An approaching APOGEE meant a busy schedule for all organisations involved, and Aarav Jain, the Coordinator of ComHub, spared a few minutes to describe his club’s role in the fest. Aarav began by explaining that ComHub was experimenting with new formats, including a presentation-style stand-up performance and ‘act-sketch comedy(sic)’. He added that while they were trying a new concept show called Judge Me If You Can, inspired by Ashish Solanki, stand-up comedy remained their main focus.

Aarav detailed a packed itinerary for the fest, starting with a pre-APOGEE stand-up show on the 9th of April at NAB Audi, followed by Judge Me If You Can on the 12th, and their legacy event, BITS Got Latent on the 14th. 

Aarav explained that despite the lighthearted nature of the performances, the preparation was surprisingly rigorous. He noted that ‘the most important and most difficult task of making a show [was] writing a performance,’ sharing that it typically took nearly two to three months to write a ‘five-minute bit,’ with every single joke being edited ‘at least 20 times’ before it reached the stage.

As Coordinator, Aarav prioritised a ‘chill club vibe’ where members would enjoy the work. He said that his main responsibility involved managing the ‘mental blockage’ and ‘brain freeze’ that juniors often faced during the gruelling writing process. To counter this, he encouraged a ‘relaxed approach’; stepping away for a walk, or simply clearing the mind to find humour in the mundane. According to him, the best ‘Eureka moments’ for jokes and punchlines struck when the pressure was off. He also emphasised that being a good comic was nothing but being a good observer.

Aarav spoke of his plans to ensure the shows would be ‘chill and fun,’ stating that ComHub events were, in his opinion, typically the ‘most fun events’ where the ‘entirety of the audience [was] filled.’ He urged the GBM to attend the shows rather than leaving campus for the weekend, warning them that missing a ComHub show was something they would regret once the ‘FOMO’ from being unable to participate in the discussions following it in the following week set in. 

Aarav ended by quoting that ‘tragedy plus timing is comedy,’ and reminded the audience that while comedians might be ‘unfunny’ offstage, their ability to turn random observations into satire is what makes the relatable perspective shifting experience special — inviting everyone to ‘just come, sit back, relax, and enjoy.’