A Hidden Comedy Gem in Astoria Queens + The All-time Best Networking Tip

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Aug 06, 2024

If you love comedy like I love comedy, you’re going to love this newsletter. It is all about comedy, all the time. Sometimes it tells stories, sometimes there are interviews, sometimes it gives away neat templates or lists of places to submit jokes. AND, it serves as a personal comedy assistant to all comedians, offering help and answers to all things comedy, for just $7 / month. AMA — go on, try it!

Hidden in plain sight in the barely an outer borough anymore of Queens, New York, lies a storefront comedy club called Q.E.D. Astoria.

Except that it’s not exactly a comedy club.

From Q.E.D. Astoria’s website:

Q.E.D. is an after-school space for grown-ups. We offer shows & events that are as diverse as Queens itself. At Q.E.D. you’ll find stand-up comedy, screenings, storytelling, improv, and everything in between.

The one room venue, which boasts the tagline, “A place to show and tell,” is helmed by a notable comedy industry booker and author, Kambri Crews, with support from her husband, legendary comedian Christian Finnegan. It celebrated 10 years open for business this year.

This is no small feat for any business in New York City, but especially not a comedy club. Or a not quite a comedy club. However, the not a club boasts the honors of being voted the best comedy club in Queens—quite an achievement for any city business.

While comedy is a mainstay of the club, the storefront venue also hosts sip n’ paints, variety comedy shows, solo shows and serves as a makeshift mini comedy bookstore.

On the night that I stopped in, Tim Dillon was slated to perform. I also learned that Gary Gulman hosts a monthly show at Q.E.D.

I was there to perform in world famous comedic musician Rob Paravonian’s comedy music showcase, The Odd Rock Comedy Hour. The short show consisted of a handful of funny, quirky, likeminded funny people who brought big laughs.

L to R: Tristan Miller, Rachel Green, Jessica Delfino, Rob Paravonian,

I found a parking spot open right in front of the place as soon as I pulled up. Kismet. I did a three point turn around and nabbed it. Upon entering, I spotted Misfit, infamous comedian Gary Gulman’s memoir on the shelf, and immediately bought it.

I was joined by an out of town comedian friend, Chris Jones, who I’ve written about before on Museletter. We stopped for dumplings at Vanessa’s in Chinatown, before making our way across the bridge into Queens. Some people have a thing about not eating before a show. Not me. I’m Italian. I can eat anywhere, anytime, even when I’m sleeping.

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We mingled with the comedians outside smoking and chatting, my friend stomped on a murder hornet, and we had a gay old time at the show. By the way, here’s how to live in a 4000 sq ft house for the same price as a tiny NYC apartment.

@thejessdelfino Doing a little free labor for the Pocono tourism board. #inflation #cheap #costofliving #reducedbills #savemoney #howtosavemoney #poconos #comedy #jokes #friends #homebuying #realestate #northeastpa #nepa #pennsylvania #affordable #possumliving #bargain #qualityoflife

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The highlight of the night, for me, was getting to chat with and catch up with old comedy comrades about life, comedy and the shape of the world we are all living in.

Check out a little reel about the trip, below, on my Instagram.

jessicadelfino

A post shared by @jessicadelfino

I am sure I don’t have to preach to the choir on this, but I will anyway—your friends, your community, your co-workers, your network—are everything, and maybe even doubly or quadruply so in comedy. It’s such a loner game, comedy—and life!, and it’s necessary to make those connections and hone them, like plants in a garden.

Think of bands. There are 4, 5, 6 members. They all reach out to their networks, and the collaboration of doing so creates a bigger return when it comes to bringing in audience and getting the word out about shows. Comedians, who mostly work solo, have to work as much or more than a band to get those kind of returns. Oof. Like we don’t do enough (so often unpaid!) work.

So, make sure to get email addresses and phone numbers and keep in touch with people, whether they are fans of your work, collaborators, people who you can reach down to and help move upwardly along the path, share rides with, run jokes by, or what ever. Which leads me to the all-time best networking tip.

The golden rule of networking:
Always, always aim to offer more than you ask for, and give more than you get.

And if you find yourself in New York City, make a beeline to Astoria, Queens, stop into QED and watch a show, buy a drink or a book and bask in the glory of the results of what a decade plus of hard work looks like.