Caroline Hirsch is a name synonymous with comedy in New York. As the founder of the iconic Carolines on Broadway and the driving force behind the New York Comedy Festival, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of American comedy. With the 20th anniversary of the New York Comedy Festival on the horizon, Hirsch reflects on her journey from a retail professional to a powerhouse in a male-dominated industry. Her story is one of vision, tenacity and a deep love for the art of comedy, which has led her to discover and promote some of the biggest names in the business. Now, as she continues to influence the industry from her home in the Hamptons, Hirsch shares the insights and experiences that have defined her remarkable career.
Ahead of New York Comedy Festival's 20th anniversary, founder and Hamponite Caroline Hirsch gives us the scoop on how she became a powerhouse in New York's comedy scene.
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You’ve been a trailblazer in the comedy world, which is often male-dominated. What motivated you to start Carolines on Broadway, and how did you navigate the challenges of establishing yourself in this space?
This started way back in the early 80s. I was in retail at the time, and the department store that I worked for was closing, so I decided along with some friends, let's open up a cabaret. So, we opened the cabaret, and we're about one year into it, and it wasn't quite clicking with me. So, I decided, let's go into the comedy vein, there's something really happening here. David Letterman’s going on at 12:30 AM, and we started to book a lot of the comedians that were on the David Letterman Show. And that was kind of the beginning of this modern cultural sensation of what comedy is today, and that really motivated me to do it.
Did I know anything about it? No. I did it by the seat of my pants, but I was able to create a marketing plan. I went to all the newspapers at that time and had them come in and take a look at the club at Carolines and have a look at the comedians and have dinner and spend the evening with us. And everybody was kind of on the same page about what was happening. So, we had The New York Times, The New York Post, and the Daily News at that time behind us, and there was a little company called CNN that was just opening in New York City, and they were down the block from my original club. They would come in and interview the comedians at that time that were all at Carolines.
The stars were aligned. This was happening. It was kind of a cultural movement in our nation at that time. And then from this, all the comedians would then go on David Letterman, and they would say that they were at Carolines. I must have tapes and storage from David Letterman and Jerry Seinfeld saying how many times they were at Carolines. There was a movement happening. It was a new kind of art form. And at Carolines, we tried to elevate that to be what it is today.
I'm of the age where we tried to not emphasize that we were women at that time. We could go for anything we really wanted to do, and we did that. So, it never really mattered to me being a woman. There was nothing that could stop me to think that, oh, they wouldn't take a call because it's a woman calling. But people did question, what was she on to? Why was she doing this? Nobody was hiring Pee Wee Herman for an act. I had Gary Shandling performing at that time, and then he went on to host the Tonight Show. I always had trust in the talent I selected.
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You’ve been credited with recognizing the potential of many now-famous comedians like Jerry Seinfeld and Paul Reubens. What qualities do you look for in rising comedic talent?
I think today and, in the past, it always happened to people that had their own voice. And we can see how that comes through. We saw that from the observational comedy style by the likes of Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, and Larry David where they were just talking about the silly things of life. Comedians needed to have their own voice, and that's why people got ahead and that’s the type of comedy audiences took notice to.
We had someone like Billy Crystal who was kind of passed over on the first round of Saturday Night Live, but then he came to Carolines in the 80s and the producers came in to see him there, and then put him on the show. That’s what made it happen.
It's pretty much what will make anybody pop out today is your unique voice. We have lots of people on social media that come up with a clever idea, but it's really the follow through that you need to have. People can make funny videos and have a big social following, but that doesn't mean that they can really do stand-up or do live events or really present themselves for an hour-long show.
On the other hand, take a kid like Matt Rife. We had him at the club, we discovered him on Instagram, and put him at the club, and about two years later, he was selling out big, big theaters around the country. So social media can help a lot. Streaming services have helped people a lot too. All the young comedians today that are able to get specials out there so people can see them and then want to go see them at a live show.
What advice would you give to young women aspiring to enter the comedy industry or any other male-dominated field?
You need a lot of tenacity. Whatever field you're in, whatever you really want to pursue, you need to decide that “I'm going to pursue this” and “I'm going to do everything to make it happen”. I'm going to learn the marketing, I'm going to learn the advertising, I'm going to know how to do the socials, I'm going to know the history of what I'm doing. I just think it's staying with what you really believe in. I'm not telling young women to knock their heads against the wall until it hurts, but you really do have to be able to have vision and tenacity and get through it. Women have great instincts and should follow their leads.
But let's not classify ourselves as men and women. We're all professionals in what we do.
There are groups of young women today that really have broken through, but that happened many years ago too. You had Joan Rivers, who opened the doors for lots of young comedians today that wanted to do what she did. We had a lot of young women who also watched Jon Stewart on Comedy Central and wanted to be a comedian and it really gave them an idea about being stand ups.
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As NYCF celebrates its 20th anniversary, what are some of the most memorable moments or milestones that stand out to you, and what are you most proud of?
I'm proud that we’re able to have this 20th year anniversary considering how hard it is to be in business, especially in New York City. You know the old saying, ‘if you can make it in New York City, you can make it anywhere.’ It's pretty much true, because it's the toughest town to do anything in, because we have so many choices in New York about what we can do on a Friday or Saturday night.
Andrew Fox, Louis Faranda, and I started the festival coming out of the horrible 9/11 events and we wanted to bring laughter to heal New York City. We're happy that we did that and that we have taken an event that started with about 10 shows and expanded it to the almost 300 shows that we have today.
We also have sparked economic development from this, because people go to a show, they'll go out to dinner first, they'll spend money on a taxi or an Uber. So, I think it's been good for New York City, that's for sure.
We have been able to develop new talent, see new talent, and make inroads. We're proud of New York's Funniest Standup Competition that we do, as well as Comics to Watch. There's a lot of new talent that comes out of the festival that gets noticed there. And it opens up a lot of doors for a lot of people's careers.
It’s also been incredible working with women comedians. I mean, let's go back. I met Gloria Steinem way back in the early 90s. We started something for the MS Foundation, which was all women comedians, way before anybody talked about a woman comedian, way before that movement even started. So, I'm proud of what I was able to do for women early on in this industry.
Andrew Fox and I also created an event called Stand Up For Heroes. We started that over 18 years ago, and that was very memorable, because we were able to put together a bunch of great comedians at that time, which was Conan O'Brien, Robin Williams, Lewis Black, Brian Regan, and we were able to do this great event that raises money for the Bob Woodruff Foundation.
We've done a number of other charity events with the festival, like the Scleroderma Research Foundation Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine Event with Bob Saget, a ‘roast’ fundraiser for the New York City Food Bank, and more. We are proud that we have been able to incorporate our charity work into the festival.
While there are a lot of milestones that we touched on with the festival, we are most happy that we make people laugh. I mean, there's nothing better than walking into a show and seeing 300 people having a great time and laughing. What’s better than that, to make people happy?
What do you hope your legacy will be in the comedy world, and what future projects or goals do you have in mind for yourself and for NYCF?
What you want to do is always be known for making a difference. And I think that, with Carolines, we made a difference in the industry.
When a comedian sold out Carolines, that means that they were onto really great things that happened afterwards. And Carolines was always responsible for promoting and getting the word out about who was there. So, we are very proud of our part in the industry of elevating the art of comedy to a higher place in the ladder of entertainment.
Through the festival, our goal will always be to continue to keep our finger on new talent and help develop and work with these comedians into the future.
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You're a Water Mill resident. How long have you been out East, and what are some of your favorite Hamptons spots or activities that you would recommend to our readers?
I have been a resident out here for a long, long time, probably over 40 years. Andrew Fox and I live out in Water Mill. We even knew Randy Schindler, who started Hamptons Magazine at the time. That's when Hamptons magazine had a staple in the middle to hold the pages together. And it's always been a treat to be out here. I think I came out as a teenager, and when I came out here, typical things that kids did at that time like bar hopping, it was an easy drive from Southampton to East Hampton, and it didn't take an hour to get there. So, it was easy to go back and forth and have a fun time out here.
Now, I enjoy the restaurants out here. We go to T Bar in Southampton, and we go to the Highway in East Hampton, and Nick and Tony's when they first opened. It's fun to be out here. It's the most beautiful place in the world, even in the winter.
I started to play golf many years ago. I play at Noyac and The East Hampton Golf Club as my usual weekend activity. Flying Point Beach is just a beautiful beach out here. Our beaches are beautiful, and our restaurants and shopping are great. Go into Southampton, go to East Hampton, and do some great shopping. And look how Sag has exploded in the last few years. So, all good, more fun places to be.
How does spending time in the Hamptons influence your work and creativity?
Well, I think that whenever somebody is able to unload a little bit and step back and think about what they want to do in future projects, it gives you time to relax. As you drive out here, and when you're on the highway and you go over from Hampton Bays and you go over the canal, it gives you a sigh of relief when you drive out here. It kind of says, ‘Oh, I'm here now. Settle down, collect your thoughts. Think about what you want to do.’ And I tell you, sometimes just driving out here gives you time to reflect on stuff that you want to do. So, to me, it's a great time to reflect when you're out in the Hamptons and then recharge yourself, and then go back to the busy workday that starts on Monday. It's always been what I loved about this place, just the recharge is very soothing. There's something about it that just calms you down.
As Caroline Hirsch continues to leave an indelible mark on the comedy world, her influence only grows stronger. From the early days of Carolines on Broadway to the expansive success of the New York Comedy Festival, she has elevated comedy into an art form that brings people together, makes them laugh, and, in many cases, changes lives. As we celebrate 20 years of the NYCF, it’s clear that Caroline’s vision and passion have created a lasting legacy that will continue to shape the future of comedy for generations to come. Whether she's spotting the next big comedic talent or enjoying the tranquil beauty of the Hamptons, Caroline Hirsch embodies the spirit of someone who has truly mastered the art of living—and laughing—well.
Photography by: courtesy of New York Comedy Festival
