New York Comedy Clubs Send a Message to Albany: They’re Drowning and It’s Not Funny
Photos by Earl Douglas. Emilio Savone (L) Sen Mark Gianaris (C), Ophira Eisenberg (R)
“This is serious business. We are desperate her. This is not funny.” – Kambri Crews
“We’re not asking to cut the line, we’re asking to be a part of the line.” – Emilio Savone
“Mr Cuomo has a gross misunderstanding of what comedy clubs are. Maybe that’s not his fault, but it is his fault now if he doesn’t listen.” – Marko Elgart
“New York without culture is a very expensive Cincinatti. I would like it to go back to being New York.” -Ophira Eisenberg.
“When people go to Paris, they go to the Eiffel Tower. When people come to New York City they go to comedy clubs.” — Christian Finnegan
At a Press Conference and Rally on Tuesday, New York Comedy sent a message urging New York’s Governor Cuomo to let them operate on some level.
Speaking on behalf of all of New York City’s comedy clubs, Kambri Crews who owns QED comedy club, Emilio Savone of New York Comedy Club, Marko and Tia Elgart of Eastville Comedy Club, and James Dolce from Governor’s Comedy Club asked why their businesses are being left out of plans to reopen the State of New York for business. Comedians Christian Finnegan and Ophira Eisenberg shared their perspectives as well, supporting the clubs.
Currently comedy is not allowed to operate in New York under any conditions.
For over six months there’s been no rent relief and no plan for comedy to open. New Yorkers can go indoors to the gym, they can go bowling, they can gamble in a casino, they can play trivia in a bar, they can find their way out of an escape rooms and next week they’ll be eating in restaurants. But they cannot buy a ticket to a show where someone tells jokes, even outdoors.
The speakers at the press conference and the clubs they represent asked that New York State give live entertainment the same consideration that’s been given to other industries.
Specifically, they are asking Governor Cuomo review a five page proposal that was submitted to his office on September 5th. The proposal covers safely allowing events with restrictions. At an absolute minimum, they want to be allowed to hold outdoor shows. They are asking to be allowed to open indoors, at 25%, like restaurants. They are willing to do the work to make the events safe using social distancing, plexiglass, masks and contact tracing. Alternatively, they are also offering to give up their main revenue stream- food and beverage- and require masks. Other recreational activities have opened at 50% capacity under those conditions.
Kambri Crews, owner of Q.E.D. in Astoria opened the press conference making it clear that clubs were not anti-shutdown.
“None of us here are anti-maskers, we are pro mask, we are pro safety,” she said adding that all of the club owners are horrified by the bad actors, and they all condemn the illegal and unsafe gatherings that risk further spread of the virus.“None of us here are anti-maskers, we are pro mask, we are pro safety.”
She pointed out that public gatherings of fifty people are legal, but if someone sells a ticket to that gathering and tells jokes, the gathering is illegal, even if social distancing, masks and contact tracing are implemented. “If bars are allowed to host indoor trivia nights, it should not suddenly become illegal because the trivia host starts telling jokes and the venue advertises and sells a ticket,” Krews said. “Where is the data to support that an escape room is safer than an outdoor comedy show? Where is the data to support a crackdown on arts and entertainments outdoors at licensed venues while allowing non-ticketed unregulated public gatherings and indoor private events?”
“We are drowning here, throw us a lifeline instead of pushing us deeper into debt and despair. Save New York Arts. Viva Comedy,” she urged.
All of the speakers echoed that they believe in safety. Emilio Savone said nobody is trying to cut the line. “It’s not like this is mid April and we’re out here shouting and yelling for our constitutional rights. We’re asking to be considered. We’re asking for an opportunity like every other business is being given.”
“We are drowning here, throw us a lifeline instead of pushing us deeper into debt and despair. Save New York Arts. Viva Comedy.”
Savone walked the press through a day in the life of a comedy club owner, which includes checking in on their staff to see if they’re okay and if they’re getting unemployment, checking on comedians to see if they’re okay and trying to help them get work. Looking at diminishing bank accounts and looking for ways to make whatever minor loans they’ve received stretch comes next. Emilio pointed out that the PPP funding they received will convert to a loan that they have to pay back in November, because they have not been able to open their doors. He also mentioned a 40,000 dollar tax bill that is coming due on Monday as well.
These club owners have patiently waited in line for their turn as other industries return to doing business in New York. They’ve watched restaurants open outdoors at first, and next week indoors at reduced capacity. They’ve watched Gyms, Bowling Alleys, Escape Rooms and Haunted Houses be allowed operate. People can sit at tables and eat food without a mask on. But for some reason if those same people listen to a person tell jokes while they are eating, and if they paid for a ticket to be there, the event becomes illegal.
The speakers were passionate, with some even breaking down emotionally. Marko Elgart urged “We need some real financial assistance,” and asked for a moratorium on commercial evictions, and mortgage forbearance for landlords.
New York Senator Michael Gianaris spoke as well, in support of the club owners proposed plan. “There is only one side to this issue. No one can explain to me why comedy clubs need to be treated differently than other venues throughout the city.”
“What is it about the fact that someone is standing in front of the room, and telling the joke that makes it dangerous,” Gianaris asked. “The answer is, that it is not. This is a completely arbitrary distinction.”
Get the message to elected officials.
#savenycomedy #saveourstages
You can watch the events from Tuesday below.
Read more comedy news.
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