Get to know the formats
Stand-up or improv?
Stand-up puts a comedian and their point of view at the center of the show. Expect prepared jokes, stories, observations, and sometimes conversation with the audience. A hosted showcase introduces several comedians, so the style changes as each person takes the mic.
Improv comedy is created in the moment. Performers build characters, scenes, and situations together, often from an audience suggestion. Crowd work during a stand-up set can be spontaneous too, but it does not make the entire show an improv performance.
| Format | What you can expect | Choose it for |
|---|---|---|
| Stand-up comedy | Comedians sharing jokes, stories, and their own perspective. | A range of voices and a show built around the mic. |
| Improv comedy | Scenes and characters developed spontaneously by the performers. | The surprise of watching a story take shape on stage. |
| Comedy brunch | A comedy show paired with the option to order brunch and drinks. | An afternoon plan that brings food and live entertainment together. |
At Poe’s Comedy Cabaret, our brunch series centers on hosted stand-up. Check the individual performance listing for the announced lineup and format. If you are looking specifically for improv shows in Baltimore, make sure the listing identifies an improv performance before booking.
Looking for a Baltimore comedy club?
Think about the room as well as the names on the bill. An intimate show lets you settle in close to the action, hear a mix of performers, and enjoy the shared laughter of a small audience.
Poe’s Comedy Cabaret brings that comedy club atmosphere to LB Tavern inside the Lord Baltimore Hotel. It is a monthly, 50-seat brunch series in downtown Baltimore. Walter Gottlieb hosts, and the guest comedians rotate. We keep the current performance and its confirmed lineup together so you can see who is appearing at the show you choose.
Meet our comedy talent for a feel for the performers in our community. A talent profile is an introduction; the individual show listing tells you who is booked.
Why make it a comedy brunch?
It starts with a table, the menu, and time to order. A close-up magician provides the opening entertainment during ordering, before Walter introduces the main comedy show. The stand-up is the main act; the magic adds a little surprise to the start of your visit.
Bring friends, plan a relaxed date, or add a live show to a downtown Baltimore weekend. Show admission and dining are separate, so you can choose your own food and drink order from LB Tavern. Mimosas and other drinks are available for purchase.
Our comedy brunch visit guide covers admission, the food and drink minimum, directions, and parking before you book.
