Geeky Open Mic
November 2019 – May 2024 at Distant Worlds Coffeehouse
(and virtual during the shutdowns)
a gaggle of geeks: a Geeky Comedy Showcase
- August 24, 2024, at Vermillion with: Naomi Fitter, Juno Men, Bert Walpack, Sarah Hagen, and Valerie Benti.
- April 17, 2024, at Comedy/Bar with: Ann Elise, With Comedy by Tambre Massman, Dallas Chang, JoJo Blacco, Marie Elizabeth Loeb, Silas Lindenstein, Amielle and Valerie Benti.
- July 15, 2023, at Distant Worlds with: Novae Simper, Naomi Fitter, Kyle Bob, Javann Jones, Lindsey Anderson, and Valerie Benti.
- March 23, 2023, at Vermillion with: Jenna Nobs, Rohini, Silas Lindenstein, Paul Curry, Lucy Tollefson, and Valerie Benti.
Bi Bi Bi
A comedy showcase featuring Seattle’s funniest bi performers and maybe future boy’s band, I haven’t asked them yet!
- March 29, 2024, at Charlie’s Queer Books with: Valerie Benti, Gretta Gimp, Sneaky Boo, Megan KD, Ian Crowly, and Theresa Flores.
- June 22, 2023, at Vermillion with: AJ Norris, Zanae Aquino , Jonathan Logerstedt, Tambre Massman, and Theresa Flores; with musical interlude by Valerie Benti.
Medical Horrors
5 storytellers share their personal experience with medicine and health.
- September 21, 2024, at Mudlark Oddities with: Polite Kitty, Liz Thompson, Megan KD, Chris Talbott, and Tambre Massman.
- May 10, 2024, at Mudlark Oddities with: Valerie Benti, JA Fields, Emmett Montgomery, Emma Schmuckler, and Lindsey Anderson.
- February 9, 2024, at Mudlark Oddities with: Polite Kitty, Nesil Izil, Laura Lyons, Ryan Cuddihy, and Lady Catbird.
- September 29, 2023, at Mudlark Oddities with: Polite Kitty, Forest Ember, Valerie Benti, Stevie Rae, and Shayne Larango.
- May 5, 2023, at Mudlark Oddities, with: Andrea Entz, Valerie Benti, Polite Kitty, Shana Pennington-Baird, and Andy Iwancio
SillyCon Vally – A Tech-themed Variety Show
Working in tech can feel like living in a sitcom. So let’s just embrace that! Invest in your favorite start-up idea and join join comics and musicians poking some fun at tech!
- July 17, 2024, at Vermillion with: Rohini, Bernice Larson, Torria Pace, Lindsey Anderson, Laura Lyons, and Valerie Benti.
- December 15, 2023, at Vermillion with: Valerie Benti, Bernice Larson, Srishti Sharma, Zahnae Aquino, Ishtaq Qureshi, and Jackie Calapristi.
- June 22, 2022, at Vermillion with: Javann Jones, Rohini, Juno Men, Swastik, Valerie Benti, and Jackie Calapristi.
Sex Ed: a variety show about things you wish you learned in school
Through comedy, music, and burlesque we explore all the topics we wish we’d learned during sex ed. From consent to safe sex, from more variety in bodies and abilities and sexuality to self-love. This show has it all–or at least more than what you learned in school!
- August 25, 2024, at Jewelbox Theater (RendezVous) with: Tambre Massman, Addie Sison, Ryan Cuddihy, Valerie Benti, Scandal from Bohemia, Tout d’Lou, Ash Midnight, Miss Lola California, Superclit and Squidly.
GEEK OUT!
GEEK OUT! is an educational comedy variety show highlighting the fun(ny) side of research! The show is inspired by the often hilarious and bizarre world of STEM, providing a unique insight on research life and culture and promoting the idea that a scientist can be anybody and everybody! This show, featuring songs, standup, and comedic storytelling, will make you laugh and learn!
- November 16, 2019 at Big Time Brewery with: Kyle Marian, Valerie Bentivegna, Valentina Ferro, Tara Christian, Winlar, and Andy Iwancio.
GeekGirlCon Panels, Workshops, and Performances
2023
The Science of the Post-Apocalypse
With Sarah Sutton (moderator), Ginny Katz, Ashli Blow, Lauren Ré, and KeliAnne Hara-Hubbard
Post-apocalyptic stories and science fiction have always spoken to the imagination. But what would the world and society really look like after an apocalypse? We have 3 million years of apocalypses and natural disasters to tell us how nature recovers after destruction, and how communities reform. Experts from the fields of mycology, public health, and dystopian writers get together to tell us their theories on what could really happen to us… after an apocalypse.
The Past, Present, and Future of Artificial Intelligence
With Jeanna Wheeler (Moderator), Jenn Huff, Gracie Ermi, Ada Zhang, and Joan Palimter Bajorek
We’ve all been talking about it: artificial intelligence taking over our work, our lives, and the world. ChatGPT can write your next movie script, and DALL.E create your next piece of art. Despite our tendency to give AI systems agency, are these systems really “intelligent”? And what does “intelligent” even mean? Experts from the fields of computer science, linguistics, and anthropology explore the past, present, and future of these new technologies.
Make ’em Laugh – Geeky Comedy Workshop
Facilitated by Valerie Benti and Theresa Flores
In this workshop, you will explore stand-up comedy as a tool to tell personal stories about being in the geek space, whether you work in science or tech, are an avid sci-fi enthusiast, or can go on an endless rant about your favorite fandom. You will learn how to brainstorm ideas, deliver jokes, have a stage presence, overcome fear, talk through a microphone, and communicate in an engaging and personal way.
Real Nerds of Comedy
With Valerie Benti, Theresa Flores, Rohini, Jenna Knobs and Sally Jordan
Geeky Comedy Seattle and Silas Lindenstein present: The Real Nerds of Comedy, a hilarious 50 minutes of stand-up comedy that celebrates nerds and nerd culture. This multicultural and multidimensional group of the funniest comedians in Seattle will have you laughing the rest of the convention.
2022
Make’em Laugh – Geeky Comedy Workshop
Facilitated by Valerie Benti and Theresa Flores
Nerdy is the new cool. In this workshop, you will explore stand-up comedy as a tool to tell personal stories about being in the geek space, whether you work in science or tech, are an avid sci-fi enthusiast, or can go on an endless rant about your favorite fandom. There are many reasons to attend this workshop: whether you want to explore an alternative method of communication, you want to increase your self-confidence by pushing your boundaries, or just have a lot of fun. You will learn how to brainstorm ideas, deliver jokes, have a stage presence, overcome fear, talk through a microphone, and communicate in an engaging and personal way, to eventually improve communication, boost-self confidence, and spark creativity. By the end of the workshop, you will have enough material for your own 3-min stand-up gig at the end of the workshop.
2021
Virtual Make ’em Laugh
Workshop your own three-minute standup set with comedian Valerie Bentivegna (that’s me!) and friends. Laugh and learn along with some hilarious geeky comedians. There is an interactive portion, so we recommend having a pencil and paper ready for this workshop!
With clips and tips from Tiara Moore (@curly_scientist), Theresa Flores (@tburger343), Abner Senires (@abnersenires), Umi Om (@umi_om), Rosemarie Keenan (@romyk) and Jackie Calapristi (@JackieJackie121).
Rewatch the full GeekGirlCONline program
Rewatch the Geeky Comedy Workshop:
#SciTalk Workshops and Events
- 2024:
- Science Punch Up: Finding Humor In Your Science; Facilitated by Lexa Graham and Valerie Bentivegna.
- Chiasm Cabaret – a science themed variety show
- 2023: Make ’em Laugh: Science Comedy Workshop; Facilitated by Theresa Flores and Valerie Bentivegna.
Virtual Shows
- July 31, 2021: Too Cool For Magic School
- May 23, 2021: GEEK OUT – The Stimulus Show