Jan Maxwell Smith

Currently, I am a Talent Manager/Producer (1999-present) as well as a consultant for the legendary Ice House Comedy Club and talent producer for the Ice House Comedy Club main showroom (2008-present).  In addition, I talent produce tapings for Comedy Time (2005-present) at The Ice House. 

History:  Following graduation from Hollywood High School, three years at Valley State, then two years at UCLA and graduated from their film school.  I spent nearly a year’s tour of duty in Vietnam while serving in the Navy reserve, then 11 years in market research for the entertainment industry before purchasing The Ice House in Pasadena, CA in 1978 with partners Bob Fisher and Marc Weingarten. In 1982, I sold my interest in the club to Bob Fisher, who still owns the club.  While I was there, stand-up comedy became the main source of success for the club, before that it was basically variety, folk music, etc.  

In 1984, I opened my own comedy club in West Los Angeles, IGBY’s Comedy Cabaret.  Top comedians and celebrities were regulars at the club.  IGBY’s enjoyed lots of notoriety with multiple television shows for Fox, and various HBO and Showtime specials and single artist tapings.  I sold it in 1996.  In 1998, I scouted talent for NBC in the U.S. and Canada.  In 1999, I signed his first clients to a management contract and guided them to become series regulars, one on Reba and one on Reno 911.  I was also a talent producer on Fox Television’s 30 Seconds to Fame (2002), Fast Track to Fame (2010) on the Speed Channel and Staan’ Dup (2013) for STARZ.  I have also been a talent consultant on various television projects for NBC, FOX, HBO and Showtime; and a producer of both stand-up comedy series and pilots e.g. L.A. Comic Strip, Comic Strip Live, Comedy Express and Comedy Outside In.  I Executive Produced radio shows and filled in as an on air host on CRNi (2000-2001).  I was one of the Executive Directors of the 3rd, 4th and 5th annual Las Vegas Comedy Festivals and was a consultant to the New York Comedy Expo in 2007 and 2008.  In addition to all this, I’ve scheduled talent for military bases as well as comedy clubs in California, Hawaii, Nevada and Texas.  

And my current client, Will Vought seen on Bones, The Good Wife, Wilfred, writing on a spec project with Paul Reiser and consultant for Wayne Brady.  Soon to be seen on Gotham.