Zanies Comedy Club

What Zanies Comedy Club does

Zanies Comedy Club is a privately held, multi-location live comedy entertainment company operating three venues: a flagship Chicago Old Town location at 1548 N Wells St, a Rosemont, Illinois location in the Parkway Bank Park Entertainment District, and the long-running Nashville flagship at 2025 8th Avenue South, complemented by The Lab at Zanies, an adjacent 100-seat theater opened in Spring 2024. Founded in 1980 in Nashville (the Chicago location traces back to the firm's broader 1983 founding), the company is credited as one of the top 5 comedy clubs in the United States and is built around live stand-up programming featuring both touring headliners and emerging talent, with a supporting infrastructure for comedy and improv classes.

The company operates a ticketing-anchored business monetized across multiple revenue streams: standard show tickets (typically $20-$30 at Chicago locations; VIP $36-$55 in Nashville; All-In pricing in Nashville), a mandatory two-item F&B minimum per guest, group sales, fundraisers, gift cards valid across tickets and F&B, branded merchandise, private corporate event rentals (Main Showroom up to 300 guests, The Lab up to 100 guests), and increasingly premium experiential packages such as the $500 Ultimate Bucket List Experience. Ticketing is sold via the third-party Etix platform and direct box offices (in-person and phone) across all three locations. Core technology is described as standard comedy club operations; no custom platform, AI system, or proprietary technology stack is disclosed, though the Nashville location uses Yondr phone-free bags during performances.

Zanies' commercial model relies on diverse, recurring B2C ticket buyers plus a smaller B2B event revenue layer, with go-to-market executed through dedicated per-location websites, location-specific Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/TikTok profiles, email and SMS subscriber clubs (Zanies Mobile Club, Email Newsletter) for priority show access, and a growing headliner-level promotion business via Chicago and Nashville Comedy Concerts calendars at arena venues such as Ryman Auditorium and Allstate Arena. The Zanies Podcast Network (Summer 2024) and The Lab at Zanies expansion represent the two most significant recent investments in extended product surface area and content IP.

Name

Zanies Comedy Club

Legal name

Zanies Nashville

Website

https://zanies.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zanies Comedy Club operates three live comedy venues in Chicago, Rosemont (IL), and Nashville plus The Lab at Zanies intimate theater, monetizing through ticket sales, mandatory F&B minimums, private events, gift cards, and premium experience packages. It serves general adult audiences and corporate event clients with touring and emerging stand-up comedy programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Comedy Entertainment Venues

NAICS

All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (71399)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Comedy Clubs (Nightlife Venues) (MPAGAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Comedy Club & Showcase Nights (MPAGACAE), Improv Comedy Performances (MPAGACAB), Karaoke Bars & Entertainment Bars (THAFAEAH)

Keywords

• Live comedy entertainment
• Stand-up comedy venues
• Comedy club operations
• Private event hosting
• Live entertainment venues

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from selling tickets to comedy shows. Tickets available online through Etix and at box office. Prices typically range from $20-$30 at Chicago location, with special events commanding higher prices.
2. Group Sales: Specialized sales packages for groups booking comedy shows together, with contact at [email protected] for Chicago.
3. Fundraisers: Comedy shows organized as fundraising events for charitable organizations.
4. Gift Cards: Gift cards sold in any denomination valid for tickets, food and beverages.
5. Merchandise: Sale of Zanies branded merchandise including apparel.
6. Private Events: Revenue from hosting corporate events, holiday parties, team building events, and fundraisers in their Main Showroom or The Lab at Zanies spaces.
7. Food and Beverage: Two-item minimum purchase requirement per person (food or drink) generates food and beverage sales during shows.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Zanies Comedy Club operates a chain of three physical comedy club venues in Chicago (Old Town), Rosemont (IL), and Nashville (TN), hosting live stand-up comedy performances featuring touring headliners and emerging local talent. The company also operates The Lab at Zanies, an intimate 100-seat theater in Nashville dedicated to emerging talent, comedy and improv classes, and signature showcase series. Revenue is generated primarily through ticket sales, two-item minimum food and beverage purchases, private/corporate event hosting, merchandise, gift cards, and subscription-based priority access clubs.

Product overview

Zanies Comedy Club operates as a multi-location comedy entertainment company with three main venues in Chicago, Rosemont (Illinois), and Nashville (Tennessee). The portfolio centers on live stand-up comedy performances across different venue sizes, from the main showroom headliner experiences to The Lab at Zanies, an intimate 100-seat theater dedicated to emerging talent. The Nashville location also houses the Zanies Podcast Network. Additional offerings include signature recurring showcases (Monday Night Funnies, Roast Battle, Nateland Live, Comedy Clash), private event hosting for corporate and group bookings, gift cards, merchandise, and mobile/email club subscriptions for priority access to shows. The company positions itself as a pillar of comedy entertainment, hosting both established headliners and cultivating rising comedic talent.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Lab at Zanies: An intimate 100-seat theater venue dedicated to raw and unfiltered comedy talent, featuring stand-up, improv, and sketch comedy. Includes educational comedy classes and team-building exercises.
• Monday Night Funnies
• Nateland Live
• Dark & Dirty Showcase

Products and services

• Zanies Comedy Club Chicago The flagship Chicago location at 1548 N Wells St in Old Town, featuring headliner comedy shows with multiple showtimes throughout the week, 21+ age requirement, and a two-item minimum purchase per person. Tickets typically priced $20-$30.
• Zanies Comedy Club Rosemont Rosemont, Illinois location at 5437 Park Pl in the Parkway Bank Park Entertainment District, featuring stand-up comedy shows Wednesday through Sunday with various showtimes.
• Zanies Comedy Night Club Nashville The flagship Nashville showroom at 2025 8th Avenue South with capacity up to 300 guests, featuring a stage for presentations, state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment, food and beverage service, and all-in ticket pricing.
• The Lab at Zanies Intimate 100-seat theater in Nashville opened Spring 2024, featuring raw and unfiltered comedy, comedy and improv classes, a full kitchen with upscale menu and craft cocktails, and home of signature shows such as Nateland Live. Located at 2019 8th Ave South.
• Private Events at Zanies Nashville Private event hosting at Zanies Nashville for corporate events, holiday parties, business meetings, team building events, alumni events, and fundraisers, with two room options: Main Showroom (up to 300 guests) and The Lab at Zanies (up to 100 guests).
• Group Sales Group booking services for parties and events at Zanies venues, offering special group rates for most shows. Coordinated through [email protected] at Chicago.
• The Ultimate Bucket List Experience Premium experience package at $500 at Chicago Zanies, including a one-hour Zoom session with a professional comedian, 30-minute pre-show preparation, green room access, four complimentary tickets, billing on show graphics, and 3-5 minutes on stage.
• Support With Laughs Fundraisers Fundraiser event services at Zanies where proceeds are donated to charitable organizations, coordinated through the Chicago box office.
• Zanies Gift Cards Physical gift cards available in any denomination for use on tickets, food, and beverages at Zanies venues; physical cards must be picked up at the box office.
• Zanies Merchandise On-site sale of Zanies branded apparel and merchandise items at venue locations.
• Zanies Mobile Club Text message subscription service providing priority access to show announcements and exclusive offers via automated marketing messages at Nashville Zanies.
• Zanies Email Newsletter Email subscription service providing priority access to show announcements and offers at Zanies.
• Zanies Podcast Network Podcast network launched in Summer 2024 to capture and broadcast Nashville's comedy scene to a global audience.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40 years of continuous operation as comedy venue

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Helium Comedy Club: Multi-location comedy club (Portland, Indianapolis, St. Louis) with food and full bar service, national headliners, and corporate/private events. Highly comparable operational and revenue mix to Zanies.
• The Comedy Store: Iconic multi-room comedy club in West Hollywood operating since 1972 with main room, belly room, and original room. Direct peer given Zanies' similar multi-format, headliner-focused club model and industry-leading brand stature.
• Comedy Cellar: Long-running Greenwich Village comedy club known for headliner showcases and the Comedy Central tie-in (Louie). Highly comparable to Zanies' Chicago and Nashville showrooms in format, pricing, and audience expectations.
• Laugh Factory: Multi-location U.S. comedy club chain (Hollywood, Long Beach, Chicago, Las Vegas) with similar full-bar/two-drink-minimum model and nightly headliner programming. Closest direct chain competitor to Zanies' multi-city footprint.
• Gotham Comedy Club: Manhattan comedy club with two performance rooms hosting headliners and emerging talent. Comparable to Zanies' two-room Nashville setup (Main Showroom + The Lab) in terms of format diversification.
• Caroline's on Broadway: NYC comedy club operating since 1981 with full bar, dinner service, and national headliner programming. Direct peer in the upscale, full-service comedy club category.
• Improv Comedy Clubs (Levity Live): Long-standing U.S. comedy club chain (Improv brand) with locations across multiple markets. Comparable multi-city, headliner-driven club model competing directly for talent and audience.
• Punch Line Comedy Clubs: Chain of comedy clubs in San Francisco, Sacramento, Philadelphia, and other U.S. markets featuring headliner showcases and food/beverage service. Direct chain competitor to Zanies with similar GTM motion.
• House of Comedy (Rick Bronson's): Multi-location U.S. comedy club (Arizona, Minnesota) with full restaurant and bar service, headliner showcases, and corporate event hosting. Operationally and structurally comparable to Zanies venues.

Regional players

• The Second City: Chicago-based improv and sketch comedy institution with training centers and theatrical venues. Comparable given its Chicago overlap with Zanies and emphasis on emerging talent development — similar to Zanies' The Lab mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/zanieschicago
• Facebookfacebook.com/zanieschicago
• Instagraminstagram.com/zaniesnashville

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zanies Comedy Club