theater
The Comics You Don’t See on TV Are the Backbone of Comedy
There are so many comedians in the Pacific Northwest doing incredible work that most people will never see unless they actively go looking for live comedy.
They’re:
Driving hours for a 10-minute set
Rewriting jokes in their Notes app at 1am
Bonding with friends they only see green rooms
Building actual communities around laughter
They’re not famous, (yet) but they are talented, working comics. They are the reason your favorite Netflix special exists, because every headliner started struggling to put together 3 minutes. They started in rooms just like these.
JR Berard backstage at the Everett Historic Theater
What It Looks Like From the back Row
As a photographer in the Seattle and Tacoma comedy scene, I get to watch this up close. I get to see:
The same comics grinding week after week
The new joke that finally hits after bombing time and time again.
The moment a room of strangers laughs together for the first time
The long drive home & dissecting every tag
But my favorite moments are the ones that take time. Watching a new comic step on stage, still finding their footing, and then seeing them months later absolutely burning the room down. It’s the glow up for me. There is nothing better than watching someone fall in love with the work, put in the reps, and become undeniable.
JR Berard on stage at a local open mic
Success Isn’t Just Netflix
We measure success in comedy by the wrong metrics.
Success isn’t only:
A special
A set on late night TV
A million followers
Success is:
Getting booked again
Finally getting a crowd on your side when they are tired and haven’t popped yet
Skillfully shutting down hecklers without losing the crowd. Better yet, while keeping the crowd laughing
(Check out Percy Crews II to see the master!)
And in the Pacific Northwest, there are dozens of comedians doing exactly that.
They’re headlining small clubs.
They’re featuring for touring acts.
They’re producing their own shows.
They’re building something real.
You just might not know their names yet.
Hands gesturing and holding a mic while telling jokes
Support Live Comedy
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from being married to a comic & photographing the Seattle, Everett, and Tacoma comedy scene, it’s this:
Live comedy is where the magic is.
Not the polished hour.
Not the streaming special.
The raw, messy, electric room where a joke is being born in real time, the stress if it doesn’t land the way you expected and and the skillful recovery.
That’s where you’ll see the people who love this art form enough to keep showing up. Follow along with me to learn about shows and comics you should know.