Due to its close proximity to NYC, New Jersey comedy venues and shows attract top talent who also perform in NYC, or have chosen to live nearby in NJ.
While Comedy venues have not seen a return to their peak days in the eighties, many have been closed because poor business practices and the venues that have survived are well financed and able to attract headliners.
While there has been a substantial paring down of clubs in line with the supply of headliners, today the successful New Jersey comedy venues are well financed and cover the costs of headliners with cover charges.
At one point there were many more New Jersey comedy venues than headliners, and in order to survive, some clubs decided to start headlining people who weren't headliners and that had 50 minutes of time killing material. The audiences were quick to experience this tactic and quit coming to these clubs.
Many of these venues turned to alternative ways of filling their clubs by letting people in for free and making their money off the drinks.
Northern New Jersey Comedy Clubs
Bananas Comedy Club at the Holiday Inn 283 Route 17 South Hasbrouck Heights Website Open since 1988 features performances by up-and-coming and national comedians. Prices are higher for special shows/attractions. They offer a Dinner Package at Verbena Restaurant. Dinner is served 2 hours before Show time Dinner Package guests get priority reserved, up front seating for the show. Finger food is available in the club. Overnight packages featuring dinner, the show, and room are also available. Plenty of free parking
The Comedy Cove @ Scotty's 595 Morris Ave Springfield, NJ Website The Comedy Cove line-up features some of the top comics, many of whom have appeared on network and cable TV programs. Most shows are on Friday & Saturdays at 9 pm. Dinner & Show Packages are available.
'The Comedy Shoppe
At multiple New Jersey Locations
Website
They feature the areas top comedians with open mic nights, special shows and fund-raisers.
Central New Jersey Comedy Clubs
Catch a Rising Star The Hyatt Regency 102 Carnegie Center Pr
Garden State Comedy Club Flemington-Raritan Diner 324 State Rt 31 Flemington, NJ Website They have scheduled comedy shows, open MIC nights and Improv for stand up comedy.
Stress Factory 90 Church Street New Brunswick, NJ Website Located a few blocks from Rutgers University, features national acts as well as up and coming performers. Vinnie Brand, your host for the evening, is sure to make an appearance and crack a few jokes as well. Food and drinks are available as well as dinner/show packages.
Uncle Vinnie's Comedy Club
520 Arnold Ave.
Point Pleasant, NJ
Website
Now one of the popular comedy clubs in Ocean County, Uncle Vinnie's is owned by 2 brothers from Belleville, NJ, They feature the areas top comedians with open Mic nights, special shows and fund-raisers.
Southern New Jersey Comedy Clubs
Atlantic City Comedy Club Tropicana Casino and Resort 2831 Boardwalk, 3rd Fl Atlantic City, NJ Website They feature some of the country's top headliners and rising stars. Located in the Kiss Kiss Nightclub in the Tropicana, comics come from NYC, Philly and all over the country to perform.
Borgata Comedy Club Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa One Borgata Way Atlantic City, NJ Website Features renowned comics – some famous, some soon-to-be. And all up-close and personal
Howie Mandel's Comedy Club Hard Rock Casino 1000 Boardwalk Atlantic City, NJ Website Opened in the summer of 2018, this new comedy venue is off to a successful start as one of the hottest Comedy Club's in Atlantic City with top performers every Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday nights.
MORE TO EXPLORE THIS FALL IN NEW JERSEY: September is here and with it, the arrival of fall fairs and festivals. New Jersey offers lots of great events this month, with everything from food festivals to live music and more! We’ve rounded up the top events to attend this month. Read on for the scoop on all these awesome activities and mark your calendar now.
Best Fall Fairs and Festivals for NJ Families in September
Top Ten Seasonal Attractions, Events, Day Trips, Weekend Getaways, and Vacations
Universal Television, Al Pacino, Sopranos, The Plot Against America finish filming in NJ this summer...
