Charleston Comedy Festival and Money

[GregT]

I wanted to start a discussion about payment to visiting artists at Improv/comedy festivals.

We produce one here in Charleston, SC and because there is no way to go from the Charleston Comedy Festival straight to MadTV or Conan then we have to motivate people by cash. It seems that if there is an industry aspect to a fest then the artists play for free.

I guess I am just stating the obvious, but I feel like as an artistic community we should work together to create opportunities to make money from what we do best -- Live improv.

I feel like we are trying to do that with the Charleston Comedy Festival -- it might be cool to have people chime in with their differing experiences at different fests.

For the record the Charleston Comedy Festival gives 50% of gross ticket sales directly to the artist.

Check us out at www.charlestoncomedyfestival.com

Rock.

GregT

 

[jesster]

Typically, the only way to make money going to a fest is to either have a contract that says you will be paid a certain amount, or teach classes. There are very few fests that pay (San Fran, Austin, Miami off the top of my head) all visiting artists, and it is usually a percentage of the door.

Now, even at a percentage of the door, you are left to the mercy of the producing efforts of the festival as there is a limited amount you can do from afar. Some festivals offer other incentives that are guaranteed, in this instance. My favorite is the Phoenix Improv Festival, which offers a "den mother" to drive you around (no rental needed) and pays for all the artists' hotel rooms. This, along with free admittance to shows, is a great incentive and leaves the cost of getting there as the only cost to recoup. A fantastic option if you are teaching or coaching.

Ideally, a guaranteed amount would be offered to break even for getting to and staying at the festival. Teachers and Mainstage groups would get additional money to get them paid and in the black. Then I wouldn't look at my overall expenses for this year and weep quietly into my pillow.

-Jesster

 

[GregT]

My Fantasy...

Thanks for chiming in...

Yes, what you are outlining is best. But I guess what I am fantasizing about is kind of what happens with the Fringe fests up in Canada. There is a whole network of artists that support themselves by doing the Fringe "circuit."

We have hosted a few of them down here in Charleston during Piccolo Fringe Festival.

My fantasy is that we have an improv fest circuit and that the Charleston Comedy Fest is one stop on that circuit. I also hope to meet a growing number of groups and artists that are participating in that circuit. Maybe we as an artistic community are moving towards that -- I don't know.

I guess I would like the fests to be it's own end. Kind of a new vaudville in America.

I think I am getting carried away.

GregT