Comedy festival to spread laughs across 4 states
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » 2017 might not have given us many reasons to laugh, but Tom Nicchi is determined to make up for this in a single night – New Year’s Eve. His First Night of Funny will offer a bill of headline comics in six local venues and three others in Connecticut, Vermont and Massachusetts.
Nicchi is presenting shows at Proctors Theatre in Schenectady, the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall in Troy, the Cohoes Music Hall in Cohoes, a show in each of the Egg’s two theaters in Albany and in the Wood Theater in Glens Falls. It’s kind of a one-night comedy festival.
Nicchi promises that with two exceptions the material will be suited for anyone 16 or over. Nicchi and his family have run the Comedy Club in Albany for more than 36 years and understand the tastes of the market. “Our audience does not like offensive material,” he said.
He goes one step further. To make sure the comics are tuned into upstate tastes, he refuses to book talent who do not have universal appeal. He says he will not book comics who are limited to taxi jokes or subway stories. “This area has little interest in the problems of New York City,” he said.
However, as a producer, he recognizes that there is a limited audience for bolder material. At the Cohoes Music Hall and the smaller theater at the Egg there will be what he calls “uncensored” shows. They are clearly identified, and he says, “Even though the jokes might be risqué, they will not be filthy. I am very protective of the audience, especially on New Year’s Eve where people might want to experience comedy with their families.”
He is also protective of himself and his comics. “I know every comic on every bill. One of the reason I get so many headliners is they enjoy doing the show in a respectful environment. On New Year’s Eve comics have three choices. Stay at home and don’t work. Play to potential druggies in a small club, or entertain a sophisticated audience in a respectable theater environment. “They always choose performing in a theater.“
He has a fondness for comics and finds the funniest acts are ones that fit his criteria of being
disciplined and respectful of the audience. “One of the policies I enforce is that if a comic is a jerk or displays an offensive ego, he or she never works for me a second time.”
Indeed Nicchi is proud that so many of the country’s finest comic talents are working for him on New Year’s Eve. He says, “The world of comedy is strangely small and the comics know and support each other. We’ve been doing this for ten years and First Night of Funny has become an event in the industry. I’m still getting calls from comics who want to perform. They love the sense of community that comes with this type of event.”
He points the Troy Music Hall lineup to make his point. “On the bill are Joe Bronzi and Eric McMahon. Because both are headliners, they never get to play together or even see the other’s act. So Troy will be a lot of fun for them as well as a special night for the audience.” He adds that making the Troy Music Hall show even more special for McMahon is that he’s a graduate of RPI.
Nicchi insists that the talent level is equally high at every venue. “Every venue has a great line-up. Each show is the best I can make it.” He says, “Getting the talent is relatively simple. It’s putting the bill to- gether that involves some math. You don’t want three comics all specializing in one-liner jokes. The same is true for observational comedians. Because of the size of theaters I tend not to use prop comics. A complete bill needs variety.”
His formula is three headliners and a regional comic to act as a master of ceremonies. “The talent we use might not play the TU Center, but every comic can fill any club in the country. At First Night of Funny you get national acts at every venue. And we keep prices reasonable.”
For more information go to firstnightoffunny.com Tickets are available at individual venues.