- The over-riding aim of Raw Comedy is to uncover and support new performers with the potential to make a sincere contribution to the artform and the industry in this country, in the years ahead.
Rules of Entry: general competition
- Registration in the competition is free.
- Entry is open to anyone resident in Australia, who is not a professional (paid) comedian. Ultimately, entry is at the sole discretion of the producers, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. However, the following guidelines are in place:
- Entrants in RAW Comedy 2008 must not have earned more than $500 in total from fees, ticket sales or equivalent value in competition prizes, from performing comedy, in their lifetime.
- If you’re a group act, the $500 applies to your earnings as a group.
- Entrants who undertake more than four professional (paid) performances between 1 December 2007 and their first heat shall withdraw from the competition.
- Entrants who have previously performed at two Raw Comedy State Finals or any one Raw National Final, either individually or as part of a group are not eligible.
- Entrants who have entered the competition in more than three different years are not eligible.
- Entrants should be at least 16 years old.
- The Comedy Festival reserves the right to allow or decline a registration for any reason at its sole discretion. In all instances this decision is final.
- Any entrants who have misrepresented their status as a Raw comedian subsequent to their entry being accepted will be disqualified.
- Entrants can only register once in the whole competition. You can only register for one heat appearance in one state or territory.
- All forms of comedy are eligible for entry.
- All material must be original and any entrant deemed by the producer to have plagiarised material and concepts from any source will be immediately disqualified.
- Heat places are allocated on a ‘first in, first served’ basis. Entries close when all heat places are taken.
- Performance time is to be strictly no more than five minutes. Penalties, including disqualification, may apply for performances that run over time.
- A local panel appointed by the local Coordinator will judge heats. A local panel, plus at least one representative of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival will judge state finals. A panel chosen by the Melbourne International Comedy Festival will judge the National Final. In all instances the judges’ decision is final.
- Click here for the Judging Policy.
- Basic technical provisions will be made at the heats including a stage, basic lighting, two microphones and stands and a CD facility on the PA. Entrants with additional technical provisions must discuss their requirements with local Coordinators at the time of heat date allocation and confirm details at least 24 hours prior to their heat. Requests for additional technical provisions will not be accepted on the day of the performance.
- The National Finalists will be selected when ALL state finals are completed. State Winners and runners-up will go into the RAW Comedy ‘Winners Lounge’ from which the producer will select National Finalists. Placing at a state final does not automatically guarantee a place at the National Final. The producer reserves the right to select Finalists across the entire national field of state final winners and runners-up. The producer also reserves the right to allocate ‘Wild Card’ National Final positions to entrants who may not have been placed at State level. National Finalists will be notified by phone and by email.
- A selection of heats will be audio-recorded. All entrants consent by the act of registering, to the broadcast in part or whole of their performance on the Triple J radio station without limitation, until June 30, 2008, solely for the purposes of promoting and reporting on RAW Comedy.
- All entrants consent by the act of registering, to the “podcast” in part or whole of their performance on the Triple J radio station or jTV website. This “podcast” will not be available for download after June 30, 2008.
- State finals will be video recorded. This recording will not be broadcast and is solely for the purposes of reviewing performances if and when necessary. The National Final will be recorded and broadcast by a national television broadcaster.
- All entrants consent in principle to have their performance in a state or national final recorded and broadcast on national television. Once appropriate, detailed consents will be confirmed with entrants before their performances.
- Entrants may not audio or video record, or photograph their performance without the prior consent of the producer of the performance and the MICF. Entrants agree that any recording so made is for personal, archival use only, and affirm it will not be distributed, duplicated or published in any way, including by download or streaming from websites, without prior written consent of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
- Melbourne International Comedy Festival is the producer of RAW Comedy. Triple J is the event’s major supporter. Local heats are presented in conjunction with the local co-presenters.
- The National winner will win a trip to Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2008. The prize package includes a return economy class airfare to Edinburgh including all transfers. Contestants are responsible for all other expenses and in particular, we note, accommodation.
- Those selected from heats that occur in regional centres to compete in State Semi Finals shall be responsible for their own travel costs and arrangements to and from the place where the Semi Finals are held.
- Travel will be provided for those selected National Finalists who live interstate to attend the National Final in Melbourne during the Comedy Festival. Accommodation costs and arrangements are the responsibility of the individual Finalists.
Rules of Entry: Raw Recruit Prize
- Contestants tick a box at registration, if this is their first ever entry.
- State Final co-presenters are required to ensure that at least one of these contestants is included in their State Final, by means of a wild card if necessary.
- The Festival Director and Raw team review tapes of each State Final, and in conference with State judges, select the Raw Recruit Prize winner.
- The winner is then included in the National Final, flown to Melbourne if necessary.
- They may compete in the mainstream of competition at the Final or perform as a “special guest”, depending on the night’s programming, and at the producer's discretion.
- If the winner is already selected for the National Final regardless, the Final proceeds as per usual; the Raw Recruit winner is simply acknowledged as such in their introduction onstage.
- The Raw Recruit Winner is announced once all the State Finals are completed, and before the National Final. They will be announced in a media release with all of the other National finalists.
- The Raw Recruit Prize winner will receive an ugly, inappropriate, second hand sports trophy. (Particular sport tbc at time of writing)
If you think anything's unclear, email us at raw@comedyfestival.com.au.