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James Dolce, the owner of Governors Club where C.K.
made fun of the Parkland-shooting survivors,had no qualms: You know who youre coming to see.
The people who were upset about it probably werent at the show.
He got a standing ovation.
Many club owners and talent bookers agree, especially given the cash windfall,while others believeC.K.
should never be heard from again.
Vulture reached out to 70 club owners, managers, and talent bookers to discuss their feelings on C.K.
From enthusiastic to profanely against it, here are their responses.
My shows are created for the audience.
I feel a responsibility to the ticket buyer to create an experience that I can fully stand behind.
Swim at your own risk caters to a particular audience who lead a more privileged life.
It shows that the venue lacks a general sense of social awareness.
And if money is the main factor driving someones creative endeavors, it is time to reevaluate.
For people hoping for redemption, were all human and mistakes are going to be made.
so that earn that chance I ask, Have you done the work?
Do you take responsibility for causing life-lasting damage to people?
Saying that you are sorry is just the beginning.
What portions of your proceeds are you donating to organizations that fight against sexual violence?
Its not the victims responsibility to forgive you, but are you doing anything to earn their forgiveness?
I dont think theres any question that he would be able to draw people.
Im honestly shocked that he decided to come back this quickly.
This was like a blink of an eye, right?
Also, hes rich enough to just go away forever.
Clearly it shows his narcissism that he needs this so badly that he needs it so soon.
I dont want him in front of an audience in my place.
Hes welcome to perform wherever he wants.
I imagine he said that in an attempt to sound funny.
Its his fault he lost money.
Mike Mulloy, comedian and host-organizerFadedandOn Deck(Los Angeles, California)Louis C.K.
can toss my salad and peel my potatoes.
Hes sorry he got caught.
Hes sorry for himself.
He doesnt need to do stand-up to make a living.
Hes a fucking millionaire.
He should have to sit out twice as many years as he lied about it.
He should have to sit out twice as long as the women whose careers hes directly impacted.
Any comic who disagrees can kiss my ass.
I dont care if theyre a genius.
Comedy is a workplace, and if they do those things, they are not good at their job!
We dont need them.
Someone else will hire them.
Lets give stage time to the thousands of amazing comics who dont need a disclaimer at the door.
Anyone that does anything to compromise that atmosphere isnt welcome at our festival.
Obviously that leaves a lot of gray area in between, so really its a case-by-case basis.
I would argue against booking a known offender who hasnt made any attempts to redeem themselves.
I believe that and feel a duty to protect that concept.
Id want those in the audience that night to know he was going to appear.
They would be at the club specifically to see Louie.
I wouldnt spring his appearance on an unsuspecting audience.
I dont like creeps and had to say no to a famous name because our audience trusts us.
If I hear anything, youre banned from the club.
I typically only book comics that are on their way up, not down to prison.
Believe me, were the small guy.
Angela: Yeah, there are people that are well-known for being sexual predators.
Everyone knew but he couldve been stopped years ago.
We have to think about our staff.
Or as Dave said, what if they find a customer they decide to go home with?
It could be a matter of liability.
I want to be on the right side of history, too.
We give a shot to take it on before it gets to the Louis C.K.
We dont want these people to even start in comedy.
Brian Thompson, general managerSide Splitters(Tampa, Florida)Louis is going to sell tickets.
Theres something to be said for admitting that you may have done some things wrong.
Of course, there are still morals that you know you would hold anybody to.
I wouldnt hesitate to book him.
Booking somebody doesnt necessarily mean youre condoning things they may have done or been accused of, either.
I believe in second chances and like to be open-minded about things.
Certainly if I was one of the alleged victims I would hate to see his name on things.
Id hate to see him on TV and all.
popping in doesnt do anything for the club and Im not okay with it.
The way that hes coming about this isnt the right way to do it.
You dont get to just walk in and be that guy anymore.
I dont know what it will take for him to overcome that with me personally.
He has every platform available to him to do that and he hasnt.
Thats whats so irritating.
goes out and enough people want to see him, then I guess enough time has passed.
The truth is somewhere in between, right?
He admitted to making mistakes.
If he came in wanting to work the Stress Factory, Id take it into consideration.
If we put Louis C.K.
on tomorrow and it sells out, does that make it okay?
The real test would be if this guy was a nobody.
The truth of the matter is, if he was a nobody, his career would probably be over.
The forgiveness line is always close to the money line.
And if enough people can make money, hes going to have a fantastic career.
He would have to be psychotic.
Would there be negativity from the community?
But would there be enough negativity to offset the public demand to see him?
That would not be true forBill Cosby, for instance.
Every case has to be taken on its own.
We did it anyway and it was successful.
Everybodys got a different threshold of what they can stand.
The public is different.
Theyre touchier, but I still think that if Louis C.K.
got booked into a 2,000-seat venue, he would sell it out.
Im sure itll come out within a few years.
People go, Well I dont want to see it because its full of morally queasy issues.
Comedians reveal who they are onstage.
Its an act but its not an act, right?
Hes done some unlikable things, and it comes with great discomfort to book these people.
What Ive seen from Louis is no remorse exhibited.
Hes not giving two shits about the harm he caused these people.
Their voices have been silenced.
I agree with my my boss [Mark Breslin].
Thats how they earn their living.
I would book him in a heartbeat for a couple of reasons.
Number one, stand-ups are supposed to be controversial.
Theyre the people that poke the buttons of people.
Number two, he was never charged with a crime, so where do you draw the line?
You dont invite a predator into your home.
But as a business, absolutely I would book Louis C.K.
Hes a brilliant comedian.
Any comedy-club booker that worries about a comedian hurting their business is in the wrong business.
Louis hasnt been charged with any crime.
I havent heard of any formal complaints or criminal charges.
I separate the art from the artist.
As far as people protesting, they have every right to do that.
Like every stand-up comedian says, If you dont like my material and youre offended, leave.
