Comedy Meets the Metaverse: Inside The Soapstone Comedy Club with Aaron Sorrels

VR takes center stage in the evolution of stand-up comedy.

These days, comedians are more than performers—they’re content creators. Building a fanbase often requires pumping out a steady stream of clips, especially on Instagram, the top driver of comedy ticket sales. But when most clips look the same—brick walls, dim lighting, and handheld crowd shots—it’s harder than ever to stand out.

That’s where The Soapstone Comedy Club, a VR comedy venue inside Meta Horizon, is changing the game. Instead of dim basements, comedians perform as avatars on vibrant virtual stages, cheered on with laughter, applause, and even bursts of digital confetti from a global audience. With immersive venues like Hanalei Bay, modeled after Hawaii’s north shore, and a New York City rooftop club overlooking the skyline, the settings are as memorable as the punchlines.

Founder Aaron Sorrels believes these digital spaces are more than gimmicks—they represent the next stage in comedy’s evolution.

Finding Comedy Through Recovery

Sorrels’ path to comedy started during a time of struggle. He first turned to laughter while recovering from alcoholism and facing unemployment. He recalls, “The incredible feeling of laughing together with a room full of people blossomed into a mission to help people laugh.

When COVID struck in 2020, I had to find a new way to help people laugh free from the constraints of global epidemics. That drew me into the metaverse and kicked off an incredible journey with The Soapstone Community, the team at Meta Horizon, and a whole host of incredibly funny comedians.”

Comedy as Community

For Sorrels, it didn’t take long to realize that comedy was more than just telling jokes—it was about connection. He remembers one pivotal night when, after performing material about his recovery, an audience member approached him and said, “That’s my story too.”

“That moment taught me that comedy is a powerful tool that can overcome the negative stigma associated with struggles,” Sorrels explained. “As The Soapstone has developed, many other people have aligned with the power of laughter to create this incredible community.”

Building a Safe and Inclusive Stage

Stand-up is traditionally tied to a physical stage, but Sorrels quickly realized VR was an ideal fit. “When I first put on the headset and heard immersive laughter, saw expressive body language, and felt genuine connection—it confirmed something: it’s not about the physical stage, it’s about a sense of presence and connection,” he said.

That presence is reinforced by design. “We worked hard to make sure people understood that The Soapstone isn’t just for techies or seasoned comics—it’s for everyone,” Sorrels said, noting that accessibility via mobile and web has opened the doors for even wider audiences.

From Hanalei Bay to New York Rooftops

The Soapstone’s venues cater to different styles of comedy. Hanalei Bay, with its sunny, low-stakes environment, is where many try open-mic comedy for the first time. In contrast, the NYC rooftop club offers a more mature atmosphere, featuring workshops, structured shows, and community-driven programming.

“Sunny Hanalei Bay is a 10+ experience with a lot of gamification and easy entry points for people who want to dip their toe into comedy,” Sorrels explained. “By contrast, the NYC club is an 18+ venue where we’ve built out a wealth of programming, workshops, and community-building experiences. Together, they make The Soapstone accessible across ages and experiences, while giving each performer and audience member the right environment to connect.”

Breaking Down Barriers in VR

Sorrels admits he was surprised by how quickly performers embraced the format. “I expected distance or awkwardness—but I saw people lean into it and crush it. I saw avatars giggling and audience members reacting in real ways, all while in a virtual space,” he said.

Perhaps more surprising was the courage shown by first-timers. “I was also surprised by how brave everyday people are; people who’ve never done stand-up, never spoken on stage, were stepping up during open mics in VR,” Sorrels said. “Now mobile players can access the club and show off their chops.”

Proof of Concept

The Soapstone’s success has grown far beyond its early experiments. A breakthrough moment came when Joe Rogan and Mark Zuckerberg discussed the club on Rogan’s podcast. But for Sorrels, the real validation comes from watching members thrive.

“I know it’s working when I see someone from the community step up to host their own show or advance through the ranks to earn a $1000 comedy gig,” he said. “I know it’s working when famous comedians hear about us and say, ‘I need to perform there.’ And I know it’s working when I am able to share earnings with the many people who are playing a role in our success.”

The Future of Comedy in the Metaverse

Looking ahead, Sorrels envisions The Soapstone as much more than a comedy club. “The dream has always been bigger than a club,” he said. “We want The Soapstone to be a global stage where people can gather, laugh, and grow together. If we can provide a launchpad for comics to hone their craft, inspire audiences, and then feed that knowledge back to help others build their own creative communities, we’ve done something lasting.”

As comedians fight to stand out in a crowded digital space, The Soapstone offers something new: a way to combine community, performance, and innovation in one shared virtual stage. For Sorrels, it’s proof that the future of comedy may not just be on a mic—it may be in the metaverse.

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