About this Event
WHAT IS COMEDY DOJO?
Comedy Dojo is a 4-week stand-up comedy program designed for new comedians (0–2 years) and beginners who want real reps, real feedback, and real stage time, not vague motivation.
This is not a lecture. This is not therapy. This is work.
You’ll write, test, and refine a 3–5 minute stand-up set with live feedback from club owners, producers, and working comedians, then perform it in a public showcase at Backroom Comedy Club.
WHAT YOU GET
✔ Weekly Sunday Workshops (6:00–7:45 PM)
Hands-on sessions focused on:
- Joke structure & fundamentals
- Writing efficiently
- Reading a room
- Curation your own audience
- Understanding how comedy rooms actually operates
✔ Live Feedback; Not Notes
You’ll receive direct, honest feedback from:
- Club owners
- Producers
- Professional, working comedians
✔ Guaranteed Stage Time
Participants receive guaranteed access to open mics every Wednesday & Friday during the program (optional but strongly encouraged).
✔ Public Showcase / Initiation Ceremony
All participants perform in a public showcase the following month; where everything comes together.
✔ Access to the Backroom Ecosystem
Graduates gain pathways into the Backroom ecosystem (stage time, barking, show running, bar support, and more).
No promises. Just access—and what you do with it.
WHO THIS IS FOR
- Brand new comedians
- Comedians with 0–2 years experience
- People who feel “stuck” and want structure
- Anyone serious about learning stand-up properly
No experience required.
WHO THIS IS NOT FOR
- People looking for a “safe space”
- People who want praise instead of feedback
- People unwilling to get on stage
- People treating comedy casually
This program is respectful, professional, and honest.
DATES
🗓 Choose your cohort at checkout:
- February 1 – February 22
- March 1 – March 22
- April 5 – April 26
🕕 Sundays: 6:00–7:45 PM
(Wednesday & Friday mics run separately)
PRICING
🎫 $300 Full Pay
🎟 Payment Plan: $150 deposit + 2 × $100 payments ($350 total)
Capacity: 14 participants per cohort
No refunds. Transfers to a future cohort may be considered.
LED BY
Brandon Sobel & Ariel Kagan
Club owners, producers, and working comedians at Backroom Comedy Club.
Comics who’ve come through this room now signed at Yuk Yuk’s, Absolute Comedy, The Corner, and beyond, including a K*ll Tony Golden Ticket winner.
FINAL NOTE
Comedy Dojo is not about becoming famous.
It’s about learning how stand-up actually works, from the inside of a working club.
If you’re ready to put in the reps, welcome.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Backroom Comedy Club, 814 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON, Canada
CAD 161.95 to CAD 322.41
