{"id":8312,"date":"2026-02-27T19:05:27","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T00:05:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thecomedybook.com\/?p=8312"},"modified":"2026-02-27T19:05:27","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T00:05:27","slug":"comedy-festival-submission-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thecomedybook.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/27\/comedy-festival-submission-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Comedy Festival Submission Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hey Dave – I have submitted to a few comedy festivals each year over the past few years. It can get pretty costly, so I limit myself to only three or four a year. Other than the general submission of filling out the forms and sending in a link to a video, are there some tips to getting noticed and accepted into these festivals? Thanks and I always look forward to receiving your weekly letters. – RT<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"

Enter the unknown<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

Hey RT –\u00a0Here\u2019s one thing I love about the comedy industry:<\/p>\n

The unknown.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ask ten comics or industry people how to get into festivals and you\u2019ll get ten different answers. I\u2019ve spent plenty of late nights in clubs and NYC diners listening to debates about trends, formulas, and \u201cwhat works.\u201d Then – WHAM – someone breaks all the rules and changes the conversation.<\/p>\n

Think about when audiences first saw George Carlin<\/strong> doing the Hippie Dippy Weatherman\u2026 then a few years later delivering \u201cSeven Words You Can Never Say on Television.\u201d That shift didn\u2019t just surprise audiences \u2014 it reshaped comedy itself.<\/p>\n

That unpredictability is what makes comedy exciting\u2026 and sometimes maddening.<\/p>\n

So what does that mean for festival submissions?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"

Carlin Before<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

Every festival is different. Some are major showcases featuring established names and carefully selected \u201cup-and-coming\u201d talent. Others spotlight local performers or serve as a celebration of a city\u2019s comedy scene. Some have themes. If it\u2019s a \u201cWomen in Comedy\u201d festival, guys won\u2019t make the lineup. If it\u2019s a clean comedy event, explicit material won\u2019t help your chances.<\/p>\n

And beyond all of that \u2014 there\u2019s taste. The people reviewing submissions have their own preferences, their own goals for the show, and their own vision of what fits. Unless you\u2019re in that room, you simply can\u2019t predict what they\u2019re looking for at that moment.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the unknown factor.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Connections can also play a role. Festival organizers often hear recommendations from agents, bookers, and comedians they trust. Just like agents keep tabs on who\u2019s consistently working strong clubs, festival producers pay attention to buzz and reliability. You never know what background information may help – or hurt – a submission.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Carlin After<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

Now for the part you can control.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Treat comedy like a business.<\/p>\n

Your goal is to be funny, original, reliable, and professional. Festival organizers want performers who help make their event successful. Even if a show features newer comics, no organizer wants an amateur-run experience for their audience.<\/p>\n

Your submission video is the single most important tool you have.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Never submit a poor-quality video. Ever.<\/p>\n

It no longer takes a big budget to get a clean recording with good audio. A basic camera on a tripod in the back of a club works \u2014 as long as the picture is clear and the sound is strong. Bookers want to hear you and the audience response. If they struggle to see or hear your set, they move on.<\/p>\n

Also, don\u2019t waste valuable seconds.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Start with material. Not introductions. Not stock lines. Not applause cues. If the first thing they see is you being funny, you\u2019ve already helped your chances.<\/p>\n

I recently reviewed a festival submission where the first thirty seconds were the MC\u2019s introduction, followed by standard \u201cHello city!\u201d and \u201cGive yourselves a hand!\u201d lines. That\u2019s not what bookers are evaluating. They want to know one thing:<\/p>\n

Are you funny?<\/strong><\/p>\n