Some stand-ups know how to work a room. "Crowd work" is the art of chatting with the audience when on stage. When done right, it creates a conversational atmosphere -- sometimes building a bridge to a comedian's best jokes, and sometimes leading to totally unscripted, in-the-moment laughs.

Here in the DMV, Tim Miller is one of the best at crowd work. At Read the Room he hosts a lineup of local talents doing predominantly crowd work. Join him in our lounge showroom for what could be a unique, unforgettable live comedy experience.

Tim D. Miller (official website) is a master at engaging audiences and crafting a stand-up set that is a guaranteed good time for all. Tim’s material is based on his life experience from Waco to the Army to the White House, trying to raise a daughter, and his unique ability to find the funny in everyday life. Tim has appeared on TRU TV and in 2019 he performed at Comedy Central’s Clusterfest. He is the producer and host of "Read the Room," a crowd work showcase. Tim won Comedy Kumite 7.2 (summer 2016) at the DC Improv, along with Kumite 15.1 (spring 2018), Kumite 19.2 (spring 2019) and Kumite 25 (online, spring 2020). He was a finalist at Comedy Kumite XL (summer 2023).

One of the most popular science comedians in the country, Adam Ruben has appeared on the Food Network, the Travel Channel, the Weather Channel, Discovery International, PBS, NPR, Netflix, and hosts shows like “Outrageous Acts of Science” and “What on Earth?” on the Science Channel. When he’s not working in the lab or writing his monthly humor column in the otherwise respectable journal Science, Adam travels to conferences and universities (in >30 states and 6 countries so far) to have fun with–and make fun of–science.

No stranger to the stage, Ashley Mayo studied at the Studio Theatre acting conservatory and began her career in comedy shortly after graduating college. Her unique material, delivery, energetic stage presence and charisma have won over audiences throughout the DMV.

From Richmond, Va., Patrice DeVeaux has been traveling doing standup all over the country, opening for Orlando Jones, Chaunté Wayans, Tony Woods, and the legendary Adele Givens. Patrice is a writer, producer, and creative curator. She has appeared on several television shows, including "News One Now With Roland Martin," "Kill Tony," and "Revolt TV." She has also been featured on Kenan Thompson’s Ultimate Comedy Experience. Patrice has performed at the legendary Apollo Theater in NYC & internationally in the Netherlands.

Gray West has made a name for himself as a yellow brick road comedian with his high-energy and hilarious performances. Hailing from Washington, DC, Gray has been winning hearts across the United States. He has also had the opportunity to open for well-known comedians such as Sydnee Washington, Beth Stelling, Teddy Carpenter and Isa Medina. Gray is one to watch in the comedy world with his unique style and positivity.