Out-of-work comedians bring laughs to Sarasota hospital workers. They hope it’s contagious

Some out-of-work comedians recently brought smiles and laughter to local healthcare workers.

At Doctors Hospital of Sarasota, staff were ushered into a lecture room for a socially-distanced, mini comedy show packed into a 30-minute lunch break. Comics Les McCurdy and Al Ernst delivered quick comedy bits through masks as the hospital staff chowed down on free meals provided by Bonefish Grill. Later, there was a second show for another shift of workers.

“It was exhilarating,” said Ernst, a career comedian and frequent Carnival Cruise Line performer who is out of work for the first time in decades. “The nurses, the doctors, the technical staff, everyone who came in seemed to really enjoy it.”

With his Sarasota comedy club shuttered during the COVID-19 pandemic, McCurdy said he was desperately trying to find something useful to do.

“I wanted to do something good for the general public and bring some awareness to how much the comedy industry is struggling,” said McCurdy, owner and operator of McCurdy’s Comedy Club in Sarasota.

The club, like many other venues, has been temporarily closed since March. It’s the first time in 33 years that McCurdy has not been able to offer gigs to local and touring stand-up artists or perform in front of a live crowd himself.

“We’re one of the hardest hit out there,” McCurdy said of the comedy industry. “There’s very little help on the club side and almost zero help on the performer side.”

McCurdy reached out to Doctors Hospital with the offer to donate a lunch hour comedy show, and, after logistics and safety were worked out, administration gave it a go-ahead. The comedians also agreed to wear face coverings at all times.

Performing through a mask was a new challenge for Ernst, who says he typically relies on facial expressions as he performs.

“I love what Les said: ‘You’ve got to think of it like doing comedy on the radio,’” Ernst recalled.

Now that the first outing of “Laughter Vaccine” was a success, McCurdy wants to take the format to other hospitals in the Sarasota-Manatee area, and possibly beyond.

“We accomplished what we wanted to accomplish: to give the healthcare workers a stress break,” McCurdy said. “And secondly, it looks like we can replicate it in other hospitals.”

Ernst has signed on for more shows, and other comedians have expressed interest as well.

The concept has potential to be a win-win for hospitals and unemployed comedians, according to McCurdy. He says that he hopes to find businesses that have done well during the pandemic and are willing to provide sponsorships. That way, comedians can get paid and the shows can remain cost-free to hospitals.

Through his network of fellow comedy club owners around the U.S., McCurdy also wants to plan a national day of comedy in hospitals this fall.

“You want to do something; you want to give,” said Ernst, who has extra insight into the stress and challenges that medical workers face. Both of Ernst’s parents worked in healthcare, and his wife is a nurse at Blake Medical Center in Bradenton.

Ernst said that he sees the concept continuing even beyond the times of COVID-19.

“I think the administration saw what an attitude shift it created for staff,” Ernst said. “I could see this being something that they do going forward.”

Taking comedy virtual

McCurdy is also near completion on another project to provide some comic relief during the COVID-19 era and support the comedy club.

While watching online comedy events in recent months, McCurdy noticed that many jokes fell flat without the laughter of a live audience.

A new virtual series dubbed “Laugh Trac Comedy” will incorporate canned laugh tracks controlled by McCurdy, which he hopes will add an extra layer of fun.

The shows will be accessible for $9.99.

“We figured if it works here, it’s something that other closed comedy clubs around the country can replicate,” McCurdy said.

Updates about the series will be posted to facebook.com/McCurdysComedyTheatre.