Meet the producer packing NYC comedy clubs

Author

Brett Dashevsky
July 26, 2024

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Hey! Welcome to the Creator Economy NYC newsletter — the premier place for all things creator economy in the Big Apple.

Looking forward to our event next week and hope to see many of you there!

In today's newsletter, we're spotlighting Ali Fischbein, a rising star in NYC's comedy scene. From hosting humble pandemic alleyway shows to her new ‘Camp Comedy’ venture, Ali's journey offers valuable insights for creators in our city.

Let’s dive into it.

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CITY SPOTLIGHT

What NYC creators can learn from a comedy producer's rise

In a dimly lit East Village alleyway, laughter echoes off brick walls. A makeshift stage, cobbled together from planks and milk crates, stands under the glow of borrowed construction lights. This isn't some underground speakeasy — it's the birthplace of a new comedy show empire and the launchpad for one of NYC's most innovative creators.

Meet Ali Fischbein, the mastermind behind Lil Fish Comedy. In a city that never sleeps, where dreams are born and broken daily, Ali has carved out a unique space in the creator economy.

Her path to becoming a comedy producer is as unique as the city she calls home, offering valuable insights for creators navigating NYC's competitive environment.

Comedy lover from day one 

Ali has a lifelong love for comedy, which was passed down from her mother, “My mom introduced me to comedy. She loved Robin Williams and Larry the Cable Guy.” 

While Ali was always a major comedy fan, it wasn’t until 2020 that she tried her hand at producing her own shows: 

“I jumped in during the pandemic in 2020, producing shows in the East Village to support the Sixth Street Community Center’s food pantry. My background in experiential marketing, event production, and a love for comedy— thanks to my mom — really is what pushed me to do it,” Ali says.

As with most things — especially during the pandemic — the shows started off small and intimate. Reflecting on those shows Ali shares,

It was just 15 people in an alleyway with string lights, a spotlight made from a clamp construction light, and a stage built from bricks and a plank.

Ali’s creativity and ability to bring people together and book talent didn’t go unnoticed, Sixth Street Community Center asked her to continue producing shows and each week people kept coming back. 

Alleyway comedy shows

To keep the shows fresh and exciting, Ali knew she would have to expand her network of comedians, telling us:

To meet comedians, I networked outside of comedy clubs, where comedians were looking for stage time during COVID.

Her hustle and sheer tenacity paid off. The shows continued to grow and attract the attention of major comedians like Chris Distefano, Dave Attell, Rachel Feinstein, Gary Gulman and more. Chris Rock was even thinking about popping by to work out monologue material for his upcoming SNL appearance. 

Looking back at the start, Ali likes to think of Sixth Street Community Center as the unofficial “incubator” for her comedy-producing career. 

Key Learning

Start small and embrace humble beginnings. Ali's intimate alleyway shows prove you don't need perfect conditions to begin. In the creator economy, taking that first step, no matter how small, is crucial.

Producing shows in a post-COVID world 

Once the world turned back on post-COVID, Ali had a loyal following and an incredible roster of talent. She started branching out and producing comedy shows in unique, untraditional venues. 

I did shows in the basement of karaoke bars, in the back of a Mexican restaurant…I even started ‘The Comedy Club’ and would produce shows in nightclubs followed by an after-party. Both big and emerging comedians would come to the parties. I met so many up-and-coming talents, many of whom now have specials on Netflix and HBO.

It’s not a surprise that Ali’s name started to become well-known in the comedy and event scene. It wasn’t long before brands like JuneShine, Forged Irish Stout, and Quit with Jones started approaching her to produce events. 

Kanpai Comedy Shows

But Ali’s biggest venture to date is her monthly show “Kanpai Comedy” at Rule of Thirds in Greenpoint. For three-years straight, Ali has sold out this show without ever releasing a lineup of the comedians performing. The show regularly attracts a crowd of over 150 people. 

Key Learning

Persistence leads to compounding growth. Each show, connection, and returning audience member contributed to Ali's success. In the creator economy, consistent effort often trumps perfection, gradually building opportunities and presence.

Her latest venture: Camp Comedy 

After finding success in various facets of the event and comedy world, Ali was ready to challenge herself again. This time she set her sights on creating an adult summer camp with a comedic twist.

She wanted to call it Camp Comedy, “I originally went to the Just For Laughs Industry conference with the goal of pitching my idea, but nothing came of it,” she says. 

Despite this initial let down, she kept pushing forward. In 2023, she met with the producers of Gov Ball to pitch them the idea with the hopes of partnering with them. While they were excited and liked the idea, the partnership didn’t pan out. Once again, she was back to square one. 

Rather than give up on the idea, Ali decided to pilot a smaller version of the Camp Comedy concept on Valentine’s Day 2024, “I produced a show called ‘One Night Stand’ securing sponsorships from Lifestyles condoms for Skyn as a PR play. The show sold out and successfully integrated brand deals for comedians.” 

This proof of concept proved to Ali that she had a business-show model that worked. Ali decided to bet on herself, and in April 2024, she decided to self-fund Camp Comedy.  

Camp Comedy

Camp Comedy will be taking place on Labor Day Weekend (August 31 - September 2nd) in the Berkshires. This 3-day weekend will be filled with nostalgic camp activities by day and live comedy by night.  

So will Camp Comedy be a one off thing? Will it be the next Gov Ball one day? 

Well, my dream is to grow Camp Comedy into something bigger, combining my love of camp, partnerships, experiential marketing, comedy, and nostalgia…the world needs laughter + levity, and live comedy is the perfect vehicle for it, Ali shared.

Key Learning

Success principles in live events apply to digital content too. Whether it's comedy shows or online content, the fundamentals are the same: use available resources, maintain consistency, focus on improving quality, and build genuine connections. These elements compound over time, driving growth and new opportunities.

If you want to learn more about Camp Comedy - or buy a ticket - check it out here. Use the code 50OFF to get $50 off GA tickets!

Oh, and follow Ali, LilFishComedy and Camp Comedy on Instagram.

☝️ This week’s City Spotlight was written and developed with significant contributions from Emmy O'Leary, Contributing Author.

CITY HAPPENINGS

Summer Mixer & Live Podcast - July 29, 6:30PM-9:30PM

We’re excited to partner with Creator Economy Live for an exclusive summer mixer and live podcast recording at the Mariott Marquis in the heart of NYC to bring together our community.

Expect free beverages, food, and great people to meet. Plus, a live podcast recording with a special NYC-creator guest, Nadya Okamoto!

Shoutout to our community partners for this event:

Hope to see many of you there! Space is limited, so RSVP to secure your spot.

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Thanks so much for reading! Let me know what you thought by replying back to this email! Enjoy the weekend!

See you next week,

Brett

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