“Don't Tell Comedy”, stand-ups in unusual places

We don't know the location in advance, nor the participants. But we have a good laugh.

The address, received a few hours ago by email, is that of a tall and chic building located close to the Grand Central terminal. A finely decorated elevator takes us to the third floor and the doors open onto a co-working space.

Large common room with open kitchen, ping pong table with surprising geometric shapes and comfortable armchairs: it is in this atmosphere of trendy startups that the “New York Don't Tell” evening will take place, a series of one-man shows whose trademark is the secret.

In the land of Stand Ups, and especially in New York, a city that is full of options in this area,”Don't Tell Comedy” focuses on the unusual in an attempt to do well. The principle is intended to be user-friendly while maintaining the mystery: spectators buy their seat — 20 dollars, or 30 dollars for “VIP access” guaranteeing a seat — before the event without knowing, before the last moment, where the evening will take place (only the neighborhood is known). They also don't know who the participants will be.

In terms of pace and the quality of the jokes, this concept has little to envy established Comedy Cellar-style shows. ”We want to make stand-ups more affordable and develop a kind of community” explains Kyle Kazanjian, 26, who founded “Don't Tell Comedy” in March 2017 after studying accounting in California. ”We work with the best comedians, whether they are headliners or aspiring talents.”