Dude, IDK Studios Is North Denver's Go-to DIY Comedy and Media Space

When Nick Holmby decided to leave his secure job managing one of Denver’s top comedy clubs, he knew he was taking a huge risk. But what began as a leap of faith has evolved into Dude, IDK Studios, a creative space that is shaking up the city's comedy and media scene.

"I used to manage Comedy Works, but it wasn’t fulfilling my creative desires," Holmby says. "A comic, Jessica Kirson, one weekend before the pandemic told me, 'You're better than this management stuff; you should think about starting your own business.' I had always wanted to start a media company but didn’t want the typical corporate feel. I’m not that guy. The name came from Jessica asking me the first thing that came to mind, and I replied, 'Dude, IDK.' She was like, ‘That’s a catchy name.’ I filed an LLC that night and made the logo very quickly. I didn’t take it too seriously."

The company began as a photography business called Dude, IDK Creative, the week before Denver shut down in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. As shows reopened, Holmby used his network of comedy contacts and self-taught photography skills to jump-start the business. Holmby admits that he was fired from Comedy Works for starting the company, which meant he had to start hustling harder. But that didn't deter him from pursuing his passion.

"It was a huge gamble," he says. "The ultimate goal was to transform the company into a space that assisted creatives with audio and video production, showcased live comedy, recorded comedy specials and produced films. Things have changed quickly since we opened Dude, IDK Studios; it started as a joke, and now it's a brick-and-mortar."

Since its launch in June 2023, the studio has hosted everything from live comedy specials to podcasts. It offers a range of services, including videography, photography and podcast production. With podcast services ranging from $300 to $600 per month, Dude, IDK Studios provides top-tier equipment and editing services at prices tailored to the needs of local creatives, helping produce projects like Daytime Talk After Dark (formerly Daily Blast Live), Chicken and The Nuggets, My Body My Jokes, Did That Age Well? and Wolfhawk Comedy.

"It is an affordable place where you can go to create, so there are no more excuses," Holmby says. "You don’t have to deal with the headaches. Come be the talent and let us do the rest of it."

Holmby discovered the space at 2419 East 28th Avenue through a connection with the previous business owner. "Before us, it was an LGBTQ+ collective that did jiu-jitsu," Holmby says, adding that the previous leaser "was my bartender at Comedy Works. I was looking at spaces around Denver and her place seemed cool, so I texted her to ask if her landlord had any other space. She said, ‘Actually, I was going to text him tomorrow to get out of the lease.’ I came over to look at it, and it was skinnier than I was expecting, but I thought I could make it work."

He opened Dude, IDK as a boutique production and recording studio during the day and a comedy hub at night. And although the business has been doing well — so much so that the property owner offered an opportunity to relocate to a larger space — Holmby is hesitant to expand.

"We are at a point where we could grow for sure, but I am not a big fan of building too fast," he says. "I want to be humble and learn because I’ve learned things always change; things are rolling, and then the pandemic happens. You start a business and then you get fired from Comedy Works because of it. We want to keep things where we are while we pay off all our debts."

It started as a one-man operation, but Jacob Rupp, a seasoned comedian who attended CU Boulder's film school, recently joined the company as its creative director. He previously managed customer service for an HVAC company but was intrigued by the venture's approach and competitive advantage in the comedy marketplace.

"I’ve been a standup comic for over ten years, and this is unlike any space in Denver," Rupp says. "We’re an alternative to the alternative rooms."

Together, Holmby and Rupp have cultivated an environment where comedians, podcasters and creators have the freedom to experiment. With room for up to sixty people, the space allows for a deeper connection between performers and their audience.

“It's an indie room people enjoy performing in," Holmby says. "We max out at sixty people because we usually have five or six comics hanging out. Although we are a bit small, the creative get to be creative with the setup. It's the kind of room where you put twenty people in here and it sounds awesome; you put sixty in here and it’s hard to match. Plus, we're in a unique neighborhood and there is free parking."

The intimate space has become home to monthly live shows by local comics such as Hannah Jones, who uses the venue to try out new material; Goodnight Denver, a bimonthly variety show hosted by Rupp and his wife, Miriam Moreno; Primo, a weekly late-night Saturday show that features secret acts; and a location for artists like David Gborie to record comedy specials. While Dude, IDK is known for its comedy, Holmby and Rupp are eager to move into other creative areas.

"We want to do some intimate music stuff," Holmby says. "We want to break the system with everything. Some places do comedy or live music around town but they don’t pay the artist well at all. We take a small portion at the door, then they come, do their thing and we help produce it. Music has been a big idea lately, but I think of this place as a collaborative collective of creators who are free to do anything in this space."

As Dude, IDK Studios' popularity continues to balloon, Holmby and Rupp are mindful of the challenges that come with growth. "I've seen other rooms that were special, but then they try to do bigger or different things and it ruins it," Rupp says. "I am a little hesitant to expand, because I think the smallness is the benefit of it."

Looking ahead, Holmby and Rupp intend to continue booking a variety of live show offerings, maintain their current podcast network while adding new clients interested in their audio and video production services, and rely on their partnerships with Fanimal, Liquid Death and Live. Laugh. Denver Real Estate. They insist that anyone interested in renting the space come in person to get a feel for the layout, equipment and customer service that the venue offers.

"We just want people to have fun at Dude, IDK Studios," Holmby says. While other venues can lean into "profit over people," he adds, "we are the opposite. We’re doing fine and are making money, but I want to give back where I can. We have many comics coming from Denver, of course, but also from New York, Los Angeles and all over the world to perform at shows in our space. We take care of everything and give them a great tape so they want to come back. That’s where you make the money — on the repeat customers." 

Dude, IDK Studios is located at 2419 East 28th Street. Learn more about its services and shows on its page at fanimal.com and its Instagram.