How much would you consider paying for someone to activate a projector for you each night over the course of a week? Perhaps $100? $200 and a few drinks?<\/p>\n
This scenario reflects a recent experience of comedians Ethan Cavanagh and Sweeney Preston, who are the creators of the unique comedy and wine-tasting show “In Pour Taste.” They shared their experience from a previous event at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF), where they were presented with a quote for an absurdly high fee for a simple task.<\/p>\n
“That was one of the most outrageous demands we’ve encountered,” Preston remarked in an interview with ABC News. “It was not even a technical job; the projector was already installed. All they needed to do was turn it on, yet they wanted to charge $7,000 a week.”<\/p>\n
Ultimately, Cavanagh and Preston opted against the offer and instead operated their own projector, relying on a rather unstable screen positioned beneath a fully functioning audio-visual setup that they were not permitted to use.<\/p>\n
Celebrating its 40th anniversary, MICF has become one of the largest comedy festivals globally, featuring an impressive lineup of 800 acts performing throughout March and April. The festival’s diverse range is partly attributed to its open-access policy for Australian and New Zealand performers: anyone with $455 for registration and a show can participate.<\/p>\n
However, many performers are unaware of the extensive expenses associated with showcasing their talents at the festival, which often leaves them financially strained.<\/p>\n
Registration ensures performers receive a listing in the festival’s promotional materials, a dedicated webpage with a ticketing link, and access to various handbooks and resources. However, all other logistical and production responsibilities fall on the individual acts. Well-established performers typically engage a producer to manage their runs, sharing any potential profits, but those without such support must handle every aspect themselves.<\/p>\n
Meg J\u00e4ger, a national finalist, has experienced both scenarios. Following the insolvency of her management company just months before the 2025 MICF, she was compelled to self-produce her first solo show, “Renaissance Woman.” “It was incredibly stressful,” J\u00e4ger explained, noting that she was working six days a week while also teaching and contributing to “The Project.” “Every evening I was busy printing flyers, responding to numerous emails, and covering unexpected fees,” she added.<\/p>\n
J\u00e4ger spent over $11,000 on her 2025 festival participation and, despite selling tickets\u2014boosted by her Best Newcomer nomination\u2014she concluded the festival without any profit. Nevertheless, she emphasized that this outcome was anticipated and her dedication to the industry fuels her drive. “This is the career path I’ve chosen,” she stated, recalling her unpaid teaching placements during university.<\/p>\n
Having secured a producer for her upcoming 2026 performance, J\u00e4ger described the difference as “night and day,” yet many comedians remain without that option.<\/p>\n
Both Cavanagh and Preston, who are solely reliant on comedy and have backgrounds in media and events, established their own production company to manage “In Pour Taste,” their solo performances, and “Late Night Powerpoint” variety shows.<\/p>\n
Conversely, comedians like Oliver Hunter, who balance their stand-up routines with a full-time job and family commitments, often have no choice but to self-produce. “Comedy is not my primary source of income, but that is the ultimate goal for most comedians,” Hunter told ABC News.<\/p>\n
Now in his fourth MICF, Hunter has opted for a shorter two-week run instead of the full month and has enlisted his brother to handle technical aspects, thereby reducing costs. “I\u2019m fortunate; I pay him $50 a night, and the venue costs $150,” he explained. “So, for eight shows, I’m looking at $1,600 in total, plus $500 for the festival and $1,000 for marketing, which puts me about $3,000 in before I’ve even stepped out the door.”<\/p>\n
Venue selection is one of the most significant expenses for MICF performers, offering two primary options. The first is to apply for a festival-managed venue (FMV), which changes annually but typically includes prime locations like Town Hall and Max Watts. However, as Cavanagh and Preston discovered, FMVs can come with hefty deposits; for instance, they were quoted $49,000 for eight shows at a corporate hotel venue.<\/p>\n
The alternative is for comedians to find their own venues and negotiate rental agreements with the owners. However, for some performers, securing an appropriate venue poses additional challenges. Hunter, who uses a wheelchair, notes that many venues have narrow staircases, complicating the search for accessible spaces. “While the festival does provide some accessible venues, if I don’t get an FMV, my choices become severely limited,” he pointed out.<\/p>\n
Hunter’s self-produced venue rate of $150 per night for his 2026 shows is considered a bargain in the current festival landscape.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
How much would you consider paying for someone to activate a projector for you each night over the course of a week? Perhaps $100? $200 and a few drinks? This scenario reflects a recent experience of comedians Ethan Cavanagh and Sweeney Preston, who are the creators of the unique comedy and wine-tasting show “In Pour […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3909,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[73,476,43,741,742],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3910","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-au-arts-festivals","category-au-arts-culture-and-entertainment","category-australia","category-au-comedy","category-au-stand-up-comedy"],"yoast_head":"\n