My Thoughts on Festivals

After my first year of doing comedy, I thought - let’s take this show on the road! The best way I thought to do that would be to apply for festivals. I sent in my applications and got accepted to 6 festivals in one year. It was exhilarating to have all these cities lined-up on my calendar, but looking back it was too soon, too fast. I learned a lot and these are my thoughts on festivals:

Before you go:

1) Budget! - Most likely, unless you are a paid headliner, festivals will cost you money. Travel, application fee, lodging, food/drink, getting around, it is all money coming out of your pockets. Be sure you can afford a festival before you apply. Doing 6 festivals in one year set me back a lot money-wise. I didn’t think about that beforehand, I was of the theory that it will work itself out. It did, by me doing Uber on top of my full-time job when I got home.

2) Be strategic - Go to festivals where there are bookers and industry folks in attendance. Go to festivals in cities you want to perform in more regularly or festivals where performers you would like to see and get to know are going to be at. A lot of festivals I did were very fun and I met a lot of great people, and still have those connections to this day.

3) Talk to people who have already gone - The best way to figure out which festivals fit your style of comedy or what you are looking to get out of them, is to ask people who have already been. Some festivals pay more, some provide a place to stay, some do a better job of getting audience to shows - find this out by asking someone who has been there, done that.

Once there:

1) Make those connects - Don’t just do the shows you are booked on - go see as many shows as you can. Talk to comics, especially those you enjoyed seeing on stage. Most festivals have after parties and events just for performers - go to these. You will meet great people and who knows where it may lead.

2) Have fun - Yes, a festival is work, yes you are working hard on your set and bringing it to a new audience, but don’t forget to have some fun. You are in a new city and meeting new people, enjoy yourself!