The 2011 Funniest Person in Rochester Contest

About   |   Guidelines/FAQ   |   Registration   |   Schedule


Where is the contest and when is it being held?
-All shows will take place at ‘The Comedy Club’ (http://www.thecomedyclub.us).  The first round of shows will begin mid-August, 2011. 

When/How can I sign-up?
-Contest registration opens July 21st, 2011 and closes July 30th, 2011 - or whenever all contest spots fill up - whichever occurs first.

Who's eligible?
-Contestants must be 18 or older.  Professional comedians are NOT eligible to compete (This includes comics who do/have done stand-up for a living, regularly work several clubs, or have headlined at 'The Comedy Club').  Club management reserves the right to turn away any contest entrant they deem ineligible at their own discretion. 

Does it cost anything to enter the contest?
-No.

I don't live in Rochester but would still like to enter, is that okay?
-Yes.

I’ve never performed stand-up comedy before, can I still enter?
-Yes.

What’s the show format?
-Each show in the first round will have 10-12 performers, with each contestant getting 5 minutes of stage time, with 4 comics from each show moving on to the next round.  The further a contestant advances, the more stage time they get.  Exact stage time & number of rounds will depend upon how many people enter the contest.

How do I know when my time is up?  What happens if I go over my time?
-Contestants will be given a light from the back of the room when they have 1 minute left.  Contestants should acknowledge they’ve seen the light to the back of the room (a quick nod, point, etc.).  If a contestant reaches their time limit, they’ll be given the light again.  This means say “Goodnight!” and get off stage.  If you continue, the host of the show will walk on stage, you will have points deducted from your score, and you could be disqualified from the contest. 

How will the contest be judged?
-A table of judges (veteran comics, local celebrities, club management) will account for two-thirds of a contestants score and audience vote will account for the remaining one-third. 

-How will judges score contestants?
Originality:
-Is the material personal/unique to the person on stage?
-Does the comic present their own perspectives?
-Is the comic stealing others material / using street jokes? (NEVER do this!)
Stage Presence:
-Is the comic comfortable on stage?
-Does the performer have good comedic timing?
-Did they present themselves to the audience in a professional way? Or did they show up in shorts, flip-flops, and stare at their own feet the whole time?
Overall Performance:
-Was the comic funny & getting laughs?
-Was the comic getting laughs because of clever, well-written material or did they solely rely on profanity and shock humor?
-Did the comic stick to their time?

How will the audience vote?
-Each audience member will choose their 1st, 2nd, & 3rd favorite comics of the night on a piece of paper.  A veteran comic will do a set at the end of the show to allow time for audience votes to be tallied.  Each 1st place vote = 3 points, 2nd place vote = 2 points, 3rd place vote = 1 point.  The comic with the most points will receive an audience score of 10, 2nd most votes a score of 9, 3rd most an 8, 4th most a 7, etc,. 

I've already registered, how do I know when I'm performing?
-Everyone who submitted a registration form will receive an e-mail with this information no later than August 7th, 2011.  Any questions should be directed to chetwild@gmail.com.  

How early should I get to the The Comedy Club before my show?
-Contestants should arrive to the club at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the show.  There will be a pre-show meeting with all performers in the back of the showroom 20 minutes before showtime to review contest guidelines, go over the light, draw numbers to determine the order in which everyone will perform for the night, etc.  Contestants who are late / aren't at the pre-show meeting may be disqualified from the contest.

I don't like the date/time of the show I'm on because <insert excuse> (I have work, I don't want to be on the same show as my friend, football is on TV that night, etc).  Can I switch and be put on a different show date/time?
-Contestant names are drawn at random to determine which show they are on.  Contestants are expected to perform on the show they were designated.  Exceptions may be made for extenuating circumstances, but this is not a guarantee.  

Can I use the same material in each round?
-That is the contestant's choice.

What does the winner get?
-$500 cash prize, a weekend of MC work at 'The Comedy Club', a guest spot on one of the "Special Shows" at 'The Comedy Club', (possibly some additional prizes the club is working on), a showcase spot at Fall Back Comedy Fest '11, a guest spot at Rob's Comedy Playhouse, plus bragging rights as winner of The Funniest Person in Rochester 2011!


Last Updated: August 10th, 2011   |   *Contest guidelines/format/prizes subject to change without notice.