Evansville built its comedy scene from scratch. No touring acts stopped here, so locals started their own rooms. Downtown draws crowds hungry for entertainment they don't have to drive to Louisville for. West Side hosts the working-class energy, audiences who appreciate effort over polish. The open mic circuit here rewards showing up. North Side and East Side book the neighborhood crowds. Newburgh brings the suburban overflow. What Evansville offers is ownership: comics here built the scene themselves, and the audiences respect that.