Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Pidge.

Hi Lisa , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?

I was at a stage in my life when I had the chance to start again after a long-term relationship ended about twelve years ago. I took a chance and did what I truly loved—returning to the entertainment industry—because the company we ran together was also going out of business. I used to work for a renowned talent management company in Los Angeles shortly after graduating from college. I loved it and worked there for just about three years. I lived off Sunset Blvd, three blocks from cool spots like The Comedy Store and Laugh Factory. However, at that time, my family and relationships took some unexpected turns, so I returned to my home in the San Francisco Bay Area.

After my nearly ten-year relationship ended, I made the decision to launch a new business. It had been nearly 20 years since my LA days. So, in the harvest/crush of 2014, after the breakup, I started Crushers of Comedy, a comedy production company based in the Sonoma Valley wine country. I got in touch with friends, a few of whom were comedians, and whom I had met while working in Los Angeles. Crushers of Comedy presents world-class stand-up comedy shows at sought-after wineries. The niche is comedy and wine! In time, I opened The Laugh Cellar, a comedy club in wine country, which we had to close because of the horrific 2017 fires in our county. Following that, The Laugh Cellar, now called The Laugh Cellar powered by Crushers of Comedy, returned to its roots of presenting shows at Napa and Sonoma Valley wineries. And here we are, 10 years later and going strong.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

Overall, I would say it has been a pretty smooth rode, and I’m lucky for that. However, naturally, life brings on obstacles. I’m an entrepreneur and a mom of a child with a disability so work and life can sometimes feel very heavy. Our daughter is on the autism spectrum and nonverbal. But the great thing about being lucky enough to have my own business: I get to choose what to do next, I can make my own schedule, and have flexibility so that I can always be there for our daughter and spend a ton of quality time with her. Coming up against obstacles in life and business has truly made me take to heart that nothing is impossible.

When we have a challenge with the business (and even in my personal life), I go back to the core of my company’s mission statement of embracing a ‘spirit of cooperation’ in which individuals and organizations live and work together for the common good. I remember and recognize that each team member and business partner is vital to our company’s success and that their loyalty and motivation are the means by which we will all succeed.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

The Laugh Cellar is a family-run stand-up comedy production company based in the Sonoma Valley wine country, and I’m its founder. Our niche is comedy and wine! Together with my wife, Carlee, I manage the business and produce the shows. The organization is well-known for booking top comedians to entertain in stunning venues such as wine caves, barrel rooms, vineyards, and wine crush pads. We genuinely care about every aspect of the production, the comedians, our winery partners, our sound engineers, and every single attendee, which is what makes our events unique among other shows in the area. For everyone to have the time of their lives at one of our shows, we want them to feel at home and welcome. And, we have sincere relationships with many professional comedians, and we just adore them. Many have become like family.

What’s next?

My sincere desire is to simply accept each day as it comes. Soon, my wife and I hope to enroll our daughter in music classes, possibly drumming. She’s going to jam!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.crushersofcomedy.com/
• Instagram: https://www.crushersofcomedy.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelaughcellar/

Image Credits

Headshot – Gwen Rodgers