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New York’s 1 Golf Magazine
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golfing
NEW YORK
M A G A Z I N E™
Country Clubs
Turn to Comedy
and that's NO JOKE
L.I.’s Indoor
Golf Simulators
Rees Jones
The Open Doctor
Long Island / Metro NY Edition
Winter 2013
Breakfast Ball’s
Prediction Scorecard
Enchantment Resorts
Sedona, Arizona
Country Clubs Turn
to Comedy and
that's NO JOKE
By David Weiss
Once upon a time, the country club was for
the golfer only – and most of the members
were men. Over the course of time, country
clubs added amenities and other activities to
draw the whole family in. The club became
a place where golf was a part of the experience, rather than the whole picture.
With an eye toward providing current members with new experiences to retain them, as
well as attracting new members, many clubs
have tried some new approaches. Thanks
in no small part to “Haft2Laugh Comedy
Productions,” Comedy Nights, especially
“Dinner & a Show” at country clubs have
become a very popular option.
18 Golfing Magazine - Metro NY / Long Island Edition
Laugh
aft2Productions
HComedy
COVER STORY
www.GolfingMagLI.com
19
With 30 years in the entertainment industry (including his own standup comedy
experience), Eric Haft started “Haft2Laugh”
in 2010 as a way of bringing more comedy
to Long Island at a different venue. The effort was squarely aimed at the golf industry,
with a specific focus on country clubs.
“These clubs were looking for something
new,” says Eric. “Something that would
ENTERTAIN. Going to a comedy club is
something many people are familiar with.
In this case, with comedy so popular across
Long Island and everywhere else, we bring
the comedy club TO the country club.”
Eric. Haft2Laugh provides the stage, lighting and sound system, as well as creating
all promotional and marketing materials to
ensure a packed house at the country club.
Eric relates a story that dates back to when
Haft2Laugh first started. “We received a
call from a club in Suffolk asking us if we
could do a November show, just before
Thanksgiving. There wasn’t much lead time,
but we promoted the show heavily, and 150
people turned out for a wonderful evening. The club’s general manager said there
wouldn’t have been a dozen people at the
club otherwise.”
As John Glozek, Jr. (Publisher, Golfing
Magazine) points out, “country clubs
No two shows are alike, he says. “One of
the keys is to have a terrific emcee/host to
Cherry Creek Golf Links - Eileen McCaffrey
- GM & Head Golf Professional
“Thank you and Haft2Laugh for the wonderful “Comedy Night”
evening at Cherry Creek Golf Links...The performances by you...
Rich and Maria were great! It seemed like a good time was had by
all...with
laughter
filling
the
room
all
night.”
We look forward to hosting another show.
have held Casino Nights, Cinco de Mayo
celebrations, cover bands, and other special
events to keep their members happy and to
generate additional revenue. Having had
these types of events over and over again
clubs have seen a decline in participation.
There needs to be a change. Some kind of
“Thank you for your assistance with this outstanding event. We
appreciate all you did to make sure that every detail was attended
to. From the staging, to the lighting, to the sound system, everything was handled professionally and seamlessly. We thank you
for helping us to make our Members Haft to Laugh!”
Thank you for everything you did.
Eric says his comedy stable includes about
75 comedians of all sorts – each one of
them a pro. “The Comedy Night production is professional from start to finish,” says
“We work with the country club to get a
feel as to what they’re looking for, from
demographics to any special considerations
they may have.” Eric says referrals and overwhelming word-of-mouth has led to many
Comedy Nights at country clubs that have
never tried it. “The golfing community,
which includes members and their families,
are very open to many different styles of
comedy. And if you give them a professional show, it’s a winner for everyone involved.”
Wheatley Hills Golf Club
Jay Carrieri - General Manager
“Great night last night! Thank
you. We had 117 members &
guests who all had a fantastic
time. Let’s get another show
on the books...”
get the ball rolling. Peter Bales is one of our
wonderful emcees who really sets the table
for an outstanding show. Two or three topnotch comedians would follow. All of our
shows run about 90 minutes. The material
is appropriate, and doesn’t go over the line.”
Nissequogue GC - Barry L. Chandler - GM
variety. I see comedy as a great way to go.”
once they do with Haft2laugh, we end up
going back on a yearly basis, in some cases
two or three times-a-year.”
There are some country clubs that have
held Comedy Nights in the past with just
one comedian and had a less than a positive
experience, possibly due to overly-raunchy
material. Eric says it can be challenge to
convince them to give it another try, “but
20 Golfing Magazine - Metro NY / Long Island Edition
Huntington Crescent Club
Natalie Heba
Director of Catering
“We never had a comedy show
at the club, so we were thirlled
to have such a great turnout.
Since the show, our members
have raved about how great
you guys performed.”
COVER STORY
What about the basic question of what
makes people laugh? “Funny is funny,” says
Eric, “but it really is all about relatability.
It’s our common experiences from uncommon points of view. The comedians aren’t
really doing an ‘act’ – they are having a
conversation with the audience in which
everyone is in on the joke. In the end, we’re
all laughing about life, because we’re all vulnerable. Laughing is a way to get through
all of this.”
Whether it’s during the golf season or in the
‘off-season’, Comedy Nights can be held at
any time of the year. Haft2Laugh Comedy
Productions has also held shows at public
golf courses, with the possibility of more to
come. Eric admits holding a show at a public facility might require more lead time for
additional promotion, since the golf course
sees different golfers each day without a
‘regular membership.’ “But once the word
gets out that a Comedy Night is set for a
certain date, the golfers and their families
will turn out.”
trying to set themselves apart. Keeping
members and their families happy while
also adding to that member base is a key to
their future.”
This is a challenging time for country clubs
across Long Island. Golfing Magazine’s
John Glozek, Jr. says “country clubs are
increasingly thinking out-of-the-box, and
You can contact Haft2Laugh Comedy
Productions at 516-924-3288 or email
[email protected]. The website is
www.haft2laugh.com.
What better way to keep everyone happy
than to hold an event in which laughter is
heard from start to finish, and everyone
leaves smiling. And that’s exactly what a
Haft2Laugh Comedy Night provides.
Laugh
aft2Productions
HComedy
Teddy Smith
Jim GallagHer
Scott Schendlinger
Mitch Walters
Peter Bales
Steve Lazarus
Moody McCarthy
Carie Karavas
Eric Haft
Joe Giarratano
Maria Walsh
Rich Walker
Michelle Durante
Gary Vider
Eric Tartaglione