Emma Westwood, Hanging Judge: Melbourne
THE DOS
1. Always prepare your show. No matter how off-the-cuff you might usually
be, preparation/rehearsal compensates for any stage jitters. Preparation
also indicates commitment - which bodes well with the judges. It shows.
2. If possible, try to see some Raw heats before your own. Often, there are
trends in material so, if you see a trend emerging, then you can steer away
from it in your own set. Repetition is boring and, of course, unoriginal.
3. Use the stage to your advantage rather than hiding in the corner (unless
that's your schtick). This is your time to shine so command attention by
opening up to the audience, engaging with them (look out at them) and using
the mic correctly (a muffled voice means they literally can't hear you).
4. Hit the ground running. You only have five minutes to make an impression
so don't go saving your best until last or leading up to it with a long,
drawn-out story. Get the audience and the judges on-side - immediately!
5. Ask for feedback after your performance - and be open-minded about what
feedback you're going to receive. You may think you're the funniest guy in
the room but your humour just may not translate. Look, listen and learn.
THE DON'TS
1. Don't abuse the audience (or the judges), especially if your set's going
badly. Unlikeable comedians don't wash with Aussie audiences. If you're
falling short of the five minute mark and you don't have enough material,
just cut it short. It's better to bow out gracefully than disgracefully.
2. Don't imitate or steal material from others. While you think it is
unlikely the judges will pick up on this, they most certainly will! Dave
Hughes has been successful because nobody else is Dave Hughes. Be yourself.
3. Don't step on your own punchlines. If a joke has gone well, give it time
to breathe - let the audience laugh before moving on. Similarly, if the joke
has not gone well, move on quickly! Good timing is very important.
4. Don't be vulgar for the sake of a cheap joke. While there's still room
for profanity and rude jokes, you need to be clever to pull off something
new. The audience has heard every sex joke before - don't be groan-worthy!
Also, there's a very fine-line between funny and just plain offensive.
5. If you've been in Raw before, don't use old material from previous years.
The judges will be trying to gauge whether you have the 'legs' to go onto
bigger and better things. Show them you're more than a one-joke wonder!
Clayton Steele, Hanging Judge: Perth
1. Don’t do material that isn’t yours. The judges have been around for quite a while and tend to know some pretty obscure performers. If it’s been done before and is funny, we’ve probably heard it and if it isn’t funny…
2. Don’t be needlessly vulgar or offensive. The judges are rarely shocked into laughing. We’ve all seen The Aristocrats. Remember - the comedians in that film are seasoned professionals. The audience is there to laugh not be grossed out.
3. Do love the spotlight, it is your friend. Yes it is very bright and hot but without it you are just someone talking in a pub. Shielding your eyes, or worse, moving out of the light says “Don’t look at me”. Get there early and try it out before the gig.
4. Don’t bring a guitar on stage if you don’t know how to use it. Tuning an instrument on stage or complaining about it being out of tune scores no points with the judges. We aren’t there to watch you learn to play. Whilst really good music can lift an otherwise mediocre comedy performance, the opposite can also be true.
5. Don’t bitch and moan about the judges’ decision. Just because you didn’t win the heat, doesn’t mean you won’t make the finals. Complaining about the decision could well seal your fate.
6. Don’t go over time. If it says 5 it means 5 not 6. Quickly finish the joke you’re on and get off stage. I would rather watch 3 minutes of your best than 3 minutes of best and 3 minutes of padding.
The formal Raw Comedy Judging Policy is available for download here.