Comics Coalition Settles

The New York Comedians Coalition reached an agreement with local clubs February 10th under which performers will see an increase in wages, averting a potential strike.

Coalition members noted that, despite the victory, their wages will remain far from satisfactory: Pay for many weekend slots will go up to $75 or $85 from a previous $65. The coalition had requested $120 per show, according to the Washington Post.

“We’re all happy and dancing around, but really, we’ve gone from not being able to make a living to not being able to make a living,” comic Rich Aronovitch told the paper. “This is a good step in the right direction, but not a major victory.”

Still, coalition members stressed that one of the main achievements of the negotiations was the professionalism and willingness to compromise shown by both sides.

“Our success was not only in securing a pay raise but doing so in a professional manner that maintained strong relationships between clubs and comics. We look forward to the future,” a statement on the coalition’s Web site read.

Club owners were receptive to the talks, especially after stars including Dave Attell and Colin Quinn took up the coalition’s cause, the Post said.

Gotham Comedy Club owner Chris Mazzilli told The New York Times the acts aren’t the only ones struggling. Rock-bottom comedy prices, he said, leave club owners with little leeway. The average comedy show tickets costs $10 to $15 plus a two-drink minimum.

“The mentality of most places is that’s what comedy is worth, and people are afraid to raise prices,” Mazzilli told the paper. “I’ve been charging what I’m charging now for about five years.

“Yankee tickets go up every year. Broadway goes up every year or so. All these cultural events go up. But we don’t.”