A Dumbarton comedy club is returning as it bids to increase dwindling attendance numbers.
The Rock Comedy Club has been putting on monthly stand-up shows in Dumbarton Football Stadium since 2019, and it was thriving pre-pandemic.
However attendance figures have dipped, dropping from around 140 to between 70 to 80 tickets sold.
To cover the costs, Dumbarton’s very own laugh factory needs to get around 60-70 people just to cover costs.
Co-owner of The Rock Comedy Club, Jordan Brownlie, has said: “The reason we set up the Rock Comedy Club was to give the people of Dumbarton the chance to see Scotland’s best comedians and give Dumbarton FC extra revenue outside of a matchday.
“There are two reasons why the numbers aren’t as high. Firstly, people are still wary of Covid.
“Secondly, the cost of living is up, and people have their priorities, whether that’s bills or childcare. That is why the ticket price is fairly cheap.
“Current sales for June are around 40, with a couple of weeks to go. We expect ticket sales to ramp up as we approach the night.”
One comedian that will be taking part in the show is Glaswegian jokester, James Gardner, who recalls spending much of his university years in the town with his Dumbarton born buddies.
James Gardner said: “I have performed many times in Dumbarton…on the karaoke in the Waverley bar on a Thursday night, but not as a comedian.
“I went to uni with a load of boys from Dumbarton, so I used to knock around here 20 years ago.
“So I am really fond of Dumbarton. I used to DJ in Glasgow City Centre for years, so when I went on a night out in Dumbarton, it did feel like a holiday.
“I think a few of them have threatened to come down. But it is like anything else as a comedian.
“You always have friends who ask when your next show is and the moment you tell them, they’re
like “listen, I’ll not make that one, but maybe the next.
“What people should hopefully expect from me is a real down to earth, typical Glaswegian self-deprecating comedian, so everyone can relate and I class Dumbarton as Glasgow anyway as you have a G82 postcode.”
The Rock Comedy Club puts on one comedy show per month but co-owners Jordan and Bianca Brownley, alongside Gary Black, are putting on an extra charity show in September featuring Gary Meikle.
Jordan Brownlie said: “We are running an extra show in September with Gary Meikle coming down, and he’s not charging anything with everything going to two Dumbarton foodbanks, Food For Thought and West Dunbartonshire Community Foodshare.
“Tickets are still on sale for the show with Gary and the upcoming show on June 3.”
Tickets are available online at £10 on www.rockcomedy.co.uk with tickets at the door at £12.50.
