tWhile some event tickets in Vancouver sell for thousands of dollars, an upcoming series of comedy shows are heading the other direction.
The One Dollar Comedy Show is keeping true to its name, with tickets costing just $1.
"People are going to get a professional-grade comedy show at a laughable price," Club Soda Events founder Conor Levesque tells V.I.A.
Organized by Club Soda, a local supportive sober events collective, the series of three shows this summer is a pilot to see if it's possible to bring $1 tickets to the Vancouver comedy and entertainment scene.
The shows aren't a charity event, and the comedians will be paid, he adds.
Headlining the first show is local roast battle champion Nate Mercer, while veteran comedian Nancy Ho headlines the second. Along with the headliners, there will be five other standups (including The Debaters Katie-Ellen Humphries, Rory Dunn and Niki Mohrdar) each night and improv skits between sets.
Levesque notes that Vancouver has a deep well when it comes to comedy.
How are tickets $1?
To make it all work, he's turned to local sponsors and fundraising all with the goal of offering arts and entertainment at a more affordable cost.
"In running shows, there's always this balance happening of how can we keep costs down while breaking even or even earning a profit," he explains.
To balance out the costs, the show has local sponsors including Slim's BBQ, Princess Plumbing, and The Wilderness Committee.
Paying $1 for a show is funny, too, Levesque adds.
"I don't believe in free events, they don't even sell that well," he says.
Why are the tickets $1?
The cheap tickets aren't a promotional gimmick.
Club Soda aims to offer affordable, sober events across Vancouver. Founded in January of 2024, they've already organized comedy shows, poetry readings, queer and trans variety nights, and more.
"We go out of our way to create events that are radically affordable," he explains.
In that way, it gives people who may be recovering and need a sober space an affordable night out. Often sober events are only a part of the harm reduction world, Levesque says, but he wants to create a "cool and artistic culture around recovery and sobriety."
"Finances should not be a barrier to enjoying life," he adds.
That said, the Club Soda shows are for everyone. Affordable events are something many in Vancouver would be drawn to, he believes.
"I think there are a couple of things that tie Vancouverites together, and one is financial insecurity," Levesque says.
Even when he's run shows at $5 or $10 he has received messages from people asking for free tickets due to financial constraints.
The shows will take place June 29, July 27, and Aug. 31, at the Tightrope Improv Theatre at 2343 Main St. Tickets will not be sold in advance, only at the door.
Levesque notes Club Soda is open to help from those who want to be involved. The organization can be contacted via its Instagram account.
The One Dollar Comedy Show Night 1
When: June 29, July 27, and Aug. 31, 2025. Doors at 7 p.m. Show at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Tightrope Impro Theatre - 2343 Main St
Cost: $1; tickets available at the door only
