Comics agree new pay deal

A threatened strike by stand-up comics in New York this weekend has been called off.

The New York Comedians Coalition, the union recently formed by about 300 performers, yesterday agreed to accept an offer of increased pay from the city’s leading clubs.

It means that typical wages for a weekend night’s work will rise from around $60 (£32) to $80 (£43) – after almost a decade without an increase. Clubs have indicated they are prepared to consider further rises in the future, too.

There’s also expected to be a similar increase in weekday payments, which were stuck at around the $15 (£8) mark.

However clubs say they may have to raise ticket prices to cover the increased costs – even though these have remained static at around $15 a head over the years, too.

Chris Mazzilli, owner of the Gotham Comedy Club, told the New York Times: “The mentality of most places is that's what comedy is worth. Comedy is underpriced.

“People are afraid to raise prices. 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. But we don't."

Ted Alexandro, pictured, who founded the coalition, said:  "This was something that was so overdue."

Published: 11 Feb 2005