Hyatt Regency has launched “It’s Good Not to Be Home” to celebrate the simple human truths about traveling. On Nov 10, at participating Hyatt Regency hotels across the country, guests received a fun taste of #PassportToComedy with a surprise hotel comedy adventure of their own. A cast of comedians, including the hilariously funny Megan Gailey, stand-up funnyman Andrew Kennedy, and actress and filmmaker Negin Farsad, had an adventure interacting with guests to create funny “not at home” moments.
Guests were surprised with comedic “man on the street” style interviews to the testing of new stand up material in hotel elevators. The best “Passport to Comedy” moments, bloopers and jokes will be captured and shared on the Hyatt Regency brand’s social channels. Travelers are encouraged to join in by sharing their own funny “not at home” moments with the hashtags #PassportToComedy and #AtHyattRegency.
Interviewing Farsad and Kennedy brings home fun “It’s Good Not to Be Home” moments.
Negin Farsad was recently named one of the 50 Funniest Women by the Huffington Post. She was also named a 2013 TED Fellow and gave a TED Talk about her work in Social Justice Comedy (SJC). Farsad wrote for and developed the MTV series, Detox , the PBS animated series 1001 Nights, and the Nickelodeon series Class Parents Nerdcore Rising, a ragingly hilarious comedy about nerdcore hip hop, for which she was director, producer, writer, PA, and golf caddie. Nerdcore Rising premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival to sold-out houses and critical praise. Farsad also produced, directed, wrote, and performed in the Comedy Central series, The Watch List. As a standup comedian she has opened for the likes of Al Franken and Bobby Lee (Mad TV) in venues ranging from the Laugh Factory in New York, the Comedy Store in Los Angeles, and Town Hall on Broadway.
Carol Ruth Weber: Being an extremely busy woman as a writer and director, as well as performing, what is your favorite type of work to do?
Negin Farsad: Funny because I go to a place and people don’t realize that I’m a comedian and then something funny happens. It’s fun catching people off guard to create a memorable, weird, anything can happen moment. I enjoy listening and reacting to build a connection with people, to take people out of the moment like having people climbing into bed with me to have fun and do silly things like nails. This has been one of the most ridiculous days that I have ever had, hanging out on a king size bed in the middle of the hotel lobby ordering room service.
CRW: How did you get involved with the “It’s Good Not to Be Home” campaign working with Hyatt regency?
NF: I heard about what Hyatt Regency was trying to do. I knew I would be a perfect fit since as a comedian I spend a lot of time on the road. Developing weird road rituals and habits, like bursting out in song, make me the ideal person to talk to about this campaign.
CRW: What is your own personal funniest traveling moment?
NF: One time I was on the road traveling with a girlfriend, and it was snowing. We stopped at sandwich shop and realizing that the weather made it difficult to park, I went inside while my friend waited in the car. I picked up sandwiches and got in the car and immediately started talking as I put on my seatbelt and gave my travel companion the sandwich. I see my friend laughing hysterically through the window of the car I am sitting in when I realized the guy I handed the sandwich to was obviously not my female friend. I turned to the guy and said “These sandwiches are not for you,” as I took the sandwich back and left the car.
Bilingual entertainer Andrew Kennedy was raised in South America, the Caribbean and Asia by a Colombian mother and British father. This entertainer promotes cultural diversity through comedy. He developed, produced and starred in his very own television pilot “Related by Marriage,” for CBS, which was based on his comedy and life. Kennedy’s half hour “Comedy Central Presents” special was voted one of the network’s top 20. Fusion Network centered an entire episode around Kennedy, following him all the way to Bogota, Colombia. He performs comedy celebrating cultural diversity.
Carol Ruth Weber: How does coming from such a diverse background lend to your comedy adventures?
Andrew Kennedy: I just seem to be open minded to all different cultures. I am not surprised by anything and I don’t shy away from anyone. I have learned that you can’t prejudge from looking at people. I have an appreciation for cultures from all over the world because of my rich and diverse background.
CRW: How did you get involved with the “It’s Good Not to Be Home” campaign working with Hyatt regency?
AK: I got involved because years ago I hosted the Upfront with Univision and was noticed. When I was reached out to ask me to be part of the campaign I said of course. Hyatt Regency is amazing with its beautiful decor and rooms. The experience here has been amazing hanging out on the bed in the lobby under a huge dome and in elevators making people laugh. Once people commit to talking to a stranger in his pajamas they open up. People told me how they feel like they are the queen and king of their domain when staying at the Hyatt. I even got told a bedtime story about the Hyatt and how wonderful it was to be there and fall asleep. I travel almost two weeks out of the month. With Hyatt it makes total sense that it’s good not to be home.
CRW: What is your own personal funniest traveling moment?
AK: I once played at a place where they put me in a hotel with a dog convention. The dogs were barking all of the time. I went out and bought a dog whistle, then walked the halls at two in the morning blowing the whistle so only the dogs could hear. It set off a chorus of barking that the owners did not know where it all came from.
Traveling can be adventurous, life-changing and exhausting all at once, allowing for interesting voyages to develop into humorous stories. As part of the Hyatt Gold Passport sponsorship of the New York Comedy Festival, travelers and Hyatt Gold Passport members can enter the Passport to Comedy Sweepstakes through December 31. Take the chance to win a VIP Daily Show experience, a trip to the New York Comedy Festival and more.
Enjoy the laughter in the exploration of the journey. Never be afraid to dance.
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