Atlantic County Magazine – GACCA Article
Print Date 1.22.2021
By Judy Brenna
Piggybacking off of last week’s article, active action making you happy, you ever hear the phrase, “laughter is the best medicine”? It draws people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in the body, and it’s been proven to strengthen your immune system, boost mood, diminish pain, and protect you from the damaging effects of stress. If I could consume laughter intravenously
I would. This notion is specifically why when I see a loved one in severe stress mode, I break out the vaudeville honk-honk horn, slap on my big hobo shoes and suspenders and tell a really bad knock-knock joke ((ba dum tsssss)). I know good ones, but the bad ones are just so bad you have no choice but to laugh. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. And if you’re anything like me, a good laugh can sometimes lead to a wheezing asthma attack followed by tears. Which is totally welcomed just so long as your inhaler is in close range.
My childhood memories are a bit of a blur, but from what I recall I remember giggling and laughing all the time, and sometimes, in hindsight looking back, at the most absurd things. But somehow as we get older, we start forgetting to laugh at the absurdities ((unless of course you’re my father, god rest him, the simple concept of breaking wind made him laugh until he cried)). Sure, we laugh, but not nearly as much as we get older. It could be because of all the responsibilities that come along with adulting, which I for one am totally against, but do so begrudgingly, because I enjoy things like a roof, and fuzzy socks, and Netflix, and cheese. And not to go on a tangent ((too late)) but I think we need a lot of laughter right now. I don’t need to go into all the reasons why, you know why, because I’ve been ranting about it since March 16th ((shameless #opentowork plug)). My point is the best medicine for the pandemic other than a vaccine is laughter.
I happen to know some truly awesome ((cheese alert)) laugh doctors that can supply with you the perfect prescription: AC Jokes ((someone awkwardly clears their throat as I shield my eyes from the spotlights and tap the microphone to make sure it’s on)). I wasn’t meant for stand-up obviously, the mere thought of it makes the back of my knees sweat. But these guys are naturals. And I’d bet money if you sliced any one of their arteries, one-liners would ooze out instead of blood. AC Jokes offers affordable entertainment by some of the East Coast’s best comedians. In a normal world, as opposed to our current existence, AC Jokes has been a local travelling comedy club, performing at least 10 shows a week in a handful of different venues around Atlantic City. With current pandemic restrictions they are currently performing nightly, and twice on Saturdays, and staying within pandemic safety guidelines, at Kiss Kiss Nightclub in the Tropicana Casino and Resort, and the best part ((and this could be because I’m cheap)), they don’t demand drink minimums where they perform. I don’t know about you, but my biggest gripe when going to a comedy club is the 2+ drink minimum, and I used to go to these clubs a lot, especially when I was in college, and when you’re that age alcohol affects you in a very specific way where you wake up the next morning with a jack hammer in your brain and wondering why your credit card is maxed out. So, AC Jokes is not only affordable, but you have a fighting chance of avoiding a hangover and early onset bankruptcy.
Leading at the helm of AC Jokes is the “architect”, Matt Bridgestone. Matt has been performing and producing comedy shows for almost 20 years. 7 years ago, Matt ventured to Atlantic City, and, after travelling the local circuit, one particularly interesting venue among others called Le Grand Fromage (sadly they didn’t serve cheese), that even police officers were afraid to visit, he teamed up with friends and fellow local funny guys Mike Merk, Ray Vasquez, Buda The Comedian, Zack Picket, Gary Garcia, and Brian Edmund, forming the comedy avengers they are today with AC Jokes. And here they are, 7 years and one pandemic later, with new funny guys and girls on the rotating team, performing 8 shows a week, producing podcasts, and filming half hour comedy specials that will hopefully air in the near future. I am an immense fan of their evolution.
Some interesting facts, if you were actually reading this and not just skimming, as we just discussed, they are the only live comedy troupe to offer over 7 shows a week. No other comedy club out there in the world can match. Other super cool factor, of which gave them national news and media attention, they were the first out of the gates to perform during the pandemic, with a drive-in comedy show, held outside of Bourrée on New York Avenue, delivering some much-needed stress relief during the lock down. Featuring sets off the back of a pick-up truck and a sound feed through car radio systems, I mean, the ingenuity was incredible! And their marketing style is like no other. As opposed to spending money on publicists and management teams, they’re very hands-on with their own marketing, connecting with their potential audience; a comedy club run by comedians. It’s totally refreshing. And I think it’s safe to say AC Jokes contributes to the tourism in our city, with regular patrons, some even out of state, who come down to AC to see them perform time and time again.
There is no denying that a visit to see an AC Jokes performance is “the most fun you’ll have in Atlantic City with your clothes on”. It’s extremely easy obtaining tickets to any one of their shows. Concierges are welcome to email Matt Monday through Thursday at matt@acjokes.com, and anyone call the club at (609) ACJOKES, check out their latest updates at www.ACJokes.com, find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/acjokesdotcom or follow them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/acjokesdotcom/. You’ve more than earned yourself a night full of laughs. So, stop what you’re doing and go get your tickets. Otherwise, I’ll call you relentlessly with really really bad jokes ((HONK HONK)). Until next week… #stayjerseystrong.
