--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing against comedy clubs, they work…" description: "\"Nothing against comedy clubs, they work. But when you're sitting with a tablecloth and a candle and an appetizer menu, three-drink minimum, it can feel..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7dc/doug-stanhope-1528_appetizers_nothing-against-comedy-clubs-they-work-b_2771994.jpg" --- # Nothing against comedy clubs, they work. But when you're… ![“Nothing against comedy clubs, they work. But when you're sitting with a tablecloth and a candle and an appetizer menu, three-drink minimum, it can feel more like a dinner theater than a live experience.” quote by Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7dc/doug-stanhope-1528_appetizers_nothing-against-comedy-clubs-they-work-b_2771994.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7dc/doug-stanhope-1528_appetizers_nothing-against-comedy-clubs-they-work-b_2771994.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7dc/doug-stanhope-1528_appetizers_nothing-against-comedy-clubs-they-work-b_2771994.jpg) > “Nothing against comedy clubs, they work. But when you're sitting with a tablecloth and a candle and an appetizer menu, three-drink minimum, it can feel more like a dinner theater than a live experience.” [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Formal dining settings can make comedy feel staged, reducing spontaneity and audience connection. **In simple terms:** Formal settings can hinder comedy. Key Takeaway Choose relaxed venues for comedy. Themes authenticity audience connection environment performance spontaneity Mood playful critical Type observational humorous When to use this quote - stand‑up shows - restaurant comedy nights - festival performances Key Concepts social dynamics entertainment design cultural expectations Questions to Reflect On - What venue enhances your comedy experience? - How does setting affect humor perception? A Different Perspective Audience expectations may still favor traditional formats. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appetizers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appetizers/) [Candle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candle/) [Candle Appetizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candle-appetizer-3248127/) [Clubs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clubs/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comedy club](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy-club/) [Comedy clubs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy-clubs/) [Dinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dinner/) [Dinner Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dinner-theater-1732454/) [Drink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drink/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Like Dinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-dinner-287379/) [Menus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/menus/) [Minimum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minimum/) [Sitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitting/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) [Theater Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater-live-1812422/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) ## Related quotes > [Moving out to L.A. for me was a leap of faith. I was very secure in my dinner theater world; I loved it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-adams/moving-out-to-l-a-for-me-was-a-leap-of-faith-i-was-very-secure-in-my/) [Amy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-adams/) > [RORY: Maybe we should leave. LORELAI: Are you kidding? We've got dinner theater here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilmore-girls/rory-maybe-we-should-leave-lorelai-are-you-kidding-we-ve-got-dinner/) [Gilmore Girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilmore-girls/) > [Dinner theater is anti-culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-simon/dinner-theater-is-anti-culture/) [John Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-simon/) > [Musical theater is my passion. If I could afford it, I would just do dinner theater and live a simple life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethany-joy-galeotti/musical-theater-is-my-passion-if-i-could-afford-it-i-would-just-do/) [Bethany Joy Galeotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethany-joy-galeotti/) > [ \[My aunt\] took me to my first play, too, which was dinner theater. I don't know if they have that in England, but you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/my-aunt-took-me-to-my-first-play-too-which-was-dinner-theater-i-don-t/) [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) > [I was the music director at a dinner theater called the 'Pheasant Run Theater' in the suburbs of Chicago, and that was my side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-hayes/i-was-the-music-director-at-a-dinner-theater-called-the-pheasant-run/) [Sean Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-hayes/) > [I've studied theater since high school. Of course, it's a different story altogether being on Broadway, but it's still theater, and you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/i-ve-studied-theater-since-high-school-of-course-it-s-a-different/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) > [With Dream Theater live, I may have been a bit of a focal point because I absolutely live for the energy on stage, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-portnoy/with-dream-theater-live-i-may-have-been-a-bit-of-a-focal-point/) [Mike Portnoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-portnoy/) > [It's great to do theater and have the live response and know what that can bring to a performance. I like to juggle as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-mciver/it-s-great-to-do-theater-and-have-the-live-response-and-know-what/) [Rose McIver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-mciver/) > [The theater's a live thing, and film is, to some extent, a discipline where you're putting everything together and trying to execute something exactly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/the-theater-s-a-live-thing-and-film-is-to-some-extent-a-discipline/) [Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/) > [The beauty of theater is that you get to live the character from beginning to end without stopping. The natural momentum of the story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/the-beauty-of-theater-is-that-you-get-to-live-the-character-from/) [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) > [Theres something magical about theater. You can live the character every single day to the point where you become that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-gummer/theres-something-magical-about-theater-you-can-live-the-character/) [Grace Gummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-gummer/) > [The wonderful thing about Food for Thought is that it lets you keep your hand in theater and be in front of a live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/treat-williams/the-wonderful-thing-about-food-for-thought-is-that-it-lets-you-keep/) [Treat Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/treat-williams/) > [I love musical theater because it's live. There is no Auto-Tune. There's no second chance. What you see is what you get. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-degarmo/i-love-musical-theater-because-it-s-live-there-is-no-auto-tune-there/) [Diana DeGarmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-degarmo/) > [There's something magical about theater. You can live the character every single day to the point where you become that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-gummer/there-s-something-magical-about-theater-you-can-live-the-character/) [Grace Gummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-gummer/) ## More by Doug Stanhope > [I had no musical or athletic ability, and I wasn't particularly good looking. Comedy was something I could do for attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/i-had-no-musical-or-athletic-ability-and-i-wasn-t-particularly-good/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [Jesus died for your sins. I'm doing it for your mere entertainment dollar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/jesus-died-for-your-sins-i-m-doing-it-for-your-mere-entertainment/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [I believe that everyone should be treated as an individual. Women should be treated equally in the right to vote, sure. But if Im…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/i-believe-that-everyone-should-be-treated-as-an-individual-women/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [They say 'life is precious'. To who? To you, when you're young and you've got a few dollars in your pocket. Tell that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/they-say-life-is-precious-to-who-to-you-when-you-re-young-and-you-ve/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [The ultimate act of cowardice is the fat-headed wrestling guy sitting behind the frail kid in math class, clipping him on the ear, saying:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/the-ultimate-act-of-cowardice-is-the-fat-headed-wrestling-guy-sitting/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [There's no such thing as addiction, there's only things that you enjoy doing more than life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/there-s-no-such-thing-as-addiction-there-s-only-things-that-you-enjoy/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [ The whole acting and Hollywood \[thing\], it's just work to me. Stand-up comedy ruins you so badly for doing television. I don't really need… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/the-whole-acting-and-hollywood-thing-it-s-just-work-to-me-stand-up/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [You should laugh everywhere you can find even the slightest glimmer of humour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/you-should-laugh-everywhere-you-can-find-even-the-slightest-glimmer/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [I have no fear of death, except I hate waiting for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/i-have-no-fear-of-death-except-i-hate-waiting-for-it/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [Everybody's angry. They've got nothing to be angry at, so they're angry about nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/everybody-s-angry-they-ve-got-nothing-to-be-angry-at-so-they-re-angry/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [People who want to kill other people are the last people I want to party with, because I get mouthy when I drink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/people-who-want-to-kill-other-people-are-the-last-people-i-want-to/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [Democracy is the worst kind of government, I'm sorry. Would you still call yourself a Christian if they elected a new Jesus every four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/democracy-is-the-worst-kind-of-government-i-m-sorry-would-you-still/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [You forget, when you're in the Scandinavian countries, you forget they don't speak English first and they speak better than I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/you-forget-when-you-re-in-the-scandinavian-countries-you-forget-they/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [Life's temporary for a reason, it gets boring after awhile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/life-s-temporary-for-a-reason-it-gets-boring-after-awhile/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [The more business gets involved, the less fun it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/the-more-business-gets-involved-the-less-fun-it-is/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) [Explore all 230 Doug Stanhope quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) ## More Appetizers quotes > [Babbo's menu is only four pages, but it's overwhelming - there are 20 different pastas in there, a lot of stuff. There is nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bastianich/babbo-s-menu-is-only-four-pages-but-it-s-overwhelming-there-are-20/) [Joe Bastianich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bastianich/) > [For all the concern about bodies and weight, 'Baywatch' has three huge catering trucks on the set at all times. One for entrees, one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-eggert/for-all-the-concern-about-bodies-and-weight-baywatch-has-three-huge/) [Nicole Eggert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-eggert/) > [I don't think people have seen yet what I can really do. Only appetizers!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berkley/i-don-t-think-people-have-seen-yet-what-i-can-really-do-only/) [Elizabeth Berkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berkley/) > [“Next, 'baccala marechiara,' codfish with a sauce of tomatoes, capers, olives, garlic, and parsley, a lighter version of her puttanesca. She laid out fresh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-o-reilly/next-baccala-marechiara-codfish-with-a-sauce-of-tomatoes-capers/) [Brian O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-o-reilly/) > [I'm a full-on appetizer kind of guy. I'm a Lunchables fanatic, too. I like anything tiny that you can make in front of you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-barnett/i-m-a-full-on-appetizer-kind-of-guy-i-m-a-lunchables-fanatic-too-i/) [Charlie Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-barnett/) > [Seriously, if someone don't like this appetizer, you gotta grab they scruffy ass by the back of their neck and throw them out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coolio/seriously-if-someone-don-t-like-this-appetizer-you-gotta-grab-they/) [Coolio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coolio/) > [“Renzo from Roddino leaves us on the doorstep of Osteria da Gemma, a Langhe culinary landmark in a village scarcely large enough to fill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-goulding/renzo-from-roddino-leaves-us-on-the-doorstep-of-osteria-da-gemma-a/) [Matt Goulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-goulding/) > [My life changed when I was able to not only get seated in nice restaurants, I was given free appetizers. That was like, "Oh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-groening/my-life-changed-when-i-was-able-to-not-only-get-seated-in-nice/) [Matt Groening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-groening/) > [Whenever you go out to eat you gotta get the appetizer. 'Cause the appetizer's just an excuse for an extra meal. You're always like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/whenever-you-go-out-to-eat-you-gotta-get-the-appetizer-cause-the/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [With four-appetizer, four-entree menus, it's like, give me a break. That's not a restaurant, that's a dinner party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bastianich/with-four-appetizer-four-entree-menus-it-s-like-give-me-a-break-that/) [Joe Bastianich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bastianich/) > [“I can tell it's one of those places where they serve "precious" food—appetizers the size of a mushroom cap, unpronounceable ingredients listed for each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-can-tell-it-s-one-of-those-places-where-they-serve-precious-food/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [I should warn you, I’m an expert on vampires. I’ve seen every episode made of Buffy, Angel, and Forever Knight, so don’t think a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-macalister/i-should-warn-you-i-m-an-expert-on-vampires-i-ve-seen-every-episode/) [Katie MacAlister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-macalister/) > [I learned that the hardest party to pull off successfully is Saturday night dinner. This meal is expected to be elaborate: appetizers, first course,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ina-garten/i-learned-that-the-hardest-party-to-pull-off-successfully-is-saturday/) [Ina Garten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ina-garten/) > [I'm all about simple appetizers when it comes to the holidays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcela-valladolid/i-m-all-about-simple-appetizers-when-it-comes-to-the-holidays/) [Marcela Valladolid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcela-valladolid/) > [The appetizer is just an excuse for an extra meal. Let's see, I will start with the eighty buffalo wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/the-appetizer-is-just-an-excuse-for-an-extra-meal-let-s-see-i-will/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) [Browse all 43 Appetizers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appetizers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nothing against comedy clubs, they work. 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