Fest 101 Guide

 
What is the NZICF? 

The NZ International Comedy Festival (NZICF) is a curated, boutique festival held in Wellington and Auckland each May. The 2025 Festival will run from May 3 to May 25. Produced by the New Zealand Comedy Trust, a not-for-profit organization, NZICF’s mission is to champion the craft of comedy so that everyone can share a laugh. 
 

Who’s Who? 

The NZICF team includes: 

Lauren Whitney – Chief Executive 

Jay Law – Festival Producer 

Joel Wood – Production Manager 

Tash Hoyland – Production Coordinator 

Jacqui Davis – Marketing & Partnerships Lead 

In the lead-up to the Festival, we typically add a Ticketing Manager, Marketing Coordinator, and an intern to support the team. 

 
Applying to Perform 
To apply for the NZ International Comedy Festival (NZICF), sign up through the Performers Hub on our website. While anyone can apply, we’ll consider your experience, your presence in the comedy scene and your show pitch as part of the process. Your application is your chance to show us what you bring to the Festival. 

 
What is Your Show? 
In your application, you'll need to give us a clear picture of what your show is about. Here's how to make your pitch stand out: 

• Title: Make your title catchy and attention grabbing!  

• Blurb (optional): If you have a blurb, add it at the top of the show synopsis. Blurbs should be detailed but concise - a quick, engaging summary that grabs attention. 

• Show Synopsis: Provide a detailed breakdown of the topic, structure, and themes of your show. The more specific, the better. We understand things might evolve, but sell us on your concept. Convincing pitches are a great start! 

Who’s Behind the Show? 

• Tell Us About Yourself: Highlight your career journey so far. How have you been working to grow your comedy profile? 

• Collaborators: If you’re working with a team—whether it’s a producer, director, writer, or mentor—let us know!  

Why Are You Doing This Show? 

• Festival Goals: What are you hoping to achieve by being part of NZICF? Are you looking to make money, build your audience, gain experience, or network with industry professionals? 

• Managing Expectations: All reasons are valid, but it’s important to ensure your expectations align with the reality of what the Festival can offer. 

• Your “Why”: Clarify your motivation behind the show. Understanding your purpose can help drive the show’s success. 

Marketing Your Show 

• Point of Difference: What makes your show unique? How will you stand out in the festival lineup? 

• Audience: Who is your target audience? Do you already have a following, or are you looking to build one through the Festival? Let us know how you plan to reach and engage with your audience. 

• Understanding the Process: A successful Festival run requires awareness of the whole process, from marketing to execution. Show us you have thought about this journey in full. 

By providing a clear vision in your application, you’ll put yourself in the best position for selection. 

Navigating Festival Entry 

With limited slots and a highly competitive landscape, our goal is to set performers up for success. A key consideration is venue costs, which are mandatory and will play a major role in programming decisions. For 2025, venue costs will rise, and we’ll be looking to introduce minimum ticket prices across all venues, ranging from approximately $20 to $25. When budgeting for your show, aim for a break-even point at around 35% of ticket sales. 

• Split Bills / Split Seasons 
  In 2024, we introduced split seasons to the programme to reduce the risk of long runs for emerging artists. This option provides flexibility and limits the financial strain of extended seasons. 

 
Example of a Split Season: 
A typical split season might involve five show nights in a week for a given time slot at a venue. One artist/show would perform on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday (3 nights), while another artist/show would perform on Thursday and Friday (2 nights). This setup allows artists to share the week, reducing costs and risk. 
 

• Team Up! 
  If you're starting out, teaming up with other performers in a split bill or lineup show is a great way to gain entry into the Festival. Split bills are a fantastic steppingstone, though they don’t automatically guarantee a future solo show. Consider pitching an exciting concept—something unique with strong audience appeal, like a late-night lineup with a fun, distinctive vibe. 

 
What If My Show Isn’t Programmed? 

If your show isn’t selected, you’ll receive an email from the programming team in November, once offers are accepted and the Festival schedule is being finalized. We encourage you to approach this with an open mind—competition is stiff, and while your show may not have been selected, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t strong; other shows may have simply stood out more in this particular year. You can request feedback on your application but please be kind – there is a small team of humans doing their best to make decisions that align with the overall festival values and impact goals. 
  

What Happens Once My Show Is Programmed? 

Applications close on the 7th of October, and the programming team will take around 10 days to review submissions and begin building the programme. During this time, we may reach out to clarify details or expand on your application. 

Once your show is accepted, you’ll receive a confirmation email. Shortly after, we’ll send a venue offer, outlining venue hire costs and any specific requirements for your assigned venue. You’ll have five days to accept or decline the venue offer. 

Programming offers are typically sent in late October or early November, and there may be some adjustments as we work with availability and manage offers across multiple festivals. 

Registration 

Once all Festival offers have been sent out and confirmed, the registration process will open. Registration is a crucial step—it helps us build the Festival website and serves as the key point of connection between performers and venues. During registration, you’ll finalize important details like your show art, blurb, ticket prices, and begin planning your marketing and production strategy. 

Venue Information 

For detailed information about the venues used during the Festival, visit the Performers Hub here.  

 
If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out to info@comedyfestival.co.nz, and we’ll assist where we can.