When Mike Stanley first arrived in Denver in 2016, the local comedy scene was already buzzing about a notoriously ruthless open mic at the Squire Lounge on Colfax. "If the comics were bad, the host would just roast them and tear them apart," Stanley recalls. "Sometimes they would come back and it would be better, but sometimes they wouldn't."
It was exactly this edgy and unapologetic vibe that Comedy Works owner Wende Curtis wanted to capture in a new weekly show. Curtis approached local comic Greg Baumhauer, the original roast master from the Squire, aiming to bring that daring energy to her respected downtown venue. Stanley, who had been spotted headlining at the Oriental Theater by Baumhauer, was promptly invited aboard and thus, Thick Skin was born in 2016.
"Wende really wanted to make people actually care about the stage time," Stanley says. "She didn't want people going up using notes. She didn't want a lot of ‘ums’ and ‘ahs’ or people not knowing what to talk about. Wende wanted people to be more concise with their stage time at the club because it is one of the top three clubs in the country, so she expects those who are given the opportunity to perform to be dialed in and ready to go: this show helps them do that."
Fast forward seven years, and Thick Skin has firmly established itself as Denver’s most audacious weekly comedy spectacle. Most Monday nights, Stanley — now joined by co-host Matt Cobos — welcomes an eclectic blend of professional comedians and courageous amateurs onto Comedy Works’ stage downtown. Known for its rapid-fire pace and brutally funny format, the show boldly promises "comedy at its rawest."
Each show features five pro comedians interspersed with “bucket pulls,” where amateurs (or bold audience members) can throw their name in for a chance to try their hand onstage. The stakes? A shot at a cash prize and the crown for “Best Set of the Night” or public roasting if the set tanks. The show has a rapid-fire pace and hosts Stanley and Cobos keep things loose, riffing off each other and the crowd.
"I book Thick Skin based on who I'm seeing out in the scene and who's funny," Stanley says. "I have boots on the ground because I do a lot of local shows, and I see people who might not necessarily be a paid regular at Comedy Works yet, but there's a chance for you to get a pro spot if I see something in you that tells me that you're really working as a comedian. You're putting time in. You've got a solid act. You’re doing all the right things, so come out and do Thick Skin. I'll book you on that, and then you have a chance to win the money at the end of the night."
The juxtaposition of seasoned performers alongside raw newcomers makes each night unpredictable and thrillingly engaging. At the end of each evening, both a professional and an amateur comedian receive cash prizes ($60 for the pros and $40 for the newcomer), establishing Thick Skin as both fiercely competitive and genuinely supportive.
Over the years, Thick Skin has evolved organically, refining its winning formula. What started as Stanley and Baumhauer’s joint venture became a solo effort for a time, with rotating guest hosts like local favorites Sam Tallent and Steve Gillespie. Eventually, Stanley discovered an ideal comedic partnership with Cobos.
"Matt is one of my best friends and one of the funniest people in the Denver scene," Stanley says. "The two of us have good chemistry in terms of just how fast we are with our responses, which is important because it's a very fast-paced show. We literally never know what's going to happen. Nothing is scripted that Matt and I say. We go up there and we riff the entire time and we just have a blast doing it."
Together, they’ve made Thick Skin a local phenomenon. Along with the pro and amateur sets, there’s the now-famous “Worst Tattoo Contest,” where audience members share the wild stories behind their regrettable ink. The winner gets a $100 gift certificate to the show's sponsor: Wise Choice Laser Tattoo Removal.
“It’s always hilarious,” Stanley says. “Ex-cons and addicts always come up for the tattoo contest and they almost always win because all of them have tattoos from weird circumstances."
The Thick Skin audience is as diverse as its lineup. The show recently expanded to allow 18+, and it’s become a regular night out for a group of residents from a local sober living facility.
"Eighty of them jump on a school bus almost every Monday and come to the show," Stanley says. "They're all ex-addicts and they absolutely love it. That was unexpected for us. Four of them came one time, and then the coordinator of their group was like, ‘I'm just going to bring everybody.' The energy they bring is unbelievable."
Add in die-hard comedy fans, visiting tourists, service industry workers on their night off and a crew of six middle-aged women who never miss a show, and you’ve got a crowd unlike any other in the city.
“It’s lightning in a bottle,” Stanley says. “I can’t explain how or why it works so well, but it just does.”
After a pandemic-induced hiatus and a stint as a once-a-month event, Thick Skin returned to weekly status in March 2025. Stanley, who had been flying in from New York to keep the show going, hopes to restore it to its former glory.
“Doing it monthly was great, especially with me not being here, but we used to be sold out before the pandemic," Stanley says. "We were turning people away because the show got so big. I really wanted to get back to that. Having it weekly makes Thick Skin the spot to be on Monday night for a show in Denver."
After a long discussion with his fiancé about Thick Skin’s promising growth, Stanley has returned permanently to Denver and is eager to rebuild weekly sell-out crowds. "My fiancé said, 'You could go back to Denver, do Thick Skin every week, and build out the show again so it will be sold out like it used to be,'" Stanley says. "And that's exactly what we are doing."
As Thick Skin regains its stride, Stanley is optimistic about its impact on local comedy. The weekly spectacle not only entertains but also actively fosters Denver’s comedic talent pool, providing invaluable stage time and exposure for burgeoning comedians.
"I'm so proud of the show, what we've done and how far it's come," Stanley says. "People love it and we provide opportunities to new comics. Thick Skin is this thing that's perpetually building, which is pretty awesome to see."
Thick Skin, most Mondays at 7:30 p.m., Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th Street. Tickets $14. Learn more at comedyworks.com.
It was exactly this edgy and unapologetic vibe that Comedy Works owner Wende Curtis wanted to capture in a new weekly show. Curtis approached local comic Greg Baumhauer, the original roast master from the Squire, aiming to bring that daring energy to her respected downtown venue. Stanley, who had been spotted headlining at the Oriental Theater by Baumhauer, was promptly invited aboard and thus, Thick Skin was born in 2016.
"Wende really wanted to make people actually care about the stage time," Stanley says. "She didn't want people going up using notes. She didn't want a lot of ‘ums’ and ‘ahs’ or people not knowing what to talk about. Wende wanted people to be more concise with their stage time at the club because it is one of the top three clubs in the country, so she expects those who are given the opportunity to perform to be dialed in and ready to go: this show helps them do that."
Fast forward seven years, and Thick Skin has firmly established itself as Denver’s most audacious weekly comedy spectacle. Most Monday nights, Stanley — now joined by co-host Matt Cobos — welcomes an eclectic blend of professional comedians and courageous amateurs onto Comedy Works’ stage downtown. Known for its rapid-fire pace and brutally funny format, the show boldly promises "comedy at its rawest."
Each show features five pro comedians interspersed with “bucket pulls,” where amateurs (or bold audience members) can throw their name in for a chance to try their hand onstage. The stakes? A shot at a cash prize and the crown for “Best Set of the Night” or public roasting if the set tanks. The show has a rapid-fire pace and hosts Stanley and Cobos keep things loose, riffing off each other and the crowd.
"I book Thick Skin based on who I'm seeing out in the scene and who's funny," Stanley says. "I have boots on the ground because I do a lot of local shows, and I see people who might not necessarily be a paid regular at Comedy Works yet, but there's a chance for you to get a pro spot if I see something in you that tells me that you're really working as a comedian. You're putting time in. You've got a solid act. You’re doing all the right things, so come out and do Thick Skin. I'll book you on that, and then you have a chance to win the money at the end of the night."
The juxtaposition of seasoned performers alongside raw newcomers makes each night unpredictable and thrillingly engaging. At the end of each evening, both a professional and an amateur comedian receive cash prizes ($60 for the pros and $40 for the newcomer), establishing Thick Skin as both fiercely competitive and genuinely supportive.
Over the years, Thick Skin has evolved organically, refining its winning formula. What started as Stanley and Baumhauer’s joint venture became a solo effort for a time, with rotating guest hosts like local favorites Sam Tallent and Steve Gillespie. Eventually, Stanley discovered an ideal comedic partnership with Cobos.
"Matt is one of my best friends and one of the funniest people in the Denver scene," Stanley says. "The two of us have good chemistry in terms of just how fast we are with our responses, which is important because it's a very fast-paced show. We literally never know what's going to happen. Nothing is scripted that Matt and I say. We go up there and we riff the entire time and we just have a blast doing it."
Together, they’ve made Thick Skin a local phenomenon. Along with the pro and amateur sets, there’s the now-famous “Worst Tattoo Contest,” where audience members share the wild stories behind their regrettable ink. The winner gets a $100 gift certificate to the show's sponsor: Wise Choice Laser Tattoo Removal.
“It’s always hilarious,” Stanley says. “Ex-cons and addicts always come up for the tattoo contest and they almost always win because all of them have tattoos from weird circumstances."
The Thick Skin audience is as diverse as its lineup. The show recently expanded to allow 18+, and it’s become a regular night out for a group of residents from a local sober living facility.
"Eighty of them jump on a school bus almost every Monday and come to the show," Stanley says. "They're all ex-addicts and they absolutely love it. That was unexpected for us. Four of them came one time, and then the coordinator of their group was like, ‘I'm just going to bring everybody.' The energy they bring is unbelievable."
Add in die-hard comedy fans, visiting tourists, service industry workers on their night off and a crew of six middle-aged women who never miss a show, and you’ve got a crowd unlike any other in the city.
“It’s lightning in a bottle,” Stanley says. “I can’t explain how or why it works so well, but it just does.”
After a pandemic-induced hiatus and a stint as a once-a-month event, Thick Skin returned to weekly status in March 2025. Stanley, who had been flying in from New York to keep the show going, hopes to restore it to its former glory.
“Doing it monthly was great, especially with me not being here, but we used to be sold out before the pandemic," Stanley says. "We were turning people away because the show got so big. I really wanted to get back to that. Having it weekly makes Thick Skin the spot to be on Monday night for a show in Denver."
After a long discussion with his fiancé about Thick Skin’s promising growth, Stanley has returned permanently to Denver and is eager to rebuild weekly sell-out crowds. "My fiancé said, 'You could go back to Denver, do Thick Skin every week, and build out the show again so it will be sold out like it used to be,'" Stanley says. "And that's exactly what we are doing."
As Thick Skin regains its stride, Stanley is optimistic about its impact on local comedy. The weekly spectacle not only entertains but also actively fosters Denver’s comedic talent pool, providing invaluable stage time and exposure for burgeoning comedians.
"I'm so proud of the show, what we've done and how far it's come," Stanley says. "People love it and we provide opportunities to new comics. Thick Skin is this thing that's perpetually building, which is pretty awesome to see."
Thick Skin, most Mondays at 7:30 p.m., Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th Street. Tickets $14. Learn more at comedyworks.com.
