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 (linktree) 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).

Comedy Central: Up Next (2019)

Instagram: @theblacktimmiller

Jacques Kindle is a comedian based in Washington, DC. Jacques won Comedy Kumite 23.1 and 23.2 (winter 2020) at the DC Improv.

Instagram: @jokesonjacq

Joey Friedman began performing at her parents' dinner table in Monsey, NY. As a cancer survivor, she has nothing to fear and delivers jokes with an unshakable frankness. She produces shows in the Washington, DC, area.

Instagram: @joeythelady

A seasoned performer with a distinct perspective, hilarious observations and silly insights, Glenn Lawrence has been cracking up audiences from California to D.C. with his offbeat takes on marriage, dating and raising kids not necessarily in that order. As a military brat, he was raised all over the US and as an adult he travels all over the world. He aims to have you laughing and entertained and he always hits his mark. He’s shared the stage with comedians like Tony Rock, Robert Mac and Paris Sashay. Glenn has also performed at the Sundance Film Festival.

Rahmein Mostafavi (official website) charms crowds with comic timing and charisma developed during a decade of live performance. He entered the stand-up world after working as a longtime cast member of “Shear Madness,” the acclaimed Kennedy Center improv/comedy whodunit. His natural joke writing ability, combined with his acting chops, have won him rave reviews in both the Washington area and around the country. He also produced events under the “Cool Cow Comedy” banner, bringing live comedy to venues in Maryland and Virginia.

Rahmein has been featured at the Laugh Your Asheville Off comedy festival, The Devil Cup, Red Clay, The Cleveland Comedy Festival, and the Cape May Comedy Festival. Rahmein has been seen on FOX, heard regularly on Sirius XM, was featured in “The Truth About Money” on PBS, and was honored to be a speaker at the world famous TEDx Talks.

Born in Iran, Rahmein moved to the United States with his family at a very young age. He currently resides in Northern Virginia. Rahmein won Comedy Kumite 4.2 (winter 2016) at the DC Improv, as well as two Kumite Tournaments of Champions (fall 2016 and summer 2021).

YouTube Special: Live From Helium (2022)

Instagram: @personofcomedy

Mike Brown (official site), aka OlmikeB, first felt the nudge toward comedy in his hometown of Norfolk, Virginia. After serving in the United States Army for nine years as a soldier, he started hosting shows throughout the DC area. He launched his production company, OMBvision, in 2011, and he was a regular writer for "Da Jae Spot" and the locally produced “The Tommy Taylor Show". Mike won Comedy Kumite 20.1 (spring 2019) at the DC Improv.

Instagram: @olmikeb757