Smoke-free club opens June 3 in Kalispell
If you're looking for a good laugh, there's a new venue in town to tickle your funny bone.
The Laughing Bear Comedy Club has taken up residence in the Fireside Lounge at the WestCoast Kalispell Center Hotel. Don Spencer manages the new smoke-free club and has already lined up a collection of comedians from across the Northwest.
The Laughing Bear Comedy Club breaks out on Kalispell's weekly entertainment scene Friday, June 3, with "The Great Imposter" Jay Wendell Walker. Described by reviewers as the "Heavy Weight Champion of Comedy," Walker offers rapid-fire monologue, stories and hilarious facial expressions. Always fresh and with a flawless delivery, Walker is known for his knack of relating to audiences of all ages.
Though opening night is all about comedy, Spencer will also bring his own hypnotic talent to the stage on a monthly basis.
A trained hypnotist, for the last 15 years Spencer co-starred in his own hypnotist/comedy club in Salt Lake City. His own show was the longest-running show of its kind ever produced anywhere, playing to packed houses of 500 guests for 320 straight weeks.
Spencer's fascination with hypnotism bit him early on. "When I was 12 a friend of mine whose dad used to practice hypnotizing her, showed me how to induce a state of hypnosis," he said in a recent interview. "So I tried it. I loved it. And I never forgot about it."
In college his interests turned toward psychology. While attending undergraduate classes in California he happened on an advertisement that read, "Learn Hypnosis as a Career."
It was as simple as that. He enrolled at the Hypnotism Training Institute of San Diego, graduated a year and a half later and began a career under the guidance of one of the institute's mentors. Eventually, he opened his own business and used hypnotherapy to help people with everything from weight control to smoking cessation.
After leaving Salt Lake, Spencer set out touring and traveled worldwide, landing in such locales as Saudi Arabia, the Philippines and the Caribbean. He married a psychiatrist and upon starting a family, chose to settle in the Flathead Valley last November.
"There's not all that many entertainment options in the Flathead," says Spencer. "People are looking for a nice smoke-free place where they can enjoy a show."
The Fireside will also be offering a dinner show option where guests can either dine in or out on the patio where smoking is permitted. A full dinner menu will be offered and reservations are requested.
The club will serve beer and wine. Soft drinks and bottled water are always on tap. Adults 18 to 21 are also welcome to enjoy the show. IDs are required.
"This is a great date night," says Spencer. "We're just hoping for a good mix of people who want to share the fun."
Starting July 7 the club will host an open microphone night every Thursday where anyone can get up and claim 15 minutes of fame. Acts will be judged and prizes awarded every night. The overall winner will be offered future show dates.
Doors open 7:15 p.m. for seating. Showtime is 8 p.m.
Tickets are $10 at the door for general admission and $12 for preferred seating.
For more details or to check out the summer lineup, log on to the club's Web site at www.laughingbearcomedy.com