Fredericton’s King of Comedy has lots in store for 2016.
It’s been an uphill climb for Live Stand-up Comedy’s Troy Haines, who starts the year off with another round of humour January 15 at the Delta Fredericton. Since the fall of 2014, Haines has struggled to make comedy a sound decision among Fredericton’s entertainment community. His events have grown from a handful of fans to crowded ballrooms at one of the city’s finest hotels. That’s no small feat.
“I am currently in production for my eighteenth comedy show,” said Haines. “My first show was with Andrew Albert at the Elk’s Club on Brunswick Street. Those first shows were a lot of fun with very small crowds. Sometimes the comedians would out number the audience. After I felt like I knew a little more about what I was doing I formed a partnership with the Delta Fredericton and starting producing shows there. I feel I have gained some real success.”
Together with the Fredericton United Comedy Collective and others from the region, Haines has helped make comedy a part of Fredericton’s current entertainment landscape, offering a viable compliment to the city’s popular music scene.
”Stand-up comedy is on the rise here in New Brunswick if not the world,” said Haines. “People are seeking alternative choices to the traditional band or movie when going out. It’s a great pairing with a dinner date or a night out with the gals. Live Stand-up Comedy shows are really economical too. A comedy shows cost you 15 bucks plus drinks. Not bad, and you get a great memory to laugh about later on. Not to mention the fact that we have some great performers coming through.”
Live Stand-up Comedy has hosted several emerging and established Canadian comics since the fall of 2014 including comedians like Andrew Albert, James Mullinger, James Uloth, Steve Mazan, Neal Mundle, Scott Belford and Kathleen McGee.
“My shows have been growing steadily,” said Haines, “and I have been reinvesting lots of time and money into producing higher quality shows, little by little, step by step. This is a pro show and the laughs are aplenty.”
Live Stand-up Comedy currently has ten show in production beginning with the January 15 show with Francois Weber.
“Francois is a very funny comedian who does wonderful crowd work,” said Haines. “This will be extra special because only 100 tickets to this show will be sold. This will be a much more intimate show with one of Canada’s top touring comedians.
“The February shows will be held in the Grand Ballroom and the first will feature SiriusXM’s top comic and one of the stars of CBC’s The Debaters, Derek Seguin. Derek’s a tremendously funny comedian with a French Canadian twist. This extra special show titled Tabarnak, It’s Derek Seguin, I think it will be Fredericton’s first Acadian themed comedy show. Accompanying Derek will be two of New Brunswick’s best Acadian comics, Martin Saulnier and Roger Leblanc. This show will be huge and I am hoping to play host to 250 lovers of comedy.”
You can follow Live Stand-up Comedy on Facebook or visit livestandupcomedy.ca for upcoming event details.
“I love doing this.” said Haines. “People come to my shows and they leave with smiles on their faces and that’s what makes me happy.”
