Building a Pop-Up Comedy Club in Iowa w/ Matt Banwart | Pastor Bullsh*t #10

Today I sat down with comedian and producer Matt Banwart, who’s starting a pop-up comedy club in Des Moines, Iowa — despite having “$500 in the bank and $2K in debt.” Matt breaks down how he’s bootstrapping an indie club from scratch, booking national headliners, and proving you don’t need investors to build a scene.We talk about the economics of starting a club with no money, why Austin’s comedy ecosystem actually works, and how comics can market themselves like small business owners. Matt shares why social media is non-negotiable for modern comedians, how he spots breakout comics before they blow up, and why the Midwest might secretly be the next big comedy hub.We also get into the rise of “showcase culture,” the myth of “comedy purists” who won’t post clips, and how to survive the chaos of the scene without losing your mind (or your rent money).📍 Chapters00:00 – Starting a Pop-Up Comedy Club in Iowa02:00 – Building a Venue with No Money & No Staff04:30 – Why Des Moines Is the Perfect Test Market07:00 – Local Comedy Politics & The Indie Scene Trap09:00 – Social Media or Starve: The Modern Comic’s Dilemma12:30 – How to Market Standup Without Posting Standup15:00 – Turning Analytics into Laughter18:00 – Comedy Clubs, Crowd Work & Camera Angles22:00 – Austin vs. Chicago vs. New York Comedy Scenes27:00 – The Mothership Effect & Austin’s Comic Cliques31:00 – Showcase Culture and Club Quality Control34:00 – Why Austin’s Scene Is Actually Thriving40:00 – Alt Comedy, Theater Kids & Hamilton Slander47:00 – Building an Audience of 5,000 True Fans55:00 – How Roast Battles Went Viral1:00:00 – Advice for Comics Who Want to Build Something Real👇 Follow Matt Banwart📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matt_banwart/🎭 Tour Dates: https://www.mattbanwart.com💥 Support the Show & Unlock Bonus ContentPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/thejimmyclifford🧢 Follow Jimmy CliffordInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejimmyclifford/Twitter: https://x.com/notjimcliffordTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thejimmyclifford📢 SPONSORSWant to sponsor Pastor Bullsht*? Hit us up: [email protected]