I think some of us need to hug and make up.

As I've been getting my feet deeper and deeper into the quicksand of the Denver comedy scene, I've been to a bunch of shows and started picking my way through the general vibe. I've talked with a bunch of the local comics and learned about their personal experiences, and I'm overwhelmed by the general positivity throughout.

We have a ton of driven people, a lot of people in the "just for fun" category, a bunch that are learning and testing the waters, and then the few that linger in their own pretensions. Which is normal, I think. Not bad in a big sense, but I think it can be mildly harmful in others. Not only to the people on the opposite side of the pretensions, but for the ones harboring that themselves.

I guess it's like anything else. But lately when I've thought of anything else, it leads back to child's play.

I was bullied as a kid, not into oblivion, but most of us at some point have been the butt of the joke in a way that wasn't funny. Perhaps it's the old scars that lead us to make others the butt of the joke. Comedy def has an excellent pull for that, but there is an obvious difference in being a dick and poking harmful fun.

I've been to the 404, the Squire, Lion's Lair, and now Kingas. I've hung out at the New Talent deals and gotten the experience of the Future Legends show at the Improv firsthand. And what I've noticed across the board is that every single one of these places has a group of people dedicated to the success of their space and fiercely committed to their own brand of comedy.

Each has something to bring the table and offers a unique experience to learn and practice the craft. The Squire by far pulls the biggest crowd and has a stage that forces you to be at the top of your game with the help of the crass genius of Greg Baumhauer and the Wrist Deep guys. The Lair is coming into its own under Sam Tallent and Roger Norquist. The 404 with Dick Black has been a long-standing stalwart of Friday nights in the comedy community, offering many comics their start in the game. And now Kingas is moving to the forefront of another different and unique thing to bring to the community with Jordan Doll and the guys behind I Stole Your Baby. I'm probably leaving out some other rooms but as for now, that's where I'm leaving it.

I recently had a few back-and-forths with a well-received comic about town, and I was questioning his thoughts on the matter, and he put it way more eloquently than I ever could, so I'd like to leave you all with this to chew on and hope that it at least offers up a thought that will breed more good-will between stages:

Denver has a great little comedy scene but the town is too small to be talking shit about other comics. You see everyone all the time. It's just as easy to not say anything rather than dump on someone because you don't like their comedy or they way they run their room.

This is our studio and stand up is our canvas. We need all of the open mics.

Thanks to this man. You're a stand-up guy. In all senses of the saying.

Support your fellow comics, Denver. We'll all be better for it.