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Everybody’s laughing at Hilton Head Island’s latest nightlife venue. And the owners couldn’t be happier. Longtime friends and comedy industry veterans John Biddle and Michael Paskevich opened the Hilton Head Comedy Club at Pineland Station in July and have welcomed a steady stream of national acts ever since.
Biddle got his first taste of stand-up comedy years ago at a Ft. Myers, FL amateur club. After a few beers, he said he got up the nerve and “got up there” to tell a few jokes. “They laughed and I was addicted.” He soon delved deeper into the comedy world by opening a successful comedy club on Sanibel Island, FL.
In the late 1990s, Biddle moved to Las Vegas, where he ran a comedy club in a casino and worked as a stand-up comedian on the side.
He met Paskevich, who was the lead entertainment critic for the Las Vegas Review-Journal; the two became fast friends and began throwing around the idea of opening a club together.
A few years later they took a trip to Hilton Head with fellow friend and comedian Ron Shock. “Ron was supposed to be the negative influence,” Biddle joked, “but he said ‘It’ll work.’”
They moved into the club’s location behind Le Bistro Mediterranean at the end of March. The tucked-away spot was a strategic move, Biddle said. “Being from Las Vegas, you never go to the strip unless you’re from out of town.”
He said he wanted a location that is accessible and comfortable for locals and can be found by tourists seeking great comedy. “Comedy is a destination,” Biddle said.
Shock was the first comedian on the bill for the new club and is scheduled to come back this year. A. Whitney Brown, Pat Godwin and Chris Bliss are among some of the other notable names who have performed at the club. Upcoming acts for October include:
- Dennis Blair: A nationally renowned comic who toured with such greats as Rodney Dangerfield and George Carlin.
- John Padon: A Las Vegas favorite.
- Todd Paul: A comedian and master juggler who combines both talents to produce an impressively hilarious variety act.
When scheduling acts, variety is key, Biddle said. "We pride ourselves on mixing it up."
Show times are 8 p.m., Tuesday - Thursday; 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., Friday & Saturday. Admission is $10 on weekdays and $12 on weekends. (Tuesdays are half-price for "Ladies Night"). Admission is limited to patrons ages 18 & older. Doors open a half-hour before show time and, as the intimate club seats just 100 patrons, advance reservations are strongly recommended.
So far, Biddle describes business as "growing and steady." He said he loves the comedy business, because he feels like he is providing an honest service to people in exchange for their money.
"I'm just trying to share something cool with them," Biddle said. "You feel good about tliat from a business standpoint." For reservations or more information: (843) 681-7757, or hiltonheadcomedyclub.com.
