Went to Houston Improv Comedy Club and had a really great time. The atmosphere is fun and relaxed, perfect for a night out if you want to laugh and unwind. The seating is comfortable with plenty of space so it never felt crowded or overwhelming. The food was surprisingly good for a comedy venue and the service stood out the most. Staff were friendly, attentive, and made sure everything ran smoothly throughout the night. The location is also a big plus since there are plenty of restaurants and things to do nearby, which makes it easy to turn your visit into a full evening out. Overall, this is a great spot to go with someone whether it is a date or just a night out with friends. I would definitely come back again. read more

Improv - Houston - Stage - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Houston, Texas

Came here for the first time with a group of 4 Yelpers for Houston's own Ali Siddiq. The tickets were $61.92 per person for table of 4 mid tier seats. And you have to buy a drink/food. I think something like $40 minimum? So all around its around $100 total I would say. The vibe was great. There was a dj, and a good playlist prio too the show. And there was staff to help direct everyone on where to grab tables. Overall it was good crowd and folks of all kinds came ready to have a good time. Food- I got the buffalo wings and a margarita. Both were fine. Service- was fair, I think our server was called Biggie, or something like that? The show was great, had fun! read more

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Laughter is the best medicine; therefore, Houston Improv is the carrier of this when you need humor as your remedy. Fortunately, I've gotten my taste of a few performances such as Bob Saget back in 2021 and more recently, Houston's own Ali Saddiq. Never a dull moment at a comedy show as you will leave with your sides hurting from laughter. The location of this is pristine being in the Marq'E Houston entertainment complex as it's directly across from the Regal Cinemas movie theatre and right next to Big City Wings. So very easy to find and access. Once you get inside, you check in with the staff on your table before heading through the door (on either side) to get to the seating area. Seating is structured where it's easy to get a good view of the stage and the performers regardless of where you're seated. The tables attached to the booths are very tight so you're better off picking a table with four chairs. As for eats, you're better off eating elsewhere as the food here is pretty mid and overcharged although people seem to love the sampler platter. There is a 2-item minimum per person at the table but it can be any item. Cocktails such as the margarita and espresso martini are tasty and would recommend those. I'll be back for future performances here; especially when i need a good laugh. read more

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First time to visit. The staff was very nice and helpful and friendly. The restrooms were very clean. The seating arrangements are great. The food was very good. The drinks were very good. The brownie dessert was good. The comedians were funny to very funny to hilarious. The headliner was Tim Meadows. I will return. read more

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I don't know the exact timeline, but The Houston Improv has been around awhile. I remember hearing about it since I was old enough to care and show interest in comedy shows. Since then I have been to a few shows here. It is located in the Marq'E Houston entertainment complex. Parking is plentiful and free all around the complex. I love a good stand up comedy show and they have a nice variety of comedians here. You got your small time, getting into the game comedians all the way up to big comedy stars coming through here. I've seen big time comedian Russel Peters and most recently Houston native and YouTube superstars Ali Siddiq. Entertainment wise, this is a good place to come and they bring in some big names. Now on to the venue itself. That's where I deduct stars. They only sell tables. It doesn't seem conducive for solo attendees. You can buy tables in increments of 2.4,6 or 8 attendees. They have different tiers of seating. From what I understand, the lower level is a higher price. Once you arrive, you can sit anywhere in your assigned area. Luckily, I have always come in groups of four, so I've never had to share a table. Seats and tables are very close in some areas so prepared to be really close to your neighbors. They do serve food and drinks here, so there's constant movement of people through the crowd. They also settle up during the set. It's a bit distracting not only for the audience, but also for the comics. They also have a two item minimum. I'm not sure if that's for the table or per attendee. That does include food and non alcoholic beverages. The food and drinks are pretty spendy and the quality is not up to the standards of what you pay for. My espresso martini felt like it was Kahlua poured into a glass. No real espresso was harmed in the making of this drink. My dessert was very mid and was reminiscent of boxed cake from a grocery store. All in all, a good time was had. The Houston Improv is still one of rhe top destinations in the city as far as just a comedy venue goes. I'll be back! read more

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I've been to a few shows over the years. The Improv showcases all sorts of comedy from well known comedians to up and comers. The room is a nice size, but still gives an intimate feel. When purchasing tickets, there's options for "preferred" and "general admission" tickets (ranging from single tickets up to groups of 6). If purchasing a group of tickets, your entire party does not have to be present at check in. The tables in the preferred seating near the front seem to be very close together compared to the general admission tables in the back of the theater. There's plenty of free parking in the surface lots and parking garage in the Marq-E Entertainment complex. The lobby isn't very large. It can get crowded, especially if there are multiple shows on the same night. Dinner service has always been decent and the waitstaff is very efficient. There's a two item minimum purchase per person which is standard at comedy clubs. They have a small food and drink menu. I recently had the Hamburger Sliders and Mozzarella Sticks. Both were good, but pretty basic. The venue has great sound quality and there's not a bad seat in the house. It's a great place to catch a comedy show. read more

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I finally got the chance to catch comedian Gabriel Iglesias live in Texas, and the show did not disappoint. The performance was great, and the venue itself felt very cozy and intimate, which made the experience even better. Since the venue was completely packed, service was a bit slow at times, but the staff was clearly doing their best to keep up. I didn't personally order any food, but from what I observed, the portion-to-value ratio looked to be about a 3/5. That said, the food prices were very fair, especially when compared to typical club pricing or similar entertainment venues. Final Verdict: I would definitely be coming back for other shows, as for food that's a maybe. read more

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Located inside of the Marq-E Center, the Improv has been my destination for standup comedy in the Houston area. They tend to bring in quality acts throughout the year and as a result, I've managed see some stellar comedians over time and have enjoyed my experiences overall. As a venue, it's got the kind of bells and whistles that I would expect out of a decent comedy club: quality acoustics, good lighting, and decent ventilation. The bathrooms are clean and there is plenty of seating available throughout the main room. Reservations are made in advance on the website and would generally recommend this route before attempting to walk-in. Parking isn't a problem since the lot is shared by so many businesses. As expected, the drinks and food are pricier here than most nearby restaurants. Most of the bar level offerings range from sandwiches, burgers, finger foods, and an average selection of drinks. There is nothing mind blowing here but if in a pinch, the food can be solid option while watching a show. When in doubt, shoot for a burger and fries. Don't get the nachos unless stadium quality is what you crave. Thankfully, I've yet to have been pressured by the staff to satisfy any kind of order minimum, be it in drinks or food. In fact the servers are pretty chill and have generally provided good service. For this reason alone, I can see myself continuing to check out comedy at The Improv to enjoy a laugh and indulge on an evening of bliss. read more

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I only come here for Gabriel Iglesias even though I hate the set up. No picking ir reserving of seats. This first come first serve got adults acting like Black Friday back in the day for a free tv. It's so unorganized. I feel like the early show attendees could stay back and watch the show a second time if they wanted. No one checking. They have food items but I only got fried pickles and they were not that great. The place is fine and clean and the staff is great! All friendly and super cool to chat with even during all the chaos going on. They are what makes the place great. read more

Improv - Houston - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Houston, Texas

I saw my first show here when Bobby Lee was in Htown. I came with girlfriends and we reserved a table towards the back. We came 15 minutes early and check in was easy. The server was nice and checked on us a few times before the show started. The view was decent but I would definitely consider sitting more towards the middle next time. It was bothering my neck to turn it to the right side the whole time. We got fries and southwestern eggrolls to share. My friends ordered cocktails and I had sparkling water. The food was comparable to a fast food level so I would recommend eating beforehand. It was slightly distracting to get the bill during the show and it was hard to not use my phone light to sign it. Overall, it was a great time and Bobby Lee was hilarious. I would consider checking out another comedy show in the future. read more

Improv - Houston - Southwestern eggrolls - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Houston, Texas

Came here recently to see Country Wayne...we were quickly seated and greeted by our waiter. We ordered the Sliders w/Onion Rings & Southwest eggrolls. Food was decent, drinks were mid. I don't like how close the tables are, especially during flu season. If you are looking for something more intimate, this is not it. Aside from that, it was cool. read more

I love the show! I!! Service was on point! Eddie (will not know if I spelled right) was great! I drink the PUMP Margarita. He recommends! I was very pleased with his suggestion! I request two times . Sound was great! Bathroom was clean. read more

Improv - Houston - Pretzel beer bite and mozzarella sticks - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Houston, Texas

Why 3 stars? Because I don't love the ticket situation. --- --- --- I've been to the Improv several times now and could have sworn I'd already reviewed it, but apparently not! It's a fine place to watch stand-up. My biggest gripe is how you buy tickets. For every show I've been to, you have to buy a table for 4. Sometimes I have 2, 3 or 5 people in my party, so it's been a bit tricky to always have to commit to finding exactly 4. And you cannot buy a specific table - you're just assigned to wherever they choose to sit you. I understand why they do it this way (to ensure they fill the room the way they want), but I've been to many comedy clubs that don't do it this way, and it works out just fine. I've never ordered food here myself, but I heard from Yelp Houston Mayor, Jando S, that it's pretty good. I'd trust Jando's food opinions with my life, so I'm on board to order food next time. The beer selection, however, is fairly lacking. Let's get some more craft beer, Improv! The parking lot for this megaplex is massive, but it still can take a while to find a spot. It's basically like any mall in Houston (I thought malls were dead?) I'll continue to come see shows here when my favorite comics come through. I definitely don't hate the experience, but I wish I could buy a precise number of tickets and pick my seat. read more

A friend and I went to Improv for a show last Tuesday night. Neither of us had been before so we had 0 idea what to expect out of the venue or the food. I ended up eating before because the reviews were pretty mixed but my friend ordered the chicken Caesar salad and a side of onion rings and was pleasantly surprised. It wasn't *great* but she said it was pretty good for mid food. The staff at the venue were super friendly and helpful and we really enjoyed the show. Would totally come back here to see another show. read more

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I have been here many times of the years. The service can be hit or miss but the last few times it has been consistently good. The wait staff is pretty quick and attentive for the most part. Ticket prices vary depending on who's performing. One thing that remains the same is the two item minimum per person. I would recommend eating prior to coming as the food quality is not great. Same with their specialty drinks. I tired the Krazy Koolaide and the Passion Mojito. Both were mainly syrup and juice and overly sweet. Keep in mind 18% gratuity is already included when you receive your bill. read more

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I personally enjoy comedy shows that feel more personal. From my experience Improv Houston provides that experience. Being able to enjoy a few beers, maybe a few bites and some great laughs is always appreciated. The food consists of what could be described as a standard ballpark menu, consisting primarily of fried food items. It would be nice to see the venue branch out in that department given they have had some impressive entertainers come through their doors. Lettuce wraps, grilled chicken options would be welcomed. Idk, food for thought. I did my homework so I wasn't shocked by the 18% service charge. However, if they are going to take 18% for the venue it's only fair they tip out the staff. Thus, charge 25-30% and call it a day. The menu items and drinks are reasonably priced so I personally don't mind paying a little more to see everyone get taken care of. I would like to visit a show that is not sold out although I'm not sure out common that occurs. Regards, having an enjoyable time at a sold out event from all aspects speaks highly for the venue and of course the legend, Rob Schneider. read more

I did not expect the experience we had! My mother is a huge T. I. fan so I surprised her for her birthday with tickets to the show. I was so excited that we ended up showing up on the wrong night! It was cool, we just planned to come back! It worked out so much better on our favor. We had seats so close to the stage, my mom was able to prop up her cane. Comedian Kdubb23 was hilarious! The chic, Erica, from Atlanta did her thing too. The other guy wasn't as funny but he was cool. But when Tip het the stage, he had ne clutching my side and falling out my seat. His routine was so real. My mom laughed and laughed. When the show was over, I was focused on finding the closest exit so my mom could walk out without the crowd because she gets anxious in crowds. I look around and she's headed in the opposite direction towards the dressing room. She's said it jokingly a few times, but when she told that man she was the "President of the T. I. Senior Citizen Fan Club and she needed to meet him", I thought I was gonna die! He was very respectful and actually went into the dressing room I'm assuming to tell T.I. what she said because a minute later he came out! Oh, We did order food. I had the Date Plate and it's a lot of food for a good price. Everything was good except the mozzarella sticks. They had gotten cold so the cheese was hard. The wings and fries were really good! When you walk in, theres a bar to the right. I suggest arriving a few minutes early and grabbing your first round before taking your seat. Once the show starts and the servers are coming to the table it can be a little distracting from the show. And it takes longer to get service on the floor. Overall, I would definitely return for another show. read more

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Firstly, the performers Houston Improv brings are amazing. Sri Raj absolutely killed it as an opener for Raj Sharma, and Raj Sharma's crowd work was incredible. It is absolutely worth coming to Houston Improv for the talent! Unfortunately, talent aside, Houston Improv's service, and food, leave a LOT to be desired. Houston Improv requires both an 18% gratuity, and a two item purchase for each person attending the show. Presumably, if you enjoy drinking, this is not a big ask, especially if you came out to laugh. That being said, not everyone (myself included) is that eager to drink each time I attend a show. Then the two item minimum becomes a larger task. As a vegetarian, the options are incredibly limited, and having come to the Improv more than once, I can say with absolute confidence, the food is *bad.* Not necessarily, throw it all away bad, but for example, the pretzels were stale and hard. I unfortunately figure if a mall brand has gained fame based on the softness and richness of its pretzels, it should be doable for a full kitchen. The fries were bland (how can fries even be bland?), the and the chocolate mousse was mid (not as disappointing as the other items). Food quality aside, I appreciate the willingness of the kitchen to try and make me vegetarian sliders, but these were unfortunately not tasty either. The service was shockingly bad. Despite asking multiple servers that we were ready to place an order, our assigned server did not come to take our order until immediately before last call. The server seemed oblivious to our table, despite the fact we near the front, and then after every other table had already received receipts and were ready to leave, did our server come to collect our payment. All in all, we came for the laughs, and the laughs were spectacular, but if Houston Improv is going to require a two-item minimum, they really, reaaaaaally need to improve their items. read more

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The Improv is a great place to catch some of the hottest comedy acts. I checked out Tony Baker solo. I paid for a single general admission ticket & arrived about an hour & a half before the show. I was seated @ the very back. This is my 4th solo show & never had to sit so far back. The seats are tight so be prepared to sit very close to others. You have to purchase 2 items off their menu. I ate beforehand & don't drink alcohol, so I got a bottle of water & juice. There's a service charge, but I still tipped the server. The show started on time & all the comedians did great. I'll definitely be back when my favorite comedian performs here. read more

Awesome every time we come. Service is top notch. Good beer selection and lovely appetizers.

Had a great time here! Food and drinks were good for a comedy club.. I'll definitely return

Not bad food for being "Club Food". Drinks are good and the environment and entertainment is good. Staff is great and do the best they can with the large crowds. read more

I had the BEST time! I highly recommend trying this place out. We went on Thursday night for HoustonAF and I was a little nervous if it would be fun but I laughed ALL night!! I got a table for two for $20, you can't beat that! The show last 2 hours and we ordered margaritas they were decent. The waiter was so friendly and welcoming. I loved that when you check in they escort you to the area of seating. The bathrooms were very clean. I will definitely be back! One of my new favorite spots to visit! read more

Improv - Houston - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Houston, Texas

I love that the staff were super friendly. Love that there's a huge parking lot and lots of food options near here. What I didn't like is that there are no organization when it comes to the seating... its like a huge storage closet with multiple chairs and tables squeezed in with no room to walk even for the waiters.. ITS A FIRE HAZARD! read more

Always great talent. Shows are good! Drinks are good. Food is okay. Is recommend eating elsewhere.

Reserved a table online showed up early everything went smooth on the Check in they treated us well and the seating was good. The drinks were good prices were decent. We went to see Christian Johnson and also seen skeeta they both had a great show. If you get a chance to go it should be a good experience. read more

We came in to see Shawn Wayans, with some friends. The seats were tight with a table. We ordered the chicken tender basket and I ended up with a sprite. Hubby ordered a beer and our friends ordered other drinks like the Texas Tea. We were not allowed to have our phones out during the show, and I follow directions because I will not be sued for a $35 comedy show! Overall, the night was full of laughter. Next time, everyone will get their individual tables for more room. read more

The comedy was great. The service was quick and attentive. So four-stars for that. The food was somewhere between college cafeteria and truckstop buffet. The chicken tenders were served on top of the fries and turned them into mashed potatoes. The chicken was tough and not flavorful. Two stars for food. The best item was the Date Night plate, because it had different items. I don't know if the oft-mentioned 18% "service charge" was a built-in gratuity or if it was just some random fee that is tacked onto the ticket cost. It was confusing, since the server circled the "Tip" line before giving us the bill. read more

I came to see Ralph Barbosa not long ago & I've been meaning to write a review ever since. The food & drink I got here that night I still think about... SO GOOD. I crave it... I got the mango habanero tenders & the krazy koolaid. I was not expecting both to be such a hit. I want to go back just for that & to try everything else of course! Other than that, the service was just okay. Our server did take care of us in the beginning, but it seemed like she kinda forgot about us after that. It was hard for us to get her attention, but seemed easy for the people around us. There's a minimum for ordering & also the line situation before entering was so disorganized so just be prepared for that. read more

Overall- 2/5, this review is just for the venue and not the performers! Came here for the first time on a Sunday evening. Lots of parking in this plaza but it's usually pretty busy because it's shared with several restaurants and a movie theater. The staff here were friendly and the server didn't keep us waiting very long for our order. The ambiance was decent, they had some background music playing while we waited for the show. The food was 1/5 overall. We had mozzarella sticks and coconut shrimp w/ fries. The shrimp were fine but the rest of the food was super dry, we didn't finish. If you ask for water they bring you bottles that cost $3.50 each. The tropical tickle cocktail we tried was great. I would definitely recommend eating before coming and just getting drinks, the food was way overpriced for the quality. Keep in mind they have a 2 item minimum per guest and they tack on an 18% "service charge" which is separate from the tip. read more

This was my first time attending a local comedy show. There wasn't a wait to go inside, but that might also be because I was a little late or so I thought. lol Bathrooms were clean and smelling fresh. Food was actually better than I expected. Big portions and the tenders running neck and neck with Canes. With that being said there is a price gouge for sure. There are no free water or free refills on fountain drinks. I didn't try any alcoholic beverages but they were looking tasty. I will advise people to carefully select their spot. I sadly picked where the vent blew and the speaker was in direct shot towards mine. The chairs are crappy and make ur bottom hurt after a certain point of time. There really isn't a bad seat unless you were the people that were on by this big pole/post. Also there is a S&C fee added to your bill. Which I did not like at all! Especially since their service fee to buy tickets is $11 I would go back again and recommend but will advise on the markup! read more

Taylor Swift Drag Brunch: This was just awful. Drag queens lip synced while dancing through the audience asking for tips. That was the whole show. Paid $25.00 for general admission, but the expectation was that you would tip each "performer" as they danced by. This was for every single song, over a period of 2 hours. There were also staff at the end of the row with red baskets to collect more money. It was very uncomfortable. One performer looked like Taylor Swift. One other performer danced well. Unbelievably boring. read more

Loved this place! Location: marquee Staff: helpful and friendly Price: depends on performer Parking: lots We truly enjoyed a girls night out watching Jason banks performing. Make sure to arrive early as sitting is first come first serve. We got a corner table and was a bit uncomfortable to watch as you had your head turning the whole performance. read more

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I really liked this place! It's perfect for a date night. The comedians are all very experienced and have performed for channels such as BET and have been in movies with Kevin Hart! It's situated in a shopping plex with a host of other popular restaurants and even a cinema! We ordered chicken wings, salads, drinks and desserts. I enjoyed the food but the comedians were the icing on the cake! They touch of funny everyday instances and old funny stories they have experienced or gone through that are so funny and relatable. The venue was very clean, plenty of seating and spacing! You can purchase tickets online! The person I went with had us at the front which was actually the best view in my opinion! They have a full bar with the best drinks. Sit back, relax and enjoy the show! read more

We came here with a party of 5 for a comedy show, all with general admission tickets. First off one of the bartenders was incredibly rude to one of my friends in the outer lounge area. When we went into the venue to be seated we were rushed to a table and told to sit. When we explained that we had 5 and asked for our 5th to be sat next to us at a completely empty table the usher said "absolutely not" and pointed to a seat at a table with complete strangers. The table we had asked for our 5th to be sat at was empty until about half way through the main act. As others have stated, there is a 18% surcharge for using the table service for ANYTHING. 4 bottles of water cost $20. This place is absolute buns. Never coming back. read more

Just updating saw a comedy show a few weeks ago, same old normal here, easy check-in with your phone, 2 drink minimum, water does count (they label their water bottles now as a keepsake if you want to keep it). Great speakers, funny people. Rushing staff, drinks not bad, I ALWAYS have dinner before coming to a comedy show so no review on the food. All around a good time when you come here. Showtime is usually on time. Shows are usually 2 hours. Clean, friendly front staff. On some shows there is preferred seating for the forward sections so if you don't want to be on the back wall pay extra for preferred seating. All of the seating is good though it's not a big venue. Enjoy the laughs. read more

Improv - Houston - The stage from the back row - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I rate places on 4 core values which is Customer Service, Taste of food, Price & Cleanliness. Service - Is good and quick. It's not bad but they also don't go out of the way to do anything extra. They stay busy so it's hard to go out of their way. Taste - I enjoy the meals here and although it's fast it doesn't taste like they reheated or had it sitting around. Value - they do quick meals and the price isn't too bad but the extra fees is what kills you. Cleanliness- it's always clean when i come to the shows Overall - I recommend this place. Food is tasteful and every time i come to the comedy show they always make me laugh a lot. Very much a good date night location. read more

Comedy shows are awesome last person I saw a couple years ago with Raj Sharma he was so awesome. It was an amazing experience for my first time. read more

The show was amazing!!! This is just my reflection of the Improv itself, and does not reflect the talent at all. ***EAT BEFORE YOU GO! And prob get a few drinks in elsewhere*** So to start when I was looking at their menu, I was very unimpressed. There was absolutely no mention of any tequila drinks. We live in Houston.!!!!! However, I asked the waitress if they had any and she said they do have a patron and Don Julio Margarita that's off menu. So I ordered the Julio. It wasn't great - tasted like it was mostly store-bought premade mix, it didn't taste fresh. For the $13 that I paid for it ,I expected more. Also beware if you ask for water they automatically bring you bottled water and then charge you $3.50 for it (not cool!) I ordered the fried mozzarella sticks. Also a buyer beware: they're not breaded like your typical appetizer. They're that flowery, beer battered style. They were not very good and for $11 there's only 5 to the order. My table mate ordered the sweet potato fries. And they were kind of soft and soggy, but not bad. Prices are crazy!!! For two of us it was $71 ($10 tip auto included), 2 margs, 1 pepsi, 1 sweet potato fry, 1 mozzarella cheese, 2 bottles of water (if she would've told me that it was plastic bottle of water, and they charge for it... we wouldn't have gotten one each). Ambience is ok, the sound was great! But music was waaayyyy too loud upon entrance and exit. I could barely talk to my friend it was so loud we had no idea what each other was saying. Stage is nice and close. It was clean, but the tables are super close so if we had 4 people at ours the 2 closest to the wall would've been cramped and the 2 in the back would have a hard time seeing around. If u go, sit with the booth style in the back. read more

Venue so very tight and the food is awful and the drinks too. I'm feeling sick already. Love the artists but hate the food and they tack on an 18% service charge that apparently doesn't go to the server as a tip. Eat and drink before you go. read more