So You Want to Submit to a Comedy Festival?
10 Pro-Tips to Succeed
Pro Tips from the Windy City Comedy Fest
Every year, comics across the country submit to comedy festivals—hoping to land a coveted spot on a lineup that can boost their career, build their network, and get their name out there. As festival producers, we want that for you too. But here's the hard truth:
Too many great comics don’t get in—not because they aren’t funny, but because of easy-to-fix submission mistakes.
1. Follow the Instructions (No, Really. Actually Read Them)
Festival guidelines aren’t suggestions. If we ask for a 5–7 minute clip, that’s what we mean. Not 3 minutes. Not 13. Submitting a clip that doesn’t meet basic requirements shows you aren’t paying attention—and it reflects poorly, even if you’re hilarious.
👉 Pro Tip: Trim your longer set and upload a festival-specific version to YouTube. Set it to Unlisted if you don’t want it public. If you’re unsure how to do that—ask for help. It’s 2025. That’s part of the job now.
2. Only Send YouTube Links
No Dropbox. No Vimeo. No Google Drive. If we need to request access, download something, or wait—your submission may get skipped. We want to keep judging anonymous and frictionless. YouTube is the industry standard for a reason.
3. Edit Out the Host
We love hosts, but not in your clip. We need to see you—from the moment you step on stage to your first joke. A tight, clear open gives us what we’re actually here to judge.
👉 Pro Tip: Trim your set because sometimes the host is fantastic, and you do not want to be outshined in your own submission video. Believe me, it happens.
4. Start Strong. Stay Strong.
Sets that open with big laughs stand out. The first 30 seconds to one minute should be a punch, not a warm-up. Don’t wait until minute 3 to hit your stride—judges may not be with you that long.
5. Audio Quality Is Non-Negotiable
Good video is nice. Great audio is crucial. We need to hear every word and every laugh. Muffled mic? Distant camera audio? No audible audience? That’s a problem.
6. Double Check Your Link
You’d be shocked how many comics forget to include their clip or submit a broken link. We had to disqualify about 20 comics—not because of the material, but because we literally couldn’t access it. That hurts.
7. Use a Recent Set
Your clip should be from the last 1–2 years. We saw multiple clips from 2019 and had to pass. That old tape may have been great—but it doesn’t show us who you are now, or what a current audience will experience.
👉 Pro Tip: We notice if the video is 5 years old. We always notice. Make sure the video was filmed within 6 months of the submission date. Stay away from current events so the clip performs more evergreen.
8. Showcase Your Jokes—Not Crowd Work
Crowd work has its place, but festival sets need to show your actual material. A host set, a heckler-heavy set, or a seven-minute riff doesn’t tell us what your regular act is like. Bring the bits. Bring the punchlines.
9. Know the Festival’s Vibe
Your set might crush in your room, but festivals have specific audiences. If you're submitting to a fest in a progressive city, and your entire set is a political rant in the other direction, it's probably not the right fit. Always consider the festival’s tone and crowd.
👉 Pro Tip: This is Chicago. We are the midwest, but we are not in the middle of nowhere. We have flavors from across the country and a very strong city identity. Learn, listen, and submit the set that works best with our city’s tone.
10. If You’re Not Ready Yet—That’s Totally OK
Don’t rush it. If you don’t have a strong 5–7 minute set that checks these boxes, keep working until you do. Submitting a half-baked tape leads to rejection—and wastes your money. There’s no shame in waiting until you’re truly ready.
Submissions for WCCF 2026 open November 1, 2025.
We want to hear from you—your best, most prepared, most polished self. Festivals are meant to elevate working comics, and your submission is your audition. Treat it with care, edit with intention, and bring your voice to the stage the right way.
You’ve got this. And we can’t wait to see your set.
About the Author
Ariel Julie is a working comedian, producer, and the Artistic Director and Founder of the first annual Windy City Comedy Fest. Based in Chicago, and one of Chicago’s most active comedy producers, she’s passionate about uplifting other comics and helping them avoid the common pitfalls she’s seen firsthand from her festival experiences.