CLLAW FAQ

Chances are, if you’re reading this, you’ve already made the first step of becoming acquainted with Sideshow Theatre Company and either you’ve expressed an interest in arm wrestling, or we’ve requested your participation. No matter what, we’re happy to have your interest, and with luck, we’ll soon have your skills on our roster. Anyone who identifies as a woman is welcome and encouraged to apply to be a wrestler. We also need volunteers of all talents and genders to fill other volunteer roles. 

Please note that while we love to see turn-over of our wrestlers and performers from previous CLLAWs (you are the gears that make this machine run) we need you to RE-SUBMIT your interest and availability for each new event.  Wrestlers will, as always, be taken on a first-come, first-serve basis!

• A wrestler identity/name…maybe even a gimmick: The more excited you are about this detail, the easier everything else is.  Check out the Wrestlers page to get some more information on past contenders.
• A costume: Get creative and have fun. If you need help, let us know. We are “professionals” after all.
• A Manager: Perhaps you have a friend who thinks this all sounds super-fun, but is afraid of arm-wrestlingper se. The Manager position is a little lower profile, but still a pseudoperformance position. The manager is responsible for talking you up and getting folks to bet on you. They also help keep the crowd rowdy during the match. You can even swap a manager for an entourage, should you want to have a couple friends along for the ride.

The wrestlers will actually arm wrestle. They are encouraged, though, to play “dirty”, get penalties, bribe referees, trash talk, make a scene, have a cow, etc.

• Wrestlers arrive at designated call time for brief organizational check-in. Check leader board for line-up. Chill out in “green room”.
• People arrive. They pay small entrance fee for ticket/stamp and enter “arena”. They can then proceed to the CLLAW bank to exchange real money for CLLAW money (⊄). $1 = ⊄2. Once in arena, they are hounded and haggled by the roving managers of the wrestlers to place a “bet” on that manager’s wrestler. Managers cannot accept real money, only ⊄. They haggle and send spectators to the ⊄ bank to exchange their money. Those who bet on the winning wrestler have the chance to win an awesome raffle prize!
• Spectators drink and stuff and wait for the show to begin.
• Opening ceremonies (run by our Mistress of Ceremonies).
• A series of matches, using a leader board and bracket system. During the matches, the managers haggle the crowd from within the ring and help stir up the sh*t. Drama drama drama.
• Between each division, we have a break when folks can mingle, place bets and refill their drinks.
• At the end of the evening, perhaps before the final match, the crowd Then we have the final match, the awarding of medals and we all go home. votes for the CROWD FAVORITE and an award/crown is awarded.
• Clean-up: us, you, the space.

So when and where do you need me?
CLLAW XII is happening Saturday, January 28th, 10PM at Club 162 at 3551 N Sheffield Ave.

We ask all our volunteers (wrestlers, managers, helpers) to attend a few marketing events and assist with flyer-ing/poster-ing. We all work together to make an amazing night of mayhem! Keep watching this space!

Can my friends come?  

We hope they do!  However PLEASE NOTE that since this is a event at a bar, participants and guests must be 21 or over by the date of the event.



The joy of performing. The thrill of the fight. The chance to dress up all crazy and make a swarm of people scream for your victory. The knowledge that you put your creative energy toward a good cause.

If you are from the press or would like to get more information about the marketing of CLLAW contact our marketing manager Bruce Phillips at bruce [at] sideshowtheatre [dot] org.  General inquiries can also be directed to CLLAW [at] sideshowtheatre [dot] org

Be sure to check out The CLLAW Blog for lots of ideas, pictures, and info on how this whole thing has worked in the past!