Magooby's Joke House, Ltd

What Magooby's Joke House, Ltd does

Magooby's Joke House, Ltd is a privately held, owner-operated comedy club founded in 1992 in Timonium, Maryland, presenting live stand-up comedy featuring national headliners in a 350-seat theater with tiered seating, a 240 sq ft stage, and $40,000 of acoustic sound treatment. The venue operates a year-round calendar of weekend double-show formats (7pm and 9:30pm) plus weeknight bookings, and is complemented by a wholly-owned adjacent bar, Wits End Saloon, which captures pre-show, post-show, and off-night beverage traffic with a 70+ whiskey and craft cocktail menu.

The business generates revenue through multiple streams: per-ticket show sales priced from $14+, a per-person two-item food and beverage minimum, corporate and private event hosting through the Magooby's Event Center division, an external talent-booking service (Book a Comic) that supplies comedians and other performers for off-premise events, a monthly New Talent Showcase & Competition with a $100 prize, a Fundraiser Program ($25 setup plus $4-$6 per ticket), a $149 annual VIP Membership with admission and F&B discounts, and $25-$100 gift certificates. Ticketing is operated exclusively through Seat Engine on the club's own website with no third-party reseller channel.

Customers are segmented across individual adult comedy patrons (18+), corporate event planners, nonprofit fundraising organizations, and social event hosts (bachelor/bachelorette, birthday, retirement, wedding, divorce parties). Marketing is performer-driven through headliner brands plus direct website and email channels, and the operation is led by owner Andrew Unger, who functions as the primary contact across general operations, corporate events, and talent booking.

Name

Magooby's Joke House, Ltd

Legal name

Magooby's Joke House

Website

https://magoobysjokehouse.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Magooby's Joke House, Ltd operates a 350-seat comedy club in Timonium, Maryland, presenting live stand-up featuring national headliners alongside on-site food and beverage service, corporate and private event hosting, and an external talent-booking division.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Comedy Entertainment Venue

NAICS

Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224), Caterers (722320)

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 entertainment
• Stand-up comedy venue
• Comedy club dining
• Corporate event hosting
• Comedy talent booking

Headquarters

HQ city

Lutherville Timonium

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Live Comedy Show Tickets: Primary revenue from ticket sales for stand-up comedy shows featuring national headliners. Multiple shows per weekend at 7pm and 9:30pm time slots. Two-item minimum per person required during shows.
2. Food and Beverage Sales: Full menu featuring burgers, sandwiches, wings, and pub food. Specialty drink menu with cocktails. Two-item minimum per person generates food/beverage revenue. Adjacent Wits End Saloon also contributes to beverage sales.
3. Corporate and Private Event Hosting: Venue rental for corporate meetings, holiday parties, fundraisers, birthday parties, and other private events. Includes full A/V capabilities, catering options, and event planning services.
4. New Talent Competition: Monthly open mic competition with $100 cash prize for winner. Generates audience attendance and ticket sales while cultivating emerging comedy talent.
5. Fundraiser Ticket Program: Organizations pay $25 initial fee plus $4-$6 per ticket to sell tickets at regular price ($14+), keeping the difference as fundraising revenue.
6. VIP Membership: $149 annual membership offering 10% discount on food/drink, $5 special admission price for cardholder and guest, preferred seating, and non-transferable benefits.
7. Gift Certificates: Physical and digital gift certificates available in $25, $50, $75, and $100 denominations for show tickets and food/beverage purchases.
8. Talent Booking Division: Books comedians for external corporate or private events, charging booking fees for talent roster of national headliners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Magooby's Joke House operates a 350-seat live stand-up comedy club in Timonium, Maryland, featuring national headlining comedians performing nightly with a two-item food and beverage minimum per guest. The company sells tickets directly through magoobys.com, provides on-site food and beverage service, and supplements its core consumer show business with corporate and private event hosting, a talent booking division, a fundraiser program for organizations, a VIP membership, and gift certificates.

Product overview

Magooby's Joke House operates as a comedy club venue offering live stand-up comedy shows featuring national headliners in a 350-seat theater setting. The company provides a core live entertainment product (comedy show tickets) complemented by add-on membership and gift certificate offerings. Additional services include a talent booking division for private and corporate events, a fundraiser program for organizations, and group event packages including bachelorette parties and corporate gatherings. The venue also features an adjacent bar, Wits End Saloon, and hosts a monthly New Talent Showcase & Competition for emerging comedians.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Magooby's Event Center: The company's corporate and private event hosting division that books meetings, fundraisers, parties, and corporate events at the venue.

Products and services

• Comedy Show Tickets (Stand-Up Events) Live stand-up comedy shows featuring national headliners (including Steve-O, Pauly Shore, Corey Holcomb, Damon Wayans, Kevin Nealon, Vinny Guadagnino, and others) performed in a 350-seat theater with state-of-the-art sound and lighting and a two-item food and beverage minimum per guest. Tickets sold exclusively through magoobys.com powered by Seat Engine.
• Gift Certificate - $25 Gift certificate available in $25 denomination, redeemable toward show tickets, food, and drinks at the comedy club.
• Gift Certificate - $50 Gift certificate available in $50 denomination, redeemable toward show tickets, food, and drinks at the comedy club.
• Gift Certificate - $75 Gift certificate available in $75 denomination, redeemable toward show tickets, food, and drinks at the comedy club.
• Gift Certificate - $100 Gift certificate available in $100 denomination, redeemable toward show tickets, food, and drinks at the comedy club.
• VIP Membership Annual VIP membership card priced at $149 offering 10% discount on food and drink for the cardholder and one guest, special $5 admission price for the cardholder and one guest (non-special events only), and preferred seating. Non-transferable. Designed to pay for itself in approximately 3 visits.
• Corporate Events & Private Party Packages Full-service event hosting for corporate meetings, fundraisers, retirement parties, holiday parties, weddings, and other private events. Offers catering options including breakfast, lunch, dinner buffets, hors d'oeuvres, and various beverage packages. Venue accommodates up to 300 people with state-of-the-art A/V equipment and a digital projection system.
• Group Rates & Bachelorette Party Packages Group booking services including bachelor/bachelorette party packages with preferred seating, food and drink specials, and surprise gifts. Also offers holiday party packages and private party rentals for parties of 10 or more.
• Fundraiser Program Organization fundraiser program where Magooby's provides the venue and comedy show while nonprofit organizations, schools, and community groups sell tickets. Initial fee of $25 plus $4-$6 per ticket, with tickets sold at the normal price of $14 or more, and the organization keeps the difference as fundraising revenue. Available for all shows except special events and 8pm Saturday shows.
• Book a Comic (Talent Division) Corporate and private event entertainment booking service providing stand-up comedy, improv, musical comedy, magic, and hypnotist performers for events including bachelor/bachelorette parties, corporate events, birthday parties, fundraisers, and holiday parties.
• New Talent Showcase & Competition Monthly open mic competition where comedians compete for a $100 cash prize and a spot in the annual New Comedian of the Year showdown. Hosted by Roberto Reed and Luke Harris. The competition also serves as a talent development pipeline for headliners.

Quantifiable outcome

• 350 person theater capacity
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Holiday Inn TimoniumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered lodging for multi-day events. Offers best group rates in the area for overnight stays. Located approximately 100 yards from the venue.
• Wits End SalooncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdjacent bar owned/operated by same ownership. Features over 70 whiskeys, craft cocktails, and specialty beers. Open Mon-Sat 4:30pm-2am. Food menu includes items not served in comedy club. Pre-seating available for show attendees.
• Die Laughing ProductionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduces murder mystery comedy shows at the venue including Clue Christmas and Halloween Whodunit events. Die Laughing Productions performers star in interactive audience participation shows.
• Urban Comedy FlavorzminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDMV's premier urban comedy brand producing live events at the venue. Brings headliners like Lance Woods and Paris Sashay. Events include STAMPED showcase.
• Szechuan HouseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChinese buffet provider for special events including Comedy Cantonese Christmas Eve celebration. One of the area's best Chinese restaurants.
• Royal RestaurantminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides kosher Chinese meal option for Comedy Cantonese and other special events requiring dietary accommodations.
• Seat EnginecoreTechnology or IntegrationPowers the online ticketing platform for the website. Handles ticket sales, event scheduling, and showtime management. Embedded throughout website for purchases.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• DC Improv: Washington, D.C.-area comedy club featuring national headliners, ticketed shows, and food/beverage service. Most comparable regional competitor given Magooby's Mid-Atlantic footprint and overlapping metro-area audience.

Direct peers

• The Stand NYC: New York comedy club and restaurant combining ticketed stand-up with full food and cocktail service. Operates a hybrid restaurant/comedy-club model structurally similar to Magooby's Joke House.
• Laugh Factory: Multi-location U.S. comedy club chain founded in 1979, hosting nightly headliners and developing emerging talent. Closely comparable business model to Magooby's — ticketed shows, F&B minimums, national headliner roster, and corporate event hosting.
• Helium Comedy Club: Multi-location comedy club (Portland, Indianapolis, St. Louis) offering ticketed stand-up, food and beverage service, and private event hosting. Operates a comparable mid-sized venue format with national headliners.
• The Comedy Cellar: Iconic New York comedy club featuring nightly national headliners and emerging talent. Directly comparable to Magooby's in model — ticketed stand-up shows with food and beverage minimums, brand-led talent development, and private event hosting.
• The Improv (Improv Comedy Clubs): Long-standing comedy club chain with multiple U.S. locations. Operates ticketed stand-up shows with F&B minimums and corporate/private event hosting, structurally aligned with Magooby's venue model.
• The Funny Bone Comedy Club: Regional U.S. comedy club chain operating ticketed stand-up shows, full food menus, and bar service. Comparable venue scale, ticketing model, and corporate event offering to Magooby's.
• Caroline's on Broadway: New York-based comedy club featuring national headliners, ticketed shows, F&B service, and private event hosting. Closely aligned with Magooby's operating model and revenue mix.
• Punch Line Comedy Clubs: Multi-city comedy club chain (SF, Sacramento, Philadelphia, etc.) featuring ticketed national headliner shows and F&B service. Directly comparable venue-format peer to Magooby's Joke House.
• Zanies Comedy Night Clubs: Regional U.S. comedy club chain founded in 1978, operating ticketed stand-up shows and private events. Comparable scale and model to Magooby's as a regional comedy venue operator.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Magooby's Joke House, Ltd