Distinct clubs make up UNC comedy scene

The UNC comedy scene is about to enter a new era as False Profits, Chapel Hilarity Club and Chapel Hill Players are set to perform in their first-ever joint charity comedy show on Nov. 9.

All of these organizations are technically classified as ‘comedy clubs,’ but the similarities between them end there.

Chapel Hilarity is a group that focuses on stand-up comedy, while both CHiPs and False Profits are comedy groups that primarily practice improv and sketch comedy.

Chapel Hilarity is the youngest of all three comedy organizations on campus and was started last semester by junior Robert Haisfield. He said he decided he wanted to create a space for students like himself who wanted to participate in open mic nights.

“Our goal is to make sure comedy is accessible to everyone,” Haisfield, president of Chapel Hilarity, said. “We want to have a few more people coming to our meetings on Wednesdays in Dey 313 at 6 p.m. and bigger audiences for the open mics. We’re pretty new — we literally just started last semester — so these things will come with time.”

Haisfield said the biggest difference between Chapel Hilarity and the two other groups on campus is structure.

“We don’t actually have auditions,” he said. “People just show up with their material and they just run it by and we have workshops to improve it and then they perform.”

Haisfield said his club has attracted many UNC students interested in comedy.

“It’s just a fun time being able to get up and tell some jokes and make people laugh,” said senior Jordan Thomas, a member of Chapel Hilarity. “I’ve always had an affinity for comedy and this gives me a way to do something I love.”

Like Chapel Hilarity, False Profits is looking for anyone who is interested in comedy to come out and audition to be a part of the club, said president Peter McWilliams.

“The best thing about comedy is that you are able to take your own relatable experiences and relay them to a world and connect to people,” McWilliams said. “The more diversity and diverse experiences we’re able to bring to our club the better.”

He said in the past, False Profits made a Snapchat geo filter to advertise for one of their performances.

“We always try to have some sort of theme or focus for our shows,” McWilliams said. “Because our last show was art-themed, we had a huge frame where people could pose and recreate paintings.”

Chapel Hilarity and False Profits, which was started four years ago, are much younger than CHiPs, which has been on campus for more than 20 years.

Zach Ward, the founder of CHiPs, is also the founder of DSI comedy club located off of Franklin street.

Andrew Aghapour, the school director for DSI, works to put on and host various improv, sketch comedy and stand-up trainings at DSI for anyone interested in comedy.

“CHiPs does shows regularly here,” Aghapour said. “We love to feature them on our stage.”

Bobby Decker, the director of CHiPs, said his group always tries to make CHiPs shows high energy.

“It for sure takes time to set groundwork for a show with advertisements, but once we get people in the door we want to make sure we give them a show so that they’ll tell their friends and continue to come back,” Decker said.

Decker said a lot of CHiPs success can be attributed to his fellow club members.

“You know of course I’m biased, but I just think our team is really talented and special,” he said. “We’ve got some of the most talented and kindest people. It’s rare to have that combination in a group and to have friends and people around you that constantly inspire you.”

@MalinCurry

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