Comfest 2006 Articles

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article on how much money comfest has lost this year, sadly no mention of susan provan killing the festival club or numerous other things

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...-16947,00.html

Dates with disaster

Melbourne's comedy festival is at the mercy of every other major event, writes Corrie Perkin

May 05, 2006

JUST how successful does a festival need to be to gain respect? The board and staff of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival may be mulling over this question as they prepare to meet Victorian Arts Minister Mary Delahunty on Monday to discuss next year's event.



The festival finishes this weekend and, although it is too early to assess figures, it appears that more than 350,000 people will have attended during its four weeks. Last year it posted a $200,000 profit. This year, however, despite it having the biggest program in 20 years, the festival is likely to lose about $100,000, primarily a result of the Commonwealth Games.

Traditionally, the comedy festival has been held from mid-March to early April. This year the Games ran from March 15 to 26, forcing festival organisers to change their dates. A two-week breather was required: the Formula One grand prix followed the Games, then venues had to be prepared and environmental marketing such as street banners and displays changed.

With predicted saturation media coverage of the Games and the public's attention on sport, not comedy, a decision was made to spend a further $100,000 on festival advertising and marketing. This resulted in a pre-Games campaign aimed at generating bookings and a post-Games flurry of advertising: two strategies that paid off but were costly.

To meet this deficit, the festival, in its 20th year, will have to dip into its reserves of about $900,000. But if next year's festival loses money, this internationally regarded institution, which turns over about $6 million a year, will be under threat. "One or two bad years and our reserves are out the window," festival director Susan Provan says.

Is this likely? Although no one can predict next year's result, organisers are concerned that the 12th world swimming championships, which will be held in Melbourne from March 18 to April 1, may have a damaging effect. For this reason they have sought the meeting with Delahunty to discuss the overlap and to plead the festival's case that when large events are planned in future, the comedy festival's place on the Victorian calendar is respected.

The festival's 2007 dates now are March 28 to April 22, but Provan says that, after Monday's meeting, the dates may be put back a week.

All of this, she says, could have been avoided with long-term planning and discussion.

"We are now as big as the Australian Open [tennis]. We sell more tickets than any other cultural festival in Australia and our box office - in sheer dollars - is much higher than any other cultural festival," she says.

"Given that we do all this on what is largely risk capital provided by Australian performers and producers, it's something the Government needs to take a lot of care with and work strategically with us to protect. You don't want to undermine something that has been such a huge success with relatively small government investment, an investment which is crucial but a small percentage of our annual turnover."

The comedy festival receives $500,000 each year from the Victorian Government, absorbed mostly by infrastructure and administration costs. The event is acknowledged as a "good news" story for the Government. According to Arts Victoria, in 2004 the festival had a positive economic impact of more than $54 million, an outstanding achievement for a Government keen to build its cultural tourism profile.

In an official statement, Delahunty says the festival "adds to Victoria's profile and reputation as the 'events capital' of Australia, and generates significant economic benefits to the state". Yet, despite its role in Melbourne's cultural life, the festival appears to take no priority on the annual events calendar.

The festival can't just ignore large events such as the Commonwealth Games and the world swimming championships.

"We have a responsibility to all the people who participate in the festival and we want to present the festival in a realistic environment financially," Provan says

The timing of the festival is vital. March fits the international circuit: the Montreal Comedy Festival is in July; Edinburgh is in August. Also, Melbourne's weather is kinder then.

"Like Edinburgh, we do that thing of building lots of temporary venues and turning over shows quickly with maybe 15 or 20 minutes in between," Provan explains. "People have to stand outside in queues for at least 15 minutes and the people who are regulars know that. If it's raining or cold, they're less likely to want to go out and stand in a queue, so we have to be very aware of the weather. Even now [May] it's getting too cold."

Monday's meeting will address the fallout next year's swimming championships may have on attendances and media coverage. The festival hopes it can be incorporated into the city's celebrations, with both events benefiting from the increased crowds, tourists and atmosphere.

Delahunty says she welcomes Monday's meeting to discuss the festival's role in the March calendar, and to explore the possibility of coinciding with the FINA championships.

Provan says: "If the Government is looking to expand the kind of public outdoor free entertainment program everyone so enjoyed during the Commonwealth Games, and in that same time of year - March - then why not build up what it already has? Support us and develop us in a way we know we could grow successfully, and use the audience base we already have. "I would have thought it was a no-brainer."

[Bob3]

http://www.theprogram.net.au/reviews...d=3580&state=1

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL :: A Yank Down Under
By Ari Sharp from www.theprogram.net.au
VIC | 01.05.2006

Every festival there are a few hidden gems to reward the punter who ventures beyond the big names and the major venues. Dave Wiggins is one of those gems.


Tucked away in the cosy student common room at Victoria Uni on Flinders Lane (a room which, incidentally, deserves the award for comfiest couches of the festival), Dave Wiggins spins his stories with deceptive ease.

Wiggins is an Antipodean American. From Maine initially, Wiggins made the move to New Zealand a few years back after he married a Kiwi girl. Now he's doing a stint in Melbourne with warm up act and buddy, er, mate, Michael Connell. Wiggins' material is based heavily on cross-cultural comparisons between the US, Australia and New Zealand. Having spent a decent amount of time in all three countries, he is well placed to get below the surface and understand the idiosyncrasies of each culture.

A lot of the humour comes from the laid back, dare I say very Australian, style of Wiggins. Though playing to a smallish crowd, he's not desperately eager to impress. He's a bloke having an Australian holiday, and telling a few gags while he's at it. Some of them work, some of them flop, but all the way through Wiggins is clearly enjoying himself. You'd be a sad sad person not to enjoy yourself as well.

Wiggins is the master of planting seeds. Not in the "lock up your daughters" sense, but in the sense that he loves to drop in an innocuous line early on, only to come back to it at the most unexpected of moments. It's a device he uses to great effect.

His warm-up act Michael Connell is also worth a big mention. Unlike Wiggins, Connell is a local, a proud of it. He shows particular affection for Frankston and Nunawading, two of this city's most memorable suburbs. There's something very authentic and unpretentious about Connell's delivery, telling it like it is, including some very clever observations on gender that take a familiar topic and give it a new slant. Connell is definitely one to watch, and acts as the perfect lead in to Wiggins.

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http://www.theage.com.au/news/arts/f...940404871.html

Day after the day laughter died away

May 8, 2006

Above: American comedian Demetri Martin won the Barry award for top act at the Comedy Festival. reviewer Helen Razer called him an "all-round pert wunderkind". Sunday Age columnist Gabriella Coslovich called him sexy. Below: Judith Lucy in action.
Photos: Jim Lee, Michael Clayton-Jones



Stop me if you've heard this one. The Comedy Festival is standing up and counting the cost, writes Daniel Ziffer.

Stop laughing. It's over. The Melbourne International Comedy Festival has ended, after 26 days and nights of cacks, giggles and, occasionally, stony silence.

Despite being pushed closer to winter by the Commonwealth Games and the Grand Prix, the festival was the largest ever. A diversity of acts thrived in the later, darker dates, but questions remain about the direction of the Australia's biggest cultural event.

"It seems to just get a lot bigger each year," festival director Susan Provan said as the laughter subsided. "This year was quite a big jump in numbers. It's something we've got to think about."

There were 233 acts in this year's festival, making it more than 15 per cent bigger than the previous year. Final figures are not yet in, but estimates suggest more than 350,000 tickets were sold. Ticketmaster controls almost half the tickets sold at the festival and Provan reported "at least a 10 per cent bump".

If those figures are right, it means more punters but proportionally fewer spread across a greater number of gigs than in 2005.

Having reached its 20th year, Melbourne's festival is considered one of the top three such events in the world, behind Edinburgh and Montreal. Keeping it there may be the issue. To combat the impact of the Games, the festival spent heavily on marketing - pushing pre-sales and reminding audiences to attend.

"The strategies we put into place worked," Provan said, "but the extra marketing cost we generally can't afford." The festival is facing a $100,000 loss due to the extra cost. Organisers will meet Arts Minister Mary Delahunty today to discuss it.

Next year the comedy festival will have to compete with the FINA world swimming championships - March 18 to April 1 - as well as other entertainment events pushed out of Rod Laver Arena while it is used for sport between January and April.

The festival was ready to move back from its proposed run of March 28 to April 22, Provan said, but might yet combine with the swimming schedule to provide a cultural program, as Festival Melbourne 2006 did with the Commonwealth Games.

"Most of the program is delivered by Australian producers, who risk their own money," she said, "(and) we have no risk capital to invest in programming."

Strong local acts playing small rooms this year included Sam Simmons' Tales From The Erotic Cat, I Heart Racism, Lawrence Leung's The Marvellous Misadventures of Puzzle Boy, Be My (Kent) Valentine and Damian Callinan has Spaznuts.


The Token Group looks after a roster of high-flyers, including Dave Hughes, Wil Anderson and Judith Lucy, who were among the top-selling local acts. It was the 16th festival for managing director Kevin Whyte, who enjoys it as a chance to see comedians "grow up" in front of audiences.

Good local artists had enjoyed packed weekend houses, he said. "As always there was some shite, but in amongst it all you get some amazing pearls."

A highlight for him - and, clearly, punters - was Lano & Woodley, who sold out 20 nights at Her Majesty's Theatre. The duo sold a festival record of 30,000 tickets to their Good Bye.

Local comedian Charlie Pickering - whose Auto was nominated for the Barry award for best show - called 2006's festival "diverse", but was sceptical about further expansion.

"For every successful show there's one that's struggling," he said. "People will always find a way to put on a show, but they need support, like venues within walking distance (of the centre)."

Melbourne Town Hall continues to boom, but a paucity of nearby venues is an issue. Popular RSL club Duckboard House is making way for development, adding to the strain. Trades Hall has been successful this year after failed attempts to establish it as a festival hub, but is too far away to pick up the masses of people who hope to see big-name acts then settle for random events in the inner city.

Obtaining affordable and appropriately sized rooms was an issue, Provan conceded, with the festival "sniffing around alleyways looking for venues".

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http://www.theage.com.au/news/arts/c...940411319.html

Cash loss is no laughing matter

By Daniel Ziffer
May 8, 2006



AS LAUGHTER from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival fades after the last shows yesterday, an expensive hangover looms for organisers.

Festival director Susan Provan meets Arts Minister Mary Delahunty today to discuss the future of the festival, which is expected to post a $100,000 loss, after extra marketing to counter the impact of the Commonwealth Games.

Next year's event has a similar problem, and will go up against the FINA world swimming championships unless dates for the festival are shifted.

"We're worried that it has not been considered appropriately in the past," Ms Provan said. "We can't sustain the extra investment in the long term."

The State Government gives $500,000 a year to the festival, which sells about 350,000 tickets and is considered the largest cultural festival in Australia — as big as the Australian Open tennis, more popular than the Grand Prix, Ms Provan said.

At awards handed out yesterday, the Barry award for most outstanding show went to US comic Demetri Martin for his show Dr Earnest Parrot Presents. Martin beat out local comics Charlie Pickering, Sam Simmons and Tim Minchin, as well as Britain's Daniel Kitson and Mark Watson.

Judith Lucy turned her sacking from radio network Austereo into brilliant stand-up. Her show I Failed! won The Age critics award for best Australian show. Meat With Beef were commended for Men Of Steel.

The Piece of Wood award, decided by comics, was shared by Damien Callinan and Fiona O'Loughlin.

The Golden Gibbo, given in memory of the late comic Lynda Gibson, went to Greg Bird for Cliffy is Relaxed and Comfortable. The Best Newcomer award went to Sammy J's 55 Minute National Tour. The Festival Directors' gong going to Men of Steel and Nick Sun, for Blood on the Yolks in the Key of Owls.