Side Splitters Comedy Club

What Side Splitters Comedy Club does

Side Splitters Comedy Club is a privately held, multi-location live stand-up comedy operator founded in 1992 in the Carrollwood area of Tampa, Florida. The company runs three venues across the Tampa Bay region — the original Tampa theater on North Dale Mabry Highway, a Wesley Chapel location inside The Grove entertainment complex, and a St. Petersburg location housed within Coastal Creative — each capable of seating roughly 500 patrons. Programming combines nationally-touring headliners with local and emerging talent, anchored by weekly open mic nights (Comic's Night Out), a recurring competition (Sunday Night Laughs), and private event bookings.

The core product is the live comedy show; the company does not operate proprietary technology platforms, instead relying on standard website ticketing, third-party ticketing platforms (OvationTix for Wesley Chapel, PunchUp Live for Tampa), email marketing via its VIP Club, and social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube) for demand generation. Ancillary revenue is generated through on-site full bar and food service at each venue and digital gift cards distributed via Yiftee.

Revenue is derived from three streams: transaction-based ticket sales (with pricing varying by performer and show), one-time food and beverage purchases during performances, and gift card sales usable for both ticket and in-venue purchases. The business operates on a direct-to-consumer model selling primarily to adults in the Tampa Bay area seeking live entertainment, while also serving a secondary customer segment of local and touring comedians seeking stage time and a venue partner for private/corporate events and nonprofit fundraisers. The company is wholly owned by Brian Thompson, who purchased the business in June 2019 after serving as general manager since 2007, and operates without institutional investment.

Name

Side Splitters Comedy Club

Legal name

Side Splitters Comedy Club

Website

https://sidesplitterscomedy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Side Splitters Comedy Club operates three live stand-up comedy venues across the Tampa Bay area — Tampa, Wesley Chapel, and St. Petersburg — featuring nationally-touring headliners alongside local talent, with full bar and food service at each location.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Comedy Entertainment

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (722410)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Comedy Clubs (Nightlife Venues) (MPAGAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Stand-Up Comedy Shows (MPAGACAA), Comedy Club & Showcase Nights (MPAGACAE)

Keywords

• Live comedy shows
• Stand-up comedy venue
• Comedy open mic
• Private comedy events
• Comedy club entertainment

Headquarters

HQ city

Tampa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from selling tickets to stand-up comedy shows featuring national headliners and local talent.
2. Food and Beverage: Full bar service and food menu available during shows, providing food and drinks throughout performances.
3. Gift Cards: Gift cards sold through Yiftee platform for tickets and food/beverage purchases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Side Splitters Comedy Club operates live stand-up comedy venues across multiple Florida locations, hosting nationally-touring headliners and local comedians through scheduled shows, open mic nights, and comedy competitions. The venues offer full bar and food service during performances, plus private event and fundraiser hosting with bookable comedians.

Product overview

Side Splitters Comedy Club operates as a live entertainment venue offering stand-up comedy shows at two Florida locations (Tampa and Wesley Chapel). The core product is live comedy performances featuring nationally touring acts alongside local and emerging comedians. Additional offerings include open mic nights (Comic's Night Out), comedy competitions (Sunday Night Laughs), private event bookings for corporate and fundraiser events, VIP membership, gift cards, and full food/beverage service. The company positions itself as Tampa Bay's premier comedy club with over 33 years of operation since 1992.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Side Splitters Comedy Club - Tampa Location Original Side Splitters venue operating since 1992 at 12938 North Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, FL 33618. Features live stand-up comedy shows with nationally touring acts and local comedians, full bar, and food service for adult audiences.
• Side Splitters Comedy Theatre at The Grove - Wesley Chapel Location Second Side Splitters venue located at 6333 Wesley Grove Blvd Theater #7, Wesley Chapel, FL 33544 within The Grove entertainment complex. Features comedy shows in a movie theater setting, open mic nights, and competitive events for adult audiences.
• Side Splitters at Coastal Creative - St. Petersburg Location Third Side Splitters venue located within Coastal Creative at 2201 First Ave, St. Petersburg, FL. Hosts live comedy shows serving the St. Pete area.
• Book a Comic / Private Events Booking service for hiring comedians for corporate events, private parties, and fundraisers. Customers can book custom comedy engagements through the Side Splitters website for tailored entertainment experiences.
• Gift Cards (via Yiftee) Digital gift cards sold through the Yiftee platform that can be redeemed for comedy show tickets and food/beverage purchases at any Side Splitters location.
• Food and Beverage Service Full bar service and food menu available throughout comedy shows at Side Splitters venues, with fast and attentive service designed for guests attending performances.

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Homeless Empowerment ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2021Side Splitters partners with Homeless Empowerment Program (HEP), a registered 501c3 nonprofit, to host fundraising comedy shows. HEP provides resources including clothing, food, and housing to individuals including veterans in the Tampa Bay community.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Comedy Store: Iconic West Hollywood comedy club with three rooms hosting national headliners and emerging talent. Comparable to Side Splitters as a destination comedy venue with full bar service and a long-standing reputation among comedians.
• Funny Bone Comedy Club: Regional comedy club chain with locations across the U.S. Midwest and East Coast. Comparable to Side Splitters as a multi-city comedy club with similar booking model, full bar and food service, and private event hosting.
• Off The Hook Comedy Club: Florida-based comedy club operating in the same regional market as Side Splitters. Direct competitor for touring comedians, audiences, and corporate event bookings in the Sunshine State.
• Laugh Factory: Long-running comedy club chain founded in Los Angeles with multiple U.S. locations. Closely comparable to Side Splitters as a multi-location stand-up comedy club featuring full bar service and both headliner and showcase programming.
• Bonkerz Comedy Club: Multi-location comedy club chain with venues primarily in the U.S. Southeast. Comparable to Side Splitters as a regional comedy club operator with similar headliner and local talent programming.
• Helium Comedy Club: Multi-city stand-up comedy club with locations in Indianapolis, Portland, St. Louis, and other markets. Comparable to Side Splitters as a multi-location venue operator with national headlining acts, full bar, and food service.
• Improv Comedy Club: National stand-up comedy club chain with multiple U.S. locations including a Tampa venue. Directly comparable to Side Splitters as a multi-location comedy club operating in similar markets with touring headliners and local talent.

Broad incumbents

• House of Blues: Live Nation-owned chain of music-focused live entertainment venues with full bar service. Comparable to Side Splitters as a multi-location venue operator with comparable F&B and ticketing model, but focused on music rather than stand-up comedy.

Regional players

• Yuk Yuk's: Canada's largest comedy club chain with multiple locations. Comparable to Side Splitters as a multi-location stand-up comedy venue with a national touring comedian booking model, though operating in a different geography.

Others

• PunchUp Live: Ticketing platform used by Side Splitters Tampa for online ticket sales. Comparable as an ecosystem partner that powers Side Splitters' direct-to-consumer ticketing revenue stream, though not a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sscctampa
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC3rGID9gdPbahaUJZ43HXlA
• Facebookfacebook.com/sidesplitterscomedy
• Instagraminstagram.com/sidesplitterstampa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/side-splitters-comedy-club

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

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 Side Splitters Comedy Club