MAX10: Ten-Minute Variety Night at Electric Lodge in Venice

Electric Lodge’s MAX10 series is a live, high-velocity variety show in Venice, California, where ten performers get ten minutes each to test experimental work across acting, music, comedy, and performance art. The venue sits at 1416 Electric Ave, a block from Abbot Kinney Boulevard and a few blocks from the sand and wooden boardwalk of Venice Beach, making it an easy stop for an evening that pairs local nightlife with avant-garde performance. Inside the Kelman Theater and adjoining Dance Studio, the room is compact and theatrical: thrust-stage sightlines, intimate lighting rigs, and a responsive audience create a pressure-cooker for new ideas. MAX10 is staged monthly and hosted by Electric Lodge Executive Director Joel Shapiro, who curates a rapid-fire line-up that favors risk, humor, and pieces that demand attention. Expect everything from stripped-down singer-songwriters and monologues to short physical theater, improvised comedy, and pieces that refuse to fit neatly into one category. What makes MAX10 special for Venice is its collision of community and experimentation. Electric Lodge supports local movement and theater artists with accessible facilities—including a 35-spot parking lot with four EV chargers, two accessible spots, and ADA-certified lift—so creators can bring ambitious, small-scale works without corporate constraints. The show's location a block from Abbot Kinney—named “Coolest Block in America” by GQ—means you can arrive early for dinner or a walk along art-forward storefronts before taking your seat. Practical details matter: performances run approximately two hours, with short sets that make the evening feel like a curated mixtape of fresh talent. Seating is intimate, so arrive early for a good view. The work you’ll see is often in-progress or one-off, which makes MAX10 a great place to discover artists before they hit larger stages. Why book it? For travelers seeking something unscripted in Los Angeles—an evening that feels like being on the inside of a creative scene—MAX10 delivers immediacy and variety. Photographers and cultural tourists will appreciate the theater’s proximity to Venice landmarks and the chance to catch fledgling work in a professionally equipped space. Electric Lodge’s commitment to accessibility and experimental practice makes MAX10 not just a show, but an active part of Venice’s creative fabric: an invitation to witness art mid-evolution. Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before curtain to secure one of Electric Lodge’s free 35 parking spots or to charge an EV at one of the on-site stations; spaces are first-come, first-served and the lot can fill. If you need accommodations, the facility has two wheelchair-accessible restrooms and an ADA-certified lift, and staff ask that you call or email ahead to arrange any specific needs. Because the lineup changes each month, repeat visits often reveal returning performers in new roles—bring curiosity and leave with recommendations.