About
What Is Out
of Pocket?
"A spotlight for local comedians, rising and seasoned, and a touchpoint for on-the-road comics who want a safe room to experiment. A sandbox, basically."
Out of Pocket started as a simple idea: Saigon needed more comedy. Not just any comedy, but the weird, honest, work-in-progress kind. The kind where you can see the comedian figuring it out in real time and somehow that makes it funnier.
We built our shows around a "Pay What You Want" model because we genuinely believe comedy should be accessible. If you've got 50,000 VND and a friend to bring, you're welcome here. If you've got more, cool, the drinks are on you.
Our crowd is as mixed as our city: Aussies, Brits, South Africans, Vietnamese locals, overseas Vietnamese, people who've been here three days and people who can't remember when they arrived. Shows are in English, and sometimes in Vietnamese, and always in the universal language of trying not to embarrass yourself in front of strangers.
Beyond the bi-monthly showcases, we've done novelty shows that leave stand-up behind, interactive movie nights where we hand out spoons before The Room, and workshops and writing sessions for people building new material. If it involves comedy and a microphone, we're probably interested.
If you're a comedian, local, visiting, or just starting out, we want to hear from you. If you're a venue or brand that wants to host something genuinely fun and different, same deal.
"We don't take comedy too seriously. We take it seriously enough."
The Team
Jack Nugget
Founder, Comedic Artist, Host
Jack Nugget is a Saigonese multi-medium entertainer, Best Comedian nominee for People’s Picks Award 2025, winner of the Vietnam Comedy Competition: Ho Chi Minh Heats 2022, and still a disappointment to his parents. His material encompasses topics of his own identity and beyond with astute observations about his experiences as a broke comedian telling out-of-pocket jokes, and a dabbler of all things that pay. One of the most well-rubbed shoulders of the Saigon comedy scene, he worked and performed with some of the most talented and hilarious comedians to grace fringe festivals, TV shows and writing rooms, most notably Ron Josol, Annie Yang, Trevor Lock and Joe Vu among many more.
Originally a TV and theater kid, Jack Nugget ventured into vocal performance and stand-up comedy at the age of 17, and found his true calling there. A true Jack of all trades, his materials detail his life and times as a hairdresser, actor, freak mascot, show producer, Masters-level student (by proxy) and OnlyFans model manager. He has also worked with a lot of nonprofits, so if you haven’t heard he’s a good person already, he’ll probably tell you himself.
Matt Tran
Comedian, Producer, Host
Writes jokes by day (well, marketing emails), tells them by night. A chronic over-thinker turned host who somehow makes the anxiety funny. Matt produces the shows, helps wrangle the logistics, and then stands in front of a microphone and pretends none of that stress exists.
What We Host
Bi-Monthly Stand-up Showcases
Twice a month, not every two months. The first Sunday and the second-to-last Sunday, unless we say otherwise. Four comics, one room, the bread and butter of what we do.
Novelty Shows
Comedy that leaves the stand-up format behind: physical, improv, prop, skits, parodies. When we have an excuse to make it weird, we take it.
Interactive Movie Nights
Screenings of The Room with spoons, footballs, and loose cigarettes. You have to experience it.
Workshops & Writing Sessions
A safe room for comedians to build and test new bits. No judgment. Mostly.
Don't miss a show.
We barely plan ahead as it is.
We only email about shows. No spam. We're comedians, not marketers.
You're in! We'll see you at the show.