In for a comedy ride? This new venue in Bandra is where you should be heading

A smile is right around the corner goes the old tiresome phrase It feels like a sarcastic remark by the subconscious as we run through the rain into the cover of Smoke House Deli in Pali Hill A few floors above us an early audience gathers for the first show at the Spades Mumbairsquos Comedy Open HouseFounder and showrunner Sahil Kale is busy managing guests and technical details as he greets us at the door of the cosy performance space This might be his first venue in the city but Kale has been in comedy for almost a decadeAudience enjoys the showKale stepped into comedy in 2016 and managed and produced gigs alongside his comedy routines ldquoI realised that standup comedy requires more skill and time than I could deliver but I still loved the vibe of the industryrdquo he sharesIn 2019 he set up the first Spades Comedy Club in Baner Pune While the venue has become a regular Kale admits that the reach is limited ldquoThe audience in Pune also prefer to stay close to their neighbourhoods when opting for leisurerdquo he revealsMunawar FaruquiBandra was a natural choice to expand for it allows access and reach The space previously housed another performance venueIt also appeals to all demographics the founder explainsThe new venueAs if to prove the point we find ourselves a couple of rows behind rapper Srushti Tawade sharing some banter with Munawar Faruqui It is a familiar vibe to both the audience and the performers comedian Aakash Mehta quipsSpades Mumbai was set up in the first week of July The Pune experience helped Kale admits The first performers were friends and colleagues who were only happy to turn up for the opening day With its comfy chairs close proximity to the stage and a cosy setting it made for a relaxed experienceSahil Kale PicsAishwarya DeodharThe gig moves smoothly After a slight delay mdash normal considering the July rains mdash the crowds saunter in A curtained enclosure serves as a green room for the performers Pranit Morersquos opening act is followed by familiar names such as Rajat Sood Urjita Wani and Aaditya KulshresthaThe crescendo arrives with Faruqui and Mehtarsquos finale at the end of the 90 minutes Both comics delight in their subtle sly takes on societyrsquos schadenfreude ldquoDonrsquot go and tweet against me on the outsiderdquo warns Faruqui with a smile Engaging as it is running a comedy club entails more grind than banter Kale also works on brand management live production and promotion of talent through the venue which help support the commercial aspects of the business ldquoA comedy club cannot survive purely on comedyrdquo he says The venue will also host weekly open mics and live performances to diversify contentYet is there a risk of entering a crowded space we wonder Kale disagrees ldquoBandra is crowded with entertainment offerings but it also means that people are showing up It is the perfect opportunity for us to build a space that attracts budding artistsrdquo he concludes Till then we shall laugh alongTill July 27 8 pm onwardsAt SpadesMumbai above Smoke House Deli Pali Hill Bandra WestLog on to inbookmyshowcomCost Rs 399 onwards