Many comedy open mics in New York City are likely to have a sign up of 18-26 men and 2-4 women on average for a night. The male-to-female ratio is so severe that several founders of comedy venues have acknowledged that sometimes they specifically call female comedians they know to request a performance so that they do not end up with a stage with no women for the whole show.
Melissa Finney takes the stage during the semi-final round of the comedy competition at Stand Up NY on the Upper West Side in Manhattan. Photo essay on comedian Melissa Finney. October 13, 2023. New York City. Photo/Vandana Saras
“You cool?” Melissa Finney says and shows the expression of a New Yorker after bumping into a stranger on the street during the semi-final round of the comedy competition at Stand Up NY on the Upper West Side in Manhattan. Photo essay on comedian Melissa Finney. October 13, 2023. New York City. Photo/Vandana Saras
Melissa Finney shows the face of a New Yorker who has realized that a fist fight is imminent during the semi-final round of the comedy competition at Stand Up NY on the Upper West Side in Manhattan. Photo essay on comedian Melissa Finney. October 13, 2023. New York City. Photo/Vandana Saras
Melissa Finney recommends that it is better to take one’s wig off before a fist fight on the street during the semi-final round of the comedy competition at Stand Up NY on the Upper West Side in Manhattan. Photo essay on comedian Melissa Finney. October 13, 2023. New York City. Photo/Vandana Saras
Melissa Finney captured in a zen moment during the semi-final round of the comedy competition at Stand Up NY on the Upper West Side in Manhattan. Photo essay on comedian Melissa Finney. October 13, 2023. New York City. Photo/Vandana Saras
Melissa Finney is photographed during her shift as a salesperson at the Chelsea Market in Manhattan. Photo essay on comedian Melissa Finney. October 14, 2023. New York City. Photo/Vandana Saras
Melissa Finney watches as a tourist is surprised to discover that the drip logo on the Tee makes the New York skyline during her shift as a salesperson at the Chelsea Market in Manhattan. Photo essay on comedian Melissa Finney. October 14, 2023. New York City. Photo/Vandana Saras
Melissa Finney catalogues the sale in a notebook during her shift as a salesperson at the Chelsea Market in Manhattan. Photo essay on comedian Melissa Finney. October 14, 2023. New York City. Photo/Vandana Saras
Melissa Finney gathers her belongings in the tight space behind the mannequins as her coworker Tony watches at the end of her shift as a salesperson at the Chelsea Market in Manhattan. Photo essay on comedian Melissa Finney. October 14, 2023. New York City. Photo/Vandana Saras
Before she heads to perform as a comedian, Melissa Finney fistbumps her coworker Tony during their salesperson shift changeover at the Chelsea Market in Manhattan. Photo essay on comedian Melissa Finney. October 14, 2023. New York City. Photo/Vandana Saras
This imbalance gets more pronounced when racial and ethnic demographics are considered. “Six hundred submissions were entered for the competition at Stand Up NY,” said Melissa Finney, 38, when asked about the racial mix at venues. “But the top 60 had only one Black female, me.” She said that very likely there were other entries by at least a few other Black women.
However, Finney does not like to emphasize her gender or race in her routine. “I want to be seen as a comedian,” she said. “Not a female comedian.” She also feels strongly about not including sex or her private body parts as is the case for many successful female comedians. She said that this image of female comedians having to represent graphic sex talk can dissuade some women from entering the comedy world. She wants to write and represent everyday comedy that everyone can relate to—people of all backgrounds and ages. On better nights, she can make up to $150 for a 10-minute spot though usually there is a lot less money involved.
Mother to a 14-year-old daughter, Finney works during the day as a saleswoman for an apparel company, NY State of Mind. She has lived all her life in the same apartment in Hell’s Kitchen, which her family has rented for more than four decades—now shared with her mother and daughter. She addresses her “Cookies and cocaine” upbringing in her comedy act and that she learned to smoke at the age of four when her “high” mother would ask her to light her cigarettes. One day she would like to have her own apartment and ride in a limousine while being chased by adoring fans.
During the semi-finals on Friday, October 13th, Finney was chosen as the winner by both the judges and the audience. She said that during the last five years of working as a comedian she has learned to let go of her ego and reveal her authentic self. “Because God can’t bless the fake you,” she said.
