Jukebox Comedy Club

The Jukebox is all the negative things people say on here, yes. But if you have any idea about comedy, you will know why it’s amazing.
The owner keeps an incredible balance of recognizable names (we just saw Chris Kattan), up and comers, and local favorites on the schedule. The acts would not be coming without his connections, so we are lucky.
The prices are the other thing. Acts coming through the Civic Center are twice as much. If you go to a comedy club in a big city, you will still pay 25 — 50% more than at the Jukebox. Here, you can see a really big star and still have money left for drinks. Or, yes, a crappy pizza.
He also supports local comedians through amateur contests and amateur nights, as well as letting them have time in front of big names after they earn their chops.
Stop by a couple of times a year, more often if you can. Wednesdays are amateur nights and sometimes you get to see some amazing stuff there, for less than the cost of a movie.

I went there for the first time to see Tom Green, 1-​16-​2015. The show was fantastic, I have lived in the area for more than a dozen years and did not know it existed. It’s small but our seats were stage left and the view was really good, It was surreal to see Tom and he was as funny as ever. The drinks are reasonable and the service was top notch without being overbearing as some can be. I will definitely return when my jaw stops hurting from laughing so much. Great time and a great value, no negatives.

This place could benefit from a relocation. We saw Lachlin Patterson (sp) there a few weeks back and the «races» across the street were drowning him out. I was embarrassed for Peoria. The venue looks a lot like a VFW in the front with a patchwork performance space in the back. It was hot, smelly and cramped. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by the Improv in KC. Anyways, I wouldn’t go back unless there was a GREAT headliner.

I’ve been to this place countless times, and have been to many comedy clubs in other cities as well. Anyone that knows anything about stand-​up comedy as an art-​form likely realizes how lucky the people of Peoria are to have a place like the Jukebox. I keep a close eye on their schedule, and although I may not like the act every week (that’s flat out impossible), they do a great job of booking a mixture of up and coming talent along with some more recognizable stars. They’ve had people like Norm MacDonald, Robert Klein, Gilbert Gottfried, Tommy Chong, Kevin Pollak, and many others. And one of the best things about this place is that is significantly cheaper than most people may think it is. I dare you to compare their prices to the cost of going to a comedy club in Chicago, or even at the Peoria Civic Center, and still say a peep about their ticket prices. Hell, one ticket for Norm MacDonald was half the cost of seeing ANY comedian at the Civic Center. Look it up if you don’t believe me, it’s the plain truth.
I don’t get the complaints I see here either. Every time I’ve been there the staff is always friendly and attentive. The owner is a nice guy and the only time I’ve ever seen him be any other way toward someone it was because they were disrupting the show and ruining it for everyone else. I actually appreciate that, because when I’ve paid money to see a show the last thing I want is some idiot screwing it up by heckling or talking during the show. I’ve been to comedy clubs that don’t do anything about it and it is incredibly frustrating.
The complaints you see are likely from people that tend to find something negative about damn near anything. Ignore them, and decide for yourself whether you like this place or not. I love it and will continue to go there as often as possible.

Great club. They occasionally get big names, but keep the prices down. Have seen Paula Shore, Doug Benson (Super High Me) and two of the Broken Lizard crew here, Kevin Heffernan and Steve Lemme.

After several visits, I would have to say the entire experience would be improved by the owner being less of a bully. He is always SUPER crabby and gets really pissed if you want to pay by credit card. He is the only one checking people in before a show and swiping their credit cards so the line is out the door and he only gets madder the more people show up to spend money. He discourages you stopping at the bar on the way in to grab a drink but then once you sit down, sometimes the show has started before a server comes by. He once made an announcement blaming a specific customer (by their whole name) for being late and holding up the show. Why is the show held up for one late person who pre-​bought a ticket? Just make him stumble in in the dark and get made fun of by the comedien and that will fix any future lateness.
The comedy here has been hilarious, pee your pants funny but also so bad we have walked out mid-​show. It’s really hard to guess too. The «talent» we walked out on was pretty well known although it was the late show that was terrible. Maybe because of the location & look of the place some comediens think they can blow it off? Every single comedien we have seen makes a joke about the race track and the strip club next door. It kind of gets old, but I guess it’s their way of making their humor city-​specific?
Recipie for a good time here: Bring cash and avoid eye contact wtih the owner. Only go to the 8pm shows. Get at least 2 drinks every time the server comes by.

If you like to laugh you will not be disappointed. Every time I come here with my friends we have a great time and our stomachs hurt from laughing. The room itself is a little close-​spaced, but having some good entertainment in Peoria makes up for it!

I’ve been here twice and had fun both times. I have to say, however, the 2^nd time was superb.
Why, you ask?
Because I got to see one of my favorite SNL comedians-​Norm Macdonald! He was hilarious AND when I met him afterwards, I got a kiss. oh yes, he kissed my cheek!
The only downside to that night was the drunk hecklers right in front of us, but the employees did a good job of getting them to shut up.
They offer good drinks here (which are pretty cheap), pizza, popcorn, and that sorta thing. Tickets vary in price depending on who is there. For Norm, we paid $ 30/​person.
Fun times! LOVE Comedy Clubs.

Went here Friday (10÷23÷09) night to see Mike Armstrong. There are two parts to the club. You enter into the «lounge» which looks like an abandoned 1950’s diner with the checkerboard floor, tables and stools. The bar is here. Drinks are very reasonably priced.
The performance room is a low ceilng, dimly lit affair with small, uncomfortable tables and chairs. If you called ahead for tickets then you have a table already assigned to you.
The menu is just pizza and nachos. The pizzas are frozen and cooked in little pizza ovens behind the bar, but were still pretty tasty.
The MC would have been funnier if all of his jokes hadn’t been so left leaning.