“Tired but Full of Joy”: Greenpoint’s New Comedy Club is a Testament to Independent Artists
Built around the idea that community can be created through comedy, Greenpoint Comedy Club brings a more social, hangout-driven energy to Brooklyn’s stand-up scene. With packed lineups, strong drinks, and comics mingling alongside the audience, the new venue already feels lived in.
New York has always been a hub for comedians. From the days of Lenny Bruce performing in the Village, to the start of SNL, to the opening of The Comedy Cellar, one thing that has always made the city special is that you do not have to spend $200 to see a world-class comedian. Walk into almost any club on any given night, buy a drink, and there is at least a 70% chance you will see someone you recognize. I am still jealous of my friend who went to The Comedy Cellar the night before SNL’s 50th anniversary and saw Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Eddie Murphy for $25. Someday I might speak to him again. Comedy, thankfully, is something that has not been fully gentrified.
When I heard there was a new comedy club opening in Greenpoint, the aptly named Greenpoint Comedy Club, I was eager to check it out. It was opening weekend, and I did not know what to expect, but thankfully the club did not disappoint. Located on Greenpoint Avenue between West Street and Franklin Street, it is going to be a great place to catch a show and hang out by the river.
The club itself has a bar in the front where you can grab a drink before the show or simply hang out, even if you do not have tickets for a performance. After the show, the comics were all hanging around the bar, which not only added to the community feel of the space, but also created a fun after-party atmosphere that extended the night.
The lineup consisted of Phoebe Robinson, Jay Jurden, Danielle Simonsen, Rachel Williams, and Shane Torres, and they killed it. Every comedian was firing on all cylinders, and the energy in the room was electric. Jeremy Pinsly, comedian and owner of the club, hosted the evening, and one of the best parts of the night was seeing just how elated he was about the club’s opening.
I caught up with him after the show and asked how he was feeling. A little out of breath from the excitement, he told me, “Tired, but full of joy.”
He continued:
“I’d been running comedy shows at venues all over the city and was determined to create a space that I wished I had when I started comedy in the city. I wanted to create a space where comics and audience members could hang comfortably before and after a show, and I wanted to build a room where comics could take risks and be themselves. Basically, I wanted to take my 15 years of experience doing stand-up comedy and make my dream comedy club: a club for comedians, by a comedian.”
As someone who also works in the arts at an independent and professional level, nothing makes me happier than seeing someone bring their dream to life. In the entertainment world, it is easy to define success by the size of a paycheck, but using your success to create opportunities and platforms for others is something every artist should aspire to.
