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One venue he hosted his long-time comedy show at bumped him out to instead have a Christian meet up. Yet, he persisted.
It’s less likely that a comedian will hit it big in the first year or two or three, which is why long-term dedication to the craft, like that of Brooklyn-based comedian Todd Montesi, might be one of the best friends a stand-up comedian can have.
Working hard over many years will help to build name recognition, a body of work, a support system, and benefit a comedian in countless ways.
Montesi is an example of someone who has gained at least local notoriety simply by not going away. He has leveraged his long time comedy residency to garner an appearance on HBO, and a feature in The New York Times, among other credits.
Montesi is a comedian, director, writer, and producer who has also appeared on f th Comedy Central, and TBS. A pioneer in the comedy Web3 and AI-driven comedy space, Montesi was featured in the New York Times in July 2023 for his innovative AI-themed show, "ComedyBytes". He's been a featured guest at the NFT NYC Convention from 2021-2024, and at NFT LONDON in 2022. In addition to his daily online comedic content and acclaimed sitcom web series "PN & Friends," Montesi operates the UG! COMEDY SHOW!!, a comedy club/network in NYC, where he hosts and pitches comedic projects.
But this didn’t all happen overnight.
The downtown comedy scene fixture has been producing shows with UG! COMEDY SHOW!! in New York City for the past 16 years. His start was born out of frustration.
“I was young, and learning how to produce a comedy show is a pain in the ass,” he said. “So I thought I’d just have a free show with friends and make it a workout room with beer specials,” Montesi said.
The Flatbush-based comedian said he had to move the show around from bar to bar before winding up where he is now, at One and One in downtown Manhattan. He also produces shows in Bushkill, and other locations.
Identity Bar, No Fun and Mud Bar were just three venues who hosted his show before the pandemic hit. Then, the show hosted comedy live streams every day until close socialization was more acceptable again.
“We said, ‘we should make our own club,’” he said. They have since built up a wider comedy collective network across the city.
Tonight, he celebrates UG!’s 16th anniversary with a big party at One and One, on 1st Avenue at 1st Street in New York City. He says the “sweet 16” party will have free “bar food,” including tacos, chicken fingers and a cake, karaoke upstairs, and there will be an open stage for any comedian who wants to do 5 minutes.
The show will run from 8:30 p.m. until 11 p.m. Montesi explained the atmosphere would be like “a party hang out” with a bunch of New York City comics, including Christine Miller, who tours with Andrew Dice Clay, and he said that comedian Rob Cantrell may stop by.
The event is also his personal 26th anniversary of starting comedy.
“Todd was a fixture at SHOW AND TELL, and the comedy scene in general,” explained comedian and writer Tanya O’Debra, host of the now defunct and much beloved downtown comedy show, SHOW AND TELL.
“When I was still stomping around downtown, he was a truly ubiquitous performer who had endless patience for late nights and the fringe characters of the community.”
Just because a comedian sticks in the business for a long time doesn’t mean it’s a guaranteed mountain of flowers, or that any bona fide success is promised. Montesi confessed that he doesn’t even always still love comedy anymore.
“Oh, yeah, sure, sometimes I do. Sometimes not,” he said. “The bullshit sucks. But it’s kind of like a philosophical path. You eat, sleep, shit, do a set. It becomes a part of your life.”
Montesi confessed that he has been doing comedy for longer than he has not been doing comedy.
“I’m old,” he said.
His advice to younger comedians who want to start their own show: “Just do it.”
Montesi suggests finding a bar with an open night early in the week, such as a Monday or a Tuesday.
“Then you can book bigger comics who want to work out,” he said.
He also recommends keeping the admission fee low, with a small cover or no cover, and inviting friends to your show.
“They’ll bring people because they will feel like an insider coming to a cool show earlier in the week instead of a crowded weekend show,” Montesi said.
While local notoriety might not be your main goal, it comes with its own set of perks. Just ask this guy.
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