How to Get Into Comedy Festivals

by Rebecca Robinson

(Top photo) The Green room at The White Rabbit for Let’s Fest in Indianapolis 2024. Featuring Rebecca Robinson, Sam Tallent, Jeff Stonic, David Brooks, Derek Sheen.

Some of my most favorite memories throughout my comedy career and life have been at comedy festivals. Festivals are a special place to go, like a comedy summer camp, to smash jokes, meet new comedians, learn from industry experts and have fun! 

I think going through the process of applying and getting either rejected or accepted is extremely valuable. Acceptances are an accomplishment and rejections are a perfect opportunity for reflection and growth.

Level Up Your Comedy Career and Network

Festivals are a great opportunity for you to do comedy somewhere outside of your local scene. There are festivals all over the country and the world that want talented comics on their lineups. That could be you! 

I have personal experiences from over 15 festivals as well as the knowledge passed down to me through tiers of mentors and it thankfully landed in my lap. Although comedy festivals can be fun, they also include hard work and planning to make it happen. Let me help give you a head start! 

Rebecca Robinson performing at Aspen Laugh Festival 2019 - 📸: Jordan Kern

Are You Funny? Prove it.

If you are going to submit anything anywhere it is beyond important to have a great FIVE MINUTE tape. This will allow you to submit to festivals and other shows in your area or around the country.

Some festivals ask for longer tapes, but landing a solid five-minute video is a must. Many festivals and bookers will only watch the first 2-3 minutes, so make sure to kick your set off with a bang!

Get Feedback From Friends

You can have friends and peers review it, to make sure you are putting your best material out there with the maximized amount of laughter that you can create. Outside critiques will help you put it into perspective and make sure you're putting your best foot forward.

If the submission date is further out, find opportunities to get more tapes so you have more options to choose from when submitting. Make sure you upload and share this video to YouTube, publicly. Private videos will almost always be overlooked, an immediate disqualification. Get a great 5 minute tape and you can start to cruise more easily through this process.

Rebecca Robinson performing at Aspen Laugh Festival 2019 - 📸: Jordan Kern

Do Your Research

Okay, so you heard about a fun comedy festival…Google it! Check out its social media presence and website.

Ask Your Network About Some Good Festivals

Ask around to see if anyone you know has had experience with them. 

Newer festivals will have less of a presence online but don’t let that dissuade you. Outsourcing information from other comedians can be crucial.

There are Facebook groups for almost every city in the country. A lot of them are named, “HEY I’M COMING TO (insert city here)!!!” Utilize Facebook Groups like the “Comedy Festivals & Competitions” to stay up to date with what deadlines and announcements are being made. Another resource for festival updates is https://www.thereitispod.com/blog/categories/festivals.

Make sure your tape will still hold up when submissions open. This is why it’s crucial to always be recording your sets. 

Pay Attention to the Details

When applying there are some important questions to ask and decisions to be made.

• When do submissions open and close?
• How much does it cost to submit?
• Can you be in that location at the specific time for the festival?
• What will you gain from participating, a.k.a. how much stage time are you getting? 
• Will industry be present and how can you capitalize on that opportunity?
• Are there seminars or meet and greets? 
• If you don’t get accepted, are there volunteer opportunities for you if you still want to participate in festival activities? 

I personally always look at the dates and location of the festival first and if those details seem to fit my schedule, I look into what the submission guidelines are.

Almost every, if not all, festivals will have submission guidelines or requirements. Read these carefully. Every festival is different.

These include things such as: have a 5 minute tape, pay the submission fee (which may be tiered in pricing depending on how soon you apply), have a well written but concise bio. 

Most festivals have FAQ pages when it comes to submissions and if you have a question that cannot be answered, contact the festival directly. (Don’t be annoying about it; you know what I mean). 

Show Me the Money!

Keep in mind, a majority of festivals do not pay their performers and there are many extra costs to account for whenever traveling for comedy. Most festivals require a submission fee ranging anywhere from $5 to $60.

Make sure you budget for this expense if you are planning on submitting anywhere and/or budgeting for multiple festivals. If you are budgeting $50 for festivals this year, be aware of the due dates to get cheaper rates.

Look into doing multiple cheaper festivals versus one expensive one. When the submission price is high, it doesn’t always mean that the comedy is better. I have found in my experience that established festivals will have higher submission fees because they have more credibility. 

Don't Forget Travel Expenses

You also need to budget for travel expenses: are you flying, driving or taking a train? Do you need to rent a car? Some festivals cover airfare and local transport but it is uncommon, unfortunately.

Depending on the festival, lodging is not usually included. However, this trend is changing in recent years, with most established festivals offering some sort of housing. Most festivals set up a page or group message where comics can find others to share a hotel room or AirBnB with. I’ve done festivals where I’ve been put up in hotels, AirBnBs and stayed on friends’ couches. You can make it work!

Oh And You'll Probably Need to Eat...

Also remember, you need to eat and drink during the festivals. Most festivals provide green rooms with unlimited snacks and soft drinks, hand out coupons for local eateries and host dining events throughout the festival, but ultimately, you are still responsible for keeping yourself satiated. 

Oh No! A Rejection!

Like I said, rejections are a perfect opportunity for reflection and growth. Do not take this personally. Instead, see it as a goal and a challenge to get accepted the following year. Do not let this dissuade you from applying to other festivals or traveling to do comedy elsewhere.

Rejection stings, but it is not the end of the world. Many festivals offer free passes to their festival for those that were not accepted, so if you want to attend, you still can. Reassess your tape and start planning for the next festival to apply to. You got this! 

Congratulations! You're Approved!

You did it! You hard work is paying off. Now make sure you are in touch with the festival in all appropriate ways. Follow their Instagram and Facebook pages, make sure their emails do not go to your spam folder, and keep up with all communications.

Start to plan your trip and remember that festivals are for crushing comedy, meeting new friends, learning from experts and having fun. Make sure you know how much time you are expected to perform and how many shows you are on. Staying organized will make your time much more enjoyable. 

You Made It! You're a Comedian In a Comedy Festival!

You are at the festival, you did it! Now is the time to let your comedy flag fly. Dive in head first and do what it takes to be your best self.

Take opportunities to make new connections, watch comedians you have never seen or met before, attend events that create chances to grow. Represent your home scene well.

Be respectful, on time and prepared. This should go without saying but, treat others with respect.

If you question yourself, remember that you are surrounded by people who went through the same vetting process as you. You belong there.

Most festivals have afterparties and I highly recommend attending. I don’t even drink and I think they’re a blast. It’s a great time to let loose and make new connections. Comedy is supposed to be fun, so have fun!

Enjoy yourself, you earned it.