Amsterdam may not be the first city that comes to mind when thinking of American comedy, but it's a place where some of the biggest names in the business got their start. Boom Chicago, an improv theater that opened its doors back in 1992, has been churning out stars like Seth Meyers, Jordan Peele, Amber Ruffin, and Jason Sudeikis.
The story begins with Andrew Moskos and Pep Rosenfeld, two recent Northwestern graduates who were struggling to make it big in Chicago's comedy scene. They hatched a plan to open an English-language improv club in Amsterdam, knowing that the city's reputation for being unfunny wouldn't exactly be a selling point for their venture. But despite the skepticism of locals, including the tourist board, the duo persevered and eventually found success.
The first Boom Chicago show was held in a back room of a bar, and it quickly gained popularity among expats and locals alike. The club's unique approach to improv, which emphasized teamwork and audience interaction, helped to set it apart from traditional comedy clubs.
One key to Boom's success is its ability to attract top talent from the US comedy scene. Moskos and Rosenfeld made a point of scouting out fresh faces, like Seth Meyers and Ike Barinholtz, who went on to become some of the biggest names in American comedy.
Today, Boom Chicago is still going strong, with a global corporate events arm that brings together banter and business. The club's alumni reunion was recently held, featuring some of its most successful graduates, including Seth Meyers, Brendan Hunt, and Jason Sudeikis.
For many who have worked at Boom, the experience has been life-changing. "Boom Chicago is like a can opener," says Ike Barinholtz. "You're better off with the electric version." The club's ability to foster creativity and collaboration has helped to launch the careers of some of America's most talented comedians.
In short, Amsterdam may not be the first city that comes to mind when thinking of American comedy, but it's a place where some of the biggest names in the business got their start. Boom Chicago is proof that with hard work, determination, and a little bit of luck, anything is possible – even in a city that's often been dismissed as unfunny.
The story begins with Andrew Moskos and Pep Rosenfeld, two recent Northwestern graduates who were struggling to make it big in Chicago's comedy scene. They hatched a plan to open an English-language improv club in Amsterdam, knowing that the city's reputation for being unfunny wouldn't exactly be a selling point for their venture. But despite the skepticism of locals, including the tourist board, the duo persevered and eventually found success.
The first Boom Chicago show was held in a back room of a bar, and it quickly gained popularity among expats and locals alike. The club's unique approach to improv, which emphasized teamwork and audience interaction, helped to set it apart from traditional comedy clubs.
One key to Boom's success is its ability to attract top talent from the US comedy scene. Moskos and Rosenfeld made a point of scouting out fresh faces, like Seth Meyers and Ike Barinholtz, who went on to become some of the biggest names in American comedy.
Today, Boom Chicago is still going strong, with a global corporate events arm that brings together banter and business. The club's alumni reunion was recently held, featuring some of its most successful graduates, including Seth Meyers, Brendan Hunt, and Jason Sudeikis.
For many who have worked at Boom, the experience has been life-changing. "Boom Chicago is like a can opener," says Ike Barinholtz. "You're better off with the electric version." The club's ability to foster creativity and collaboration has helped to launch the careers of some of America's most talented comedians.
In short, Amsterdam may not be the first city that comes to mind when thinking of American comedy, but it's a place where some of the biggest names in the business got their start. Boom Chicago is proof that with hard work, determination, and a little bit of luck, anything is possible – even in a city that's often been dismissed as unfunny.
. Boom Chicago's success story is pretty inspiring - two young dudes from Northwestern grad school who just wanted to make it big and ended up changing the comedy game. And now their alumni are killing it, with Seth Meyers and Jason Sudeikis being just a few examples 
. I guess you could say Amsterdam's got some 'gouda' vibes for comedy 
.
. I mean, it's dope that Boom Chicago was able to turn the tables on locals who didn't think they'd succeed. Those guys must've done something right with their team-based improv style 
. But what really gets me is how they managed to bring in top talent from the US comedy scene 
. I guess you could say it's a win-win for everyone - locals get some laughs, and expats get a taste of the good stuff 
. Still, I wonder how much credit Boom Chicago deserves for launching careers like Seth Meyers' 
? Wasn't he already doing pretty well before Boom came along? 
It's interesting how Moskos and Rosenfeld's perseverance paid off, despite initial skepticism from locals. The club's unique blend of teamwork, audience interaction, and corporate events has proven to be a winning formula. 
I'd love to see more research on the role of improv in fostering creativity and collaboration in comedy. 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to start a comedy club in Amsterdam and prove all the naysayers wrong? It's like they took every "Amsterdam isn't funny" comment and used it as fuel for their success 
. And can we talk about how they managed to turn the city into a hub for American comedians? It's like they knew exactly what people wanted – a healthy dose of sarcasm and absurdity with their beer 
. And now, Boom Chicago is still killing it, even if it's just hosting corporate events that involve awkward networking conversations 
. All in all, I'm just glad someone proved me wrong about Amsterdam being unfunny 
.
. The fact that two dudes with a crazy idea managed to make it happen is pretty cool 
. And let's be real, if the tourist board didn't think they'd succeed, then maybe they wouldn't have bothered trying so hard 
. It's all about taking risks and seeing things through, you know?
. It's awesome to see how it's helped launch careers for so many talented comedians 
. The fact that Boom Chicago is still thriving all these years later is just amazing, especially considering the whole "Amsterdam isn't funny" thing 
.
. I mean, who wouldn't want to perform in Amsterdam, right? The city's got a certain charm to it... if you're into that whole "expat party scene" vibe 
.
. Those two dudes just went for it and managed to turn the city into an improv hub! I love how they attracted top talent from the US scene - it's like they created this ecosystem that fosters creativity 
️ But on the other hand, maybe Amsterdam's whole "unfunny" rep is actually a good thing? I mean, if people are skeptical of you at first, they're more likely to appreciate your humor later... right? 
. The fact that Boom Chicago had to work extra hard to prove itself makes their success all the more sweet. Plus, it's dope to see how they've been able to create this global brand that combines comedy and business. It's definitely given me some food for thought on how we can apply similar strategies to other industries 
.