Great Show, Wrong Venue
by 10gamma on 3/25/25The Theater at MGM National Harbor - National HarborRating: 4 out of 5First, let me state that I am a HUGE Bill Bellamy fan, and I have seen him numerous times, mostly in a comedy club.
Bill was hilarious, as usual, but as I watched his performance (from a perimeter seat in the arena), I made the decision that this would be MY LAST TIME attending a standup comedy performance in a large arena! It is just not the same intimacy, clarity, and audience interaction as it is in a good comedy club. I found myself looking at the screen far too often, and I missed some of the jokes as he transversed the cavernous arena stage (something that is far better suited for a musical band with a number of performers, rather than a single comedian).
I will certainly support Bill, Kat, D.L., Dave, and many other award-winning comedians, but my days of trying to hear and comprehend the jokes in large concert venue of this type no longer works for me.
I thought that the other opening comedians on his show were very good, and their performances complimented Bill's show (they work well together, and even the D.J. was on point); but, it will be MY LAST attendance of a standup comedy show in a large arena, and I will only view future standup comedic performances the way that they TRULY are supposed to be.... in a small to midsize comedy club!