Funny
News that Funny Women is charging £15 to enter and £12.50 to watch has gone around the internet quite quickly to almost universal disdain.
I entered the competition a few times when I first started in comedy and it was always a horrible experience. The first time was in the basement of The Comedy Pub where they jammed the audience in and had far too many acts - resulting in most of the audience leaving well before the third section (I was second in the third section - the three best comedians of the night - imo - were in my section. I am not including myself. There was practically nobody left to watch them.)
The year before the sponsor had left for some reason (apparently one of the competitors that year had criticised them and they left in a huff. Though that is just hearsay.)
The second year was even worse. It was at Turnmills and the organisers had forgotten to tell anyone but the competitors it was on (piss up - meet brewery). This resulted in the sponsors being pretty much the only audience. It was grim. Again most of the better acts were on near the end and because of the piss poor atmosphere did not get a very good reception at all.
During my set the MC's phone went off - that was just an accident though. It did mean I was thrown. A review of the night said I was funny but "unlikely to get through" which I think was a bit much really, considering. I did wonder how they already knew.
The organiser pushed for people to buy T-shirts and was very stroppy when people didn't. She also insisted out sets were going to be filmed and used to promote the competition unless we specifically signed a document saying we did not want them filmed. There was a strong suggestion we would be penalised if we refused to cooperate (I say suggestion - I think it was actually said).
The third and last time I entered it turned out to be an "extra" heat - and I suspect the finalists had already been chosen by then.
I got there very early. While I was there I overheard a conversation between the organisers and a person who was trying to enter. This person was insisting they were female, they had a female name. The organisers argued for quite a time that they did not accept that and the told the person they would not let them enter.
The person sat in the audience looking very forlorn.
I would have let them enter - if they wanted to so badly and were that insistent then whatever appearances suggested they obviously were sincere about it.
Anyway. That was also a massive bust. If that is a pun it was unintentional.
We were all told not too say anything bad about the sponsor (again) and to not use any material of a certain colour (ie "unladylike").
That was my three goes. I believe they have changed the rules now they want to be paid when you enter - now you can enter at your leisure if you are prepared to pay.
I have the utmost respect for the winners of this competition. They are, in the main, great comedians, but I do not respect the competition itself.
This quite apart from the terrible rumours I have heard about the way some competitors were treated and things they were told. I will not mention details as, again, it is hearsay.
I do not enter competitions any more. It always seemed pointless and humiliating.
It does seem the only way anyone can make any sort of a mark these days - but the odds are stacked against you. I am pretty sure they all have the ideal winner in their mind before the competition even starts. If you are not that then you may as well forget it.
I entered the competition a few times when I first started in comedy and it was always a horrible experience. The first time was in the basement of The Comedy Pub where they jammed the audience in and had far too many acts - resulting in most of the audience leaving well before the third section (I was second in the third section - the three best comedians of the night - imo - were in my section. I am not including myself. There was practically nobody left to watch them.)
The year before the sponsor had left for some reason (apparently one of the competitors that year had criticised them and they left in a huff. Though that is just hearsay.)
The second year was even worse. It was at Turnmills and the organisers had forgotten to tell anyone but the competitors it was on (piss up - meet brewery). This resulted in the sponsors being pretty much the only audience. It was grim. Again most of the better acts were on near the end and because of the piss poor atmosphere did not get a very good reception at all.
During my set the MC's phone went off - that was just an accident though. It did mean I was thrown. A review of the night said I was funny but "unlikely to get through" which I think was a bit much really, considering. I did wonder how they already knew.
The organiser pushed for people to buy T-shirts and was very stroppy when people didn't. She also insisted out sets were going to be filmed and used to promote the competition unless we specifically signed a document saying we did not want them filmed. There was a strong suggestion we would be penalised if we refused to cooperate (I say suggestion - I think it was actually said).
The third and last time I entered it turned out to be an "extra" heat - and I suspect the finalists had already been chosen by then.
I got there very early. While I was there I overheard a conversation between the organisers and a person who was trying to enter. This person was insisting they were female, they had a female name. The organisers argued for quite a time that they did not accept that and the told the person they would not let them enter.
The person sat in the audience looking very forlorn.
I would have let them enter - if they wanted to so badly and were that insistent then whatever appearances suggested they obviously were sincere about it.
Anyway. That was also a massive bust. If that is a pun it was unintentional.
We were all told not too say anything bad about the sponsor (again) and to not use any material of a certain colour (ie "unladylike").
That was my three goes. I believe they have changed the rules now they want to be paid when you enter - now you can enter at your leisure if you are prepared to pay.
I have the utmost respect for the winners of this competition. They are, in the main, great comedians, but I do not respect the competition itself.
This quite apart from the terrible rumours I have heard about the way some competitors were treated and things they were told. I will not mention details as, again, it is hearsay.
I do not enter competitions any more. It always seemed pointless and humiliating.
It does seem the only way anyone can make any sort of a mark these days - but the odds are stacked against you. I am pretty sure they all have the ideal winner in their mind before the competition even starts. If you are not that then you may as well forget it.