LIFESTYLES THE COMEDY CONGLOMERATE SHOWCASES A NIGHT FULL OF LAUGHS AT THE MILK PARLOR

angela nell-tascon | lifestyles writer

Read on for a closer look into The Comedy Conglomerate at Virginia Tech.

Located in downtown Blacksburg, the Milk Parlor hosts various events, including Virginia Tech’s Comedy Club shows, as part of The Comedy Conglomerate at VT. To all who attended the Comedy Club’s show this past Wednesday, March 29, it is certainly not news that the show evoked full-bellied laughs from the audience, and showcased comedians with a passion for entertaining. The versatile stand-up sets performed throughout the evening were thoroughly entertaining and had the audience members captivated throughout the show. The club incorporated elements of audience participation that made these performances all the more engaging.

“There are so many layers to performing. At the beginning, it was just trying to figure out how to hold a microphone, and now it’s thinking about the way I’m standing and how the audience is responding …” said Katherine Rogue, a member of the club. This was evident in the show, as many of the comedians called on or highlighted members of the audience, which made the night all the more interactive. It was a clever way to engage everyone in the room in jokes and dialogue.

Having everyone involved in the jokes made the night quite an individualized experience — there was something for each person to enjoy, from stories of dating mishaps to family conundrums. Laughing along with these comedic bits during the show made everyone feel more familiar with one another.

“I especially like the Milk Parlor because it’s more intimate than other areas … when you get a laugh it just feels like you’re hanging out with friends and having a good time,” said Aayush Patodiya, a sophomore studying civil engineering and member of the club.

It is apparent how much fun the comedians are having onstage, and they ensure audience members are not left out of the experience. Through complex layers of comedy and a wide variety of topical content, the people in the venue are drawn in with each performer.

“To be able to get back in rooms with people and laugh and just be happy — and to actually be in the moment with other humans experiencing something that is fleeting, it’s just so fun,” Rogue said.

The performers in Virginia Tech’s Comedy Club are constantly working and traveling to put on these events for their audience members. The event on March 29 delivered a lot of laughs and inspiration, so if you’re looking for a special way to spend the evening downtown with a group of friends or even get involved in comedy yourself, The Comedy Conglomerate at VT’s performances are well worth the experience. You can find them on Instagram @comcon.vt, on Facebook at The