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Who We Are

NYLaughs Inc. is a not for profit organization and New York City's newest Arts institution. Through the production of FREE comedy performances set within NYC's myriad of public venues, NY Laughs seeks to provide laughter to everyday New Yorkers and elevate the profile and reputation of the Comic Arts.

New York City has long served as the inspiration for many of the world's most innovative comedic performers and directors - many of these stepping straight from the city's clubs and theatres into our living rooms via television and the silver screen. For every one of these household names, hundreds of others continue to hone and develop their skills in the competitive New York comedy scene. Given the right experience and exposure, any number of these performers may blossom to become the next big thing and further contribute to the city's proud and deserved reputation as the comedy capital of the world.

NY Laughs has been formed to foster the spirit of independent comedy in New York City and encourage its next wave of comedic spoken word, improvisational humorists and humorous storytellers. Our goal is to bring unique comic talent outside where all New Yorkers can enjoy it.

Despite contributing greatly to the profile of the city through television and film, stand-up comedy events are conspicuously absent from the city's bulging calendar of free outdoor public concerts and performances. NY Laughs seeks to redress this omission through the creation, management and sponsorship of a series of free public events in parks, on piers, inside established venues, as a part of local festivals, and throughout the city and its streets. Through fostering diversity and experimentation, NY Laughs intends to strengthen the cultural legacy of New York comedy and, in this current climate of fear and uncertainty, ensure that laughter remains a part of the daily urban experience.

Through its largely volunteer staff, NY Laughs has a wealth of experience in event management, media relations and working alongside local government to achieve positive outcomes for its members and the community. Current chair Suzette Simon has several years of experience in television production (Bravo TV's "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List" & "Queer Eye"; Style Network's "Isaac"; TLC's "A Dating Story"; and many more). Suzette is a member of the Producers Guild of America and has worked extensively with international business (Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of New York), international government (Consulate General of Japan, Japan Local Government Office, NY, CLAIR and others) and community based organizations within NY. With this combination of expertise and experience, NY Laughs will work to open doors for a new crop of fresh and talented performers, exposing them on the greatest stage of all - New York City.

For further information feel free to contact us here

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Information for Comics

NY Laughs aims to provide a stage where comics can perform in front of real, responsive audiences without the hassle of worrying about how many of your friends and family are going to make it. No entrance fee, no minimum drinks and no going on close to midnight when everyone's half asleep or has packed it in. We're looking for the funniest comics — not the ones who have the most hits on their MySpace, or who have the most fraternity brothers coming to their shows. Comedy should be about sharing laughter with your community, not just your friends. Taking the People to You By taking comedy out of the clubs and putting it onto the streets and into the parks, where opinionated New Yorkers can let you know how you stack up, we hope to bring the fun back into being funny and keep the city laughing out loud. If you’re sick and tired of open mics where the only audience is other comics, come on out and see what the real world has to say about your comedy. Stand-up as it was meant to be; comedians performing sets in front of a real audience!!! Material Because our performances take place in a public space, we ask that you be respectful of the audience. So please, no insulting the audience and no scaring people away with clearly inappropriate material.

Bad behavior on the part of one comic reflects on all of us. We’re trying to build a following for live comedy in public spaces and we will need the continued support of the community and local goverment to succeed. Performers are required to have a good five to ten minutes of stuff (notes are welcomed but not encouraged). This is where you begin to get your “A” game on. It’s not about a stream of consciousness on stage, it’s not about a rant, or drunken tirades, it’s about entertainment. NY Laughs is also not about censorship, but it inevitably poses some challenges and restrictions. We're giving you a framework in which to stretch your creativity - not limit it. Booking Information All NY Laughs performances are booked events and we have newly scheduled dates announced regularly (see above). If you'd like to get involved, contact us here and we will make every effort to include you in a forthcoming line-up. NY Laughs hopes to expand to weekly shows by Summer 2009. Keep an eye on this space for further details. Back to Top

Help Us Keep NY Laughing

NY Laughs is currently the only body committed to the support and development of free live comedy events in and around the public spaces of New York City. You could play a pivotal role in establishing this new institution for the stand-up capital of the world.

There are any number of ways in which you may choose to support NY Laughs. From a direct contribution, to the provision of services or discounts to our organization, its performers and its audience. Any assistance will be gratefully appreciated and broadly acknowledged via our website and through our live events. It should make you smile to know that you've helped to make multitudes of New Yorkers laugh...and it might even help business!

NY Laughs has recently become a formal not-for-profit corporation in the state of New York and presently is filing for a § 501(c)(3) tax exemption. Additionally, we just won our first grant from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

Sponsorship

As much as we'd like to trade in our best knock knock jokes for cold hard cash we're not so sure the banks will oblige. Unfortunately, it seems the organization and promotion of free comedy events in public spaces cost significantly more than the laughter they produce. Performance permits, promotion, staging and signage all eat into our non-profits. Not to mention the costs of design and web hosting, without which our message would remain mute. NY Laughs aspires to create a calendar of weekly dates for the Summer of 2009. An ambition of this magnitude is by no means beyond us but it will take much hard work and significant corporate support. This is where you come in.

You see what NY Laughs lacks in cash reserves we more than make up for with enthusiasm and an audience in a really good mood. Not just any audience either. NY Laughs events held in locations such as Tompkins Square Park reach out directly to the savvy and much sought after 21-35 age demographic. Through support of this organization you can speak directly to this audience on a regular basis and demonstrate a deep interest in the local community. Your contribution can range from a one off donation to assist in the funding of a single event, to the longer term provision of goods or services required to continue running NY Laughs. We'd even be happy to accommodate a long term financial association, with accompanying promotional rights. Whatever the contribution I'm sure we can negotiate a satisfactory acknowledgment of your valued support.

If you'd like to get involved please contact Suzette via email at nylaughs@gmail.com.

Please note, NY Laughs is a non-profit charitable organization. We are yet to be approved as a 501(c)(3) by the IRS but an application for this status is currently pending. Any contributions made in the interim will be completely tax deductible at such time as the application is approved. Any contributions made following our date of incorporation (04/04/2008) will qualify for deductions at this time. Updates regarding our exempt status will be provided in this space as further information comes to hand.

Volunteers

Don't just think that because you're not Starbucks or Microsoft that we're not interested in using your capable helping hands. NY Laughs is always interested in hearing from anyone who'd like to join in the fun. Maybe you're a photographer, audio engineer or entertainer who could contribute their services for a performance. Maybe you have experience in publicity and media relations and you can help NY Laughs behind the scenes. It could just be that you're a sweet and wonderful human being that loves a good laugh and thinks sharing joy is a worthwhile pursuit. Whatever you have to offer we'd love to talk. Drop us a line here and we'll find a way to make good use of your special talents - whatever they may be.

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PAST EVENTS

Laughter In The Park 2008

Laughter In The Park 2007

Friday June 22nd, Tompkins Square Park

NY Laughs has arrived! Laughter In The Park 1 marked the beginning of an ongoing series of FREE outdoor comedy events to hit NYC over the Summer of 2007.

Fifteen of New York's brightest comedians took over Tompkins Square Park for two hours of fresh and friendly fun and frivolity. Hosted by NYC's own subway comic, Suzette Simon. With little publicity and even less warning NY Laughs took to the pavement of Tompkins Square Park. A healthy crowd of 100 pulled up the nearest bench, rock and picnic blanket to enjoy the stand-up. Even "Sex And The City" star Cynthia Nixon took time out to sit back and enjoy the laughs.

 

Friday August 17th, Tompkins Square Park

After the success of our first event our second was tragically rained out. Our disappointment was compounded in that we all missed out on a performance from the 3-time MAC Award Winner for Best Male Stand-up Comic in NYC and the Late Show with David Letterman's Talent Coordinator, Eddie Brill.

 

Friday August 22nd, Tompkins Square Park

Blue skies and sunshine had the crowd smiling even before we began. The third in our series of Summer 2007 events featured standout performances from Wali Collins (Last Comic Standing & Comedy Central, Host of PBS' "Wild TV", HBO, VH1, ABC, David Letterman, 3x "College Campus Entertainer of the Year") and Vanessa Hollingshead (Sept. 6 Comedy Central Special, "50 Funniest Women Alive" for Oxygen!, "An American Anglomaniac" DVD).

 

Friday September 28, Tompkins Square Park 6-8pm

NY Laughs was proud to be associated with the New York Underground Comedy Festival 2007. In conjunction with the festival, NY Laughs delivered an opening night celebration of independent comedy and the fourth in our series of FREE open air public comedy events. We'd sincerely like to thank the festival for their support and their hard working director, Jim Mendrinos, for his dedication and toil.

New York's brightest comedians once again took over Tompkins Square Park for two hours of fresh and friendly fun and frivolity, starring Lord Carrett and hosted by Dave Lester. Also featuring: Suzette Simon (founder and current Chair of NY Laughs), Upa, Rebecca Ciletti, Pembroke & Lu, Freddy Sheffield, Aaron Kominos-Smith, Andy Mulholland, Dan St Germain and many more.

Check out the New York Underground Comedy Festival website here.

 

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