Travis Stealey Brings 64 Comics to the Saratoga Comedy Festival
Travis Stealey, comedian and founder of the Saratoga Comedy Festival in Saratoga Springs, NY, nearly quit comedy during his first six months of open mics before learning that getting better meant changing how he wrote and performed. Now, Stealey is bringing 64 comedians together for a two-day festival at the Saratoga City Center, with five rooms running simultaneously.
From Bombing at Open Mics to Building a Comedy Festival
Stealey said his introduction to stand-up happened almost by accident after he criticized a drink-making video posted by a Facebook acquaintance. The response was simple: come to an open mic and try it himself. He did, and the first five minutes were painfully quiet.
“I realized, oh, I should probably learn how to get good at this,” Stealey said.
That learning process took years. Stealey traveled for comedy, performed at festivals, went to Hawaii annually and eventually began producing his own shows around the Capital Region. His first six months were particularly difficult, however, and he eventually considered quitting.
A local comedian, Rich Williams, helped change his approach. After reviewing Stealey’s material, Williams gave him a blunt assessment: “Listen, you have good ideas. You are just terrible at delivering that.” Stealey began sending him one-liners every day and said the experience changed how he wrote and thought about comedy.
Why Good Comedy Takes Repetition
Stealey’s approach to comedy is less about writing a joke once and assuming it works and more about repeatedly testing and refining it in front of audiences.
“Not one joke is perfect the second you write it,” he said. A joke might get laughs the first time, but Stealey said he may later discover that a word needs to change or that the joke works better somewhere else in the set. He also likes using callbacks, bringing an earlier joke back later in the performance.
That process also applies to storytelling. Stealey said a five-minute story can work if the comedian keeps the audience engaged, explaining that he can now have an audience laughing roughly every 15 seconds before reaching the larger punchline at the end.
Bringing 64 Comics to Saratoga Springs
The Saratoga Comedy Festival grew out of Stealey’s desire to create a festival where audiences could see multiple comedians without having to drive between venues. “Anyone above the age of 25, we know that if I go to a show and then I have to get in my car and go to another show, I’m probably going home,” he said.
The festival is planned for the Saratoga City Center, with five rooms operating at the same time. Friday is scheduled to feature 15 shows beginning at 6 p.m., followed by additional shows at 8 and 10 p.m., along with food, drinks and sponsors. Across the two days, 64 comedians will perform, including local comedians and established names from outside the region.
For Stealey, the goal is ultimately straightforward: create a weekend where people in Saratoga Springs can see a large variety of comedy in one place. The Saratoga Comedy Festival represents the latest step in a comedy career that began with an empty room, plenty of bad jokes, and a decision not to quit.
