In our new series of Faces Behind the Business at Explore Liverpool, we spoke to Mike Drummond who works at Hot Water Comedy Club.
Hot Water Comedy Club is one of the most renowned comedy venues in Liverpool, it was founded back in 2010 and has went from strenghth to strength ever since.
We sooke to Mike about his role at Hot Water Comedy Club and some of his most memroable moments, including having to improvise and be the main act on stage for a change.
How long have you been part of Hot Water Comedy and what is your role there?
I’ve been here for about one and a half years, and I’m currently part of the management team with a focus on the shows and the show manager team.
What inspired you to work in this industry?
I’ve been in hospitality in various forms for over 20 years now, like most people who work in the industry, I kind of fell into it and never left.
It’s the one industry that is reliant on personality and charisma, and in a way allows you to teach, coach and develop people to come out of their shell and discover who they really are.
What’s a typical day like for you at Hot Water Comedy?
The venue itself, Blackstock Market, is a monster, and no two days are ever alike.
We have 3 purpose-built comedy theatres throughout the venue, and coordinating and managing the various shows throughout the venue is a rewarding challenge, as well as being able to problem-solve across the board.
A typical day usually involves preparing the shift and the shows, ensuring the right team are in the right places and then making sure that all departments are delivering the best possible experience to our guests.
What’s the first thing that puts a smile on your face when working at Hot Water Comedy?
The first thing? It sounds a bit mad, but the venue itself is built upon discovery, and that sense of discovery isn’t lost even if you’re there every day.
Walking through the front door, I’m always blown away by the whimsical nature of the design and décor of the building.
It’s the perfect way to put me in the right mood to make everyone else smile.
What makes Hot Water Comedy a special place to work?
It sounds cliché, but it has to be the people.
Like I said earlier, the hospitality industry is based mostly on personality, but as a comedy venue, we take that to the next level.
Every person who works here is a part of the show, and the show starts at the front door.
What has been your most memorable moment working at Hot Water Comedy so far?
I actually get asked this quite a lot, and my answer is always the same.
When Liverpool won the league last season, all of the musicians we tried to book at Blackstock Market to play Liverpool tunes were already booked.
I play a bit of guitar myself, and as a raving Liverpool fan, I already knew the tunes, so I decided to get up on stage and play them myself.
The venue was chocka, and the crowd had a great time. I even got recognised a few times out and about off the back of that!
What do you enjoy most about working in Liverpool?
The incredible variety and diversity of people, cultures and personalities.
Nothing beats a bit of scouse humour, but being able to also welcome tourists from around the world is a privilege that none of us should ever take for granted.
I often wish I could see the city for the first time as a tourist, and I think Blackstock Market and Hot Water Comedy Club is a great representation of the wealth of attractions that we, as a city, have to offer.
What does the future look like for Hot Water Comedy?
What doesn’t it look like?
At the moment, the world is our oyster. We’re still only partly finished with building this venue!
And once that’s done, there’s nothing stopping us from taking Hot Water Comedy further afield.
We’re also expanding our reach with corporate hospitality events, and we’re working on our own version of an annual comedy festival, which I think the city of Liverpool sorely needs.
If someone were visiting Hot Water Comedy for the first time, what would you recommend they try or experience?
As I said earlier, the entire venue is built upon a theme of discovery and exploration, no two visits here should ever be the same.
I don’t want to give you any spoilers, but when you do visit, please explore, ask questions and try a bit of everything.
Whether it’s a free comedy show, a bit of live music, some banging food or the best “Old Fashioned” the city has to offer, there really is no wrong answer.
You can visit the Hot Water Comedy Club website here, you can follow them on Instagram, Facebook or X and you can subscribe to them on YouTube.
