What People Say About the Comedy Game Show for Entrepreneurs

The audience gets to play

First-time player, SideHustle® LIVE, October 1, 2026, Pershing Hall, Austin, Texas

A first-time player on why SideHustle® LIVE is not a sit-in-the-dark comedy show: the lights stay on, every table plays along on whiteboards, and she won both raffle prizes.

What they said

• “I loved the fact that we got to participate as the audience.”

• “They're usually like a dark sort of event. They're not really part of it. But the lights were on and I felt like I was engaged and part of it.”

• “I felt like creative juices were flowing and I didn't expect that moment also.”

Full transcript

Guest: It was so much fun, a lot of energy. I loved the fact that we got to participate as the audience. The whiteboards brought me right into it. It was a blast, honestly.

Interviewer: And you did also happen to win all the raffles.

Guest: I did. We did not plan this. It was insane.

Interviewer: Win?

Guest: I was so lucky that I won this amazing pair of headphones.

Interviewer: Insane.

Guest: Apple headphones, so nice. And I also won $1,000 toward a special new standing desk.

Interviewer: From Uplift Desk, right?

Guest: From Uplift Desk. The one and only. That was crazy. I think I've been to some comedy shows. They're usually like a dark sort of event. They're not really part of it. But the lights were on and I felt like I was engaged and part of it. I was also surprised because I felt like creative juices were flowing and I didn't expect that moment also. So actually it was fun. I feel like more creative and inspired. Well, friends of friends, new friends. I got to meet the people on stage too, which is pretty cool. I mean, all different kinds. Definitely different industries, different age groups.

Interviewer: Business people in general?

Guest: Some business people, some jokesters, some creatives. Creative. I like, you know, definitely out of my comfort zone in my usual circles, which I think is, that's really important, you know, to get to do that.

Interviewer: Would you come back?

Guest: Definitely.

Interviewer: And who would you bring with you next time?

Guest: Oh, um, I've got quite a few friends. You'll just have to wait and see. Maybe I'll bring two or three friends.

New to the scene, and invited anyway

First-time players, SideHustle® LIVE, October 1, 2026, Pershing Hall, Austin, Texas

Two first-time players who pitched their table idea in round one. One comes from sales, not entrepreneurship or comedy, and says the room made her feel her ideas were valued.

What they said

• “If anyone wants to connect with people in Austin, then they’re invited.”

• “It felt very welcoming to know that my ideas are valued and people are wanting to hear.”

• “Is this a full entrepreneur thing? Is it a comedy thing? I’m not either one of those.”

Full transcript

Guest: Yeah, this is our first time at SideHustle®. We had a blast. We actually presented our idea the first round.

Interviewer: Okay.

Guest: I think we got second, but we were close. We were close to winning. We were close. Well, here’s the funny thing. Someone came up to us after the show and told us that he loved our idea. He remembered it from the first round. He said, your Care Bear idea was so good, I think you should launch it now. He literally said this.

Interviewer: That’s amazing.

Guest: No, I agree. And I think he comes from an entrepreneur background. I come from a sales background. So this is kind of like a new environment to me where I know what I’m selling. So having the new ideas all around me, it felt very welcoming to know that my ideas are valued and people are wanting to hear. So I really enjoyed the environment for sure.

Guest: Oh, 100%. Again, I think it’s like anyone that you want to spend time with is not only someone who cares, but also the smartest people in the room, right? And I feel like everyone around me was bouncing off ideas around each other, and I just knew that it was a community that was easy to be around and knew that it would be accepting, but also I could hear from and learn from. So it was really great to be a part of this. In general, everyone’s super welcoming, nice, funny, everyone’s laughing. And it was a good time.

Guest: I think anyone who’s just looking for community. I think, again, I was kind of nervous. Is this a full entrepreneur thing? Is it a comedy thing? I’m not either one of those. And the fact that I could come here and I can feel included and special knowing that I have a different background. I think it’s just really, if anyone wants to connect with people in Austin, then they’re invited.

Nervous at social events? Only one person pitches

First-time players, SideHustle® LIVE, October 1, 2026, Pershing Hall, Austin, Texas

First-time players on how the show works for nervous people: your table fills out the answer together, and only one person has to stand up and pitch it. They also call out the caliber of the improv comedians on stage.

What they said

• “I’m always nervous at social events. But I’d go anyway. And I had a good time.”

• “The group collectively like fills out your answer to the game and then only one person has to pitch.”

• “You guys are getting some really like good talent up there. Great improv and like comedians, very solid.”

Full transcript

Guest: We saw an improv comedy startup show. Came up with ideas on the fly for businesses. I don’t know. Ideas for businesses or products. The vibe was good. There’s a lot of people here clearly work in tech or like own businesses and startups. And it was fun hearing them kind of like pitch crazy ideas and like a, you know, kind of like interesting non-business setting, like they’re kind of relaxing a little bit more than normal.

Guest: I think everyone has some hesitancy with something that might be seen as networking or getting to know new people. But I think everyone should come. Because I was a little nervous to...

Interviewer: You were nervous.

Guest: I’m always nervous at social events. But I’d go anyway. And I had a good time.

Guest: And I’m going to say a thing that surprised me was maybe like the quality or the caliber of like the comedians on stage. Like I walked in, it was like, oh, I know him. I know her. I’ve seen them at shows around town. So like you guys are getting some really like good talent up there. Great improv and like comedians, very solid.

Guest: I tell people like you come and you join a group when you come to this thing and then the group collectively like fills out your answer to the to the game and then only one person has to pitch. So I think a lot of people get scared because they’re like, oh, no, I’m going to have to stand up in front of all these people and pitch. It’s like, no, no, you just pick your like, you know, outgoing friend, your gregarious friend and they do it for you. So I think that relaxes a lot of people. They’re like, oh, good. I don’t have to like stand up and pitch the thing. I can just be the idea guy.

Not the creative type? A table of salespeople

Lane, first-time player, SideHustle® LIVE, October 1, 2026, Pershing Hall, Austin, Texas

Lane, a first-time player who says he is not a very creative person, on playing at a table of salespeople whose ideas kept coming out practical, and watching the wild ideas from the rest of the room.

What they said

• “I’m not a very creative person.”

• “Our table was a little different because I think we all were like salespeople. So everything we came up with was so practical.”

• “It was definitely an easy vibe from everybody in here. I would definitely come back.”

Full transcript

Interviewer: So, Lane, you just saw SideHustle®?

Guest: I did.

Interviewer: It’s your first time.

Guest: No, it was great. I really like the creative aspect of it. I’m not a very creative person. Quick thoughts, but it’s not always creative. It’s practical. So it’s really interesting to see the aspect of like the people who are creative that come up with these like crazy wild ideas and then everything I came up with was like practical. I was like, oh, I could have won the money, I could have won the money, but never on the funny side. So it’s cool to see the dynamic of different people coming together to figure it out.

Guest: Yeah, it was definitely an easy vibe from everybody in here. Our table was a little different because I think we all were like salespeople. So everything we came up with was so practical. So then we heard somebody and I was like, yeah, we’re gonna back off that idea. We’re gonna back and run. But no, it was a fun time. I think it’s good. I would definitely come back.

A sponsor’s view: founders in the room

GoHighLevel team, SideHustle® LIVE, October 1, 2026, Pershing Hall, Austin, Texas

The GoHighLevel team, a sponsor of the Oct 1 show, on the room: pure curiosity, a lot of laughing, founders and long-time entrepreneurs in the crowd, and leads they planned to follow up on.

What they said

• “You’re rubbing shoulders with anybody that’s a founder.”

• “The vibe was just pure curiosity and just tons of fun.”

• “This is a great place to come hang out and have some laughs.”

Full transcript

Interviewer: Okay, so you guys were a sponsor here today.

Guest: Man, I think the vibe was just pure curiosity and just tons of fun, right? Everybody was laughing, joking. It was really a blast. Wanting to like come or getting to come into something like this was just so much fun. I would definitely like join as a participant next time for sure.

Guest: Oh, I mean, everybody, like, you’re rubbing shoulders with anybody that’s a founder. You know, they’ve been an entrepreneur for a couple years. Like, they know what they’re doing. This is a great place to come hang out and have some laughs.

Interviewer: And did you get some good leads?

Guest: Oh, we got, I think, quite a few. So I’m very excited about it.

Interviewer: That’s great.

Guest: Going to be following up with them tomorrow.