<< Back to articles


Comedians Becoming an Essential Part of Music Festivals.

Andy Robertson

It has become increasingly common to find well-known comedians performing at numerous music festivals every year. As well as providing an excellent platform for live comedy performances a music festival audience also gets to experience more varied entertainment which can enhance the experience for a multi-day event.


There are just as many comedians as musicians who make a living from live performances and the music festival season forms a key part of their annual schedule. A live performance from an established comedian can add something different to an event that has 3 days of music and gives festival-goers an opportunity to relax, chill out and laugh.

Comedy Live Performance Options.
It can be particularly challenging for any up-and-coming comedian to break through into a successful career and their performing channels have always been limited. There are a number of dedicated comedy clubs in cities located in most countries which offer open mic opportunities for someone just starting out. Even the most successful comedians can be limited to one off shows and tours with only a tiny number ever breaking through to TV or film. A touring comedian can have a gruelling schedule mostly made up of small clubs and venues and audiences can be small. The emergence of comedy performances at music festivals has been opening up new opportunities for comedians who can now add in a music festival booking into their touring schedule.

Integrating Comedy into a Music Festival. 
The usual route that festival organisers opt for when incorporating comedy into their festival content is the creation of a dedicated comedy stage or zone. This can work for larger festivals that build multiple stages for different music genres for example. Putting a comedian on a main stage in front of a large crowd can be more challenging unless the comedian is a proven established professional that is well-known amongst festival-goers. Comedian’s sets can last an hour or more and help to break up continuous music performances.

Benefits.
For performing comedians, a booking at a music festival will give them a very different experience from a small club with larger audiences and is great for gaining exposure if they are an up-and-coming performer. The fees earned by comedians at a festival will probably be much higher than they can command playing at a small venue, however, when compared to the fees paid to some music performers the comedian’s fee can be lower. The festival organisers curation budget will go much further when booking comedians than any musician of similar popularity ensuring great value for money. A dose of laughter for festival-goers can be a great remedy for those feeling exhausted or suffering from over indulgence.

For festival organisers planning their events using a software management platform like Festival Pro gives them all the functionality they need manage every aspect of their event logistics including a dedicated artist management module. The guys who are responsible for this software have been in the front line of event management for many years and the features are built from that experience and are performance artists themselves. The Festival Pro platform is easy to use and has comprehensive features with specific modules for managing artists, contractors, venues/stages, vendors, volunteers, sponsors, guestlists, ticketing, cashless payments and contactless ordering.

Image by photoGraph via Pexels

Andy Robertson
Share To:



<< Back to articles

Contact us


Get in touch to discuss your requirements.

US: +1 424 485 0220 (USA)

UK: +44 207 060 2666 (United Kingdom)

AU: +61 (2) 8357 0793 (Australia)

NZ: +64 (0)9887 8005 (New Zealand)


Or use our contact form here.