David Kaye Click photo for larger image.

Pittsburgh comic David Kaye is the custodian, manager, box office attendant, waiter, publicist, opening act and occasional headliner at an intimate new comedy club. SlapSticks Comedy Loft fills the 80-seat upstairs room at The Royal Place Restaurant in Castle Shannon.

With a full bar and limited food menu, it will spotlight mostly local comedians on Fridays and Saturdays. Cover charges are $10 in advance and $12 at the door, with no drink minimums and free parking.

A slow rollout has been under way since November. SlapSticks' final pre-opening event will be a comedy contest Friday to select performers for Buzz Nutley's Comedy Relief concert, which will be held at Seven Springs at an undetermined date in the spring. Former Pittsburgher Mike Irwin headlines SlapSticks' official grand opening Saturday.

"I did a show for [Royal Place] on Valentine's Day last year, and the owner showed me the room," said Kaye. "He said, 'Think about it.' Turns out he's been thinking of doing this for some time. He got the idea from his cousin, who was a kicker for the Detroit Lions and owns a nightclub in Detroit with a comedy club upstairs."

Kaye has some 20 years' experience on stage and has seen what works and what doesn't off stage. With a full-service restaurant and live music on other floors, he says he's been particular about what happens on the floor he manages.

"When you're at a restaurant, you want your server to be right there and attentive, and when people see a loud band, they're talking over the music," he said. "But at a comedy club, you don't want too much contact with the server because it distracts from the show, and you don't want people talking during a comedian's set. We're teaching the servers to take orders quietly and discreetly."

Pittsburgh comedians' options in recent years have been mostly limited to the FunnyBone Comedy Club at Station Square or The Improv at The Waterfront in West Homestead. Kaye says he wants to transform SlapSticks into a comics-friendly place where local stand-ups can develop their craft and audiences can consistently find a friendly, funny atmosphere.

"When I told the people at The Improv -- where I had been playing -- that I was opening this club, they were ecstatic about it," he said. "I know they don't have a problem with comedians working here, it just gives them a chance to get better. I want to be able to make a complete community of comedians in Pittsburgh. I don't care who they work with -- support me and I'll support you."

SlapSticks Comedy Loft is upstairs at the Royal Place Restaurant, 2660 Library Road, Castle Shannon. Information: 412-920-5653.