Jessy Delfino's Blog

YO, THESE BITCHES ARE SERIOUS AND SHIT...
...an update from the Comedy Coalition

Dear Fellow Comedians,

Thank you so much to those of you who attended today's coalition
meeting at AFTRA. We had our biggest turnout yet and it speaks volumes about
the level of interest and committment among comics to stand together
and take action. We've also collected over $1,000 in donations from
comics to assist with our expenses. Your generosity is inspiring.
The coalition voted today to approve plans to take further action
against those clubs who have not proposed any pay increase whatsoever. These
clubs are the Improv, New York Comedy Club, Dangerfield's and Standup
NY. As of today we are asking comedians to stop working these clubs. If
you have existing dates booked with them PLEASE EMAIL THEM TO US AND
HONOR THESE COMMITTMENTS BUT BOOK NO FUTURE DATES WITH THESE CLUBS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

The weekend of February 11 is when a protest of some kind will take
place at one or more of these clubs. WE WILL DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO
AVOID THINGS REACHING THAT LEVEL, but we are preparing for that
eventuality. Again, if you have existing dates with the aforementioned clubs
please email them to us (so we have a record of existing dates) and
honor those dates. YOU WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED SCABS OR HAVING CROSSED A
PICKET LINE. AS OF TODAY, DO NOT LEAVE AVAILS OR BOOK ANY NEW DATES AT
THESE CLUBS FOR FEBRUARY 10 FORWARD.

The press has been a powerful tool for us thus far and will continue to
be. As of Wednesday we will begin a fully comprehensive press push so
please email us any press contact you have in print, radio and
television. All of us have done radio shows, tv shows, had writers profile us in
one publication or another. Please SEND US EVERY SINGLE PRESS CONTACT
YOU HAVE.

We also want to get as much celebrity support as possible. Celebrity
involvement will obviously help our cause immensely so please let us know
about any celebrities that you have a relationship with or contact info
for. This is very important so please take the time to do it today.
We are exploring alternate performing venues, setting up a "coalition
fund" for any comic who may be in need, and a NY Comedians Coalition
Protest Show, which would potentially feature celebrity comics on the bill
and would help raise funds for the coalition, in addition to raising
our profile with the public. It is also important that we get the word
out to every comic we know. Please email every single comic in your
address book, no matter what state they live in, and inform them that WE ARE
PROTESTING THESE CLUBS AND THEY SHOULD NOT WORK THEM. It is so
important that we get the word out to comics across the country so that these
clubs cannot call unsuspecting comics to take the vacant spots. We must
inform them that we are protesting these clubs and we ask their
solidarity, as fellow comics.

We have to get the word out to the general public, too. PLEASE EMAIL
EVERY PERSON IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK OR ON YOUR MAILING LIST and inform them
that WE ARE PROTESTING THESE CLUBS AND THEY SHOULD NOT ATTEND THEM. If
you have a website please post the clubs that have been cooperative on
your website. There will be a list of these clubs on
www.nycomedianscoalition.com, so you can look there or simply link to that.
We are also continuing talks with the cooperative clubs who have worked
with us to pursue further progress with them. We are at such a crucial
stage of our effort and we ask that you all stay actively engaged in
the process. This is our profession and we are in a wonderful position to
make positive change. IF YOU HAVE SUGGESTIONS, QUESTIONS, INSIGHTS,
CRITICISMS OR OPINIONS PLEASE EMAIL US. We are a group of creative
thinkers and this will require creative solutions so please participate.
Again, thank you to each and every one of you for your individual
contributions to our success thus far. We can all be proud of the dignity
and professionalism we have displayed throughout.

Respectfully,
Ted Alexandro - tedalexandro@aol.com
Russ Meneve - rmeneve@aol.com
Tom Shillue - tshillue@aol.com
Buddy Bolton - squishypaw@aol.com