Apply to be an Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2024 judge
Each year, the Edinburgh Comedy Awards selects three members of the public to join its judging team. Applications are open now to be part of the panel that will operate this August.
The awards' producers say: "Do you want to go to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for free? Think you could handle more than 100 hours of comedy in two weeks? Then you may have what it takes to be an Edinburgh Comedy Award Panellist.
"We are offering you the chance to join the judging panel for Edinburgh Comedy Awards, Britain's most important prize for comedy as it celebrates 42 years of discovering comedy genius. You will be deciding both the most outstanding original comedy act and the best newcomer comedy act at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
"You need to be a regular visitor to live comedy and have bags of energy. You will be expected to see six shows a day; you'll be feeding back your opinions of what you've seen and contributing to official panel meetings and the process of finding the winners."
Michael Thomson from Edinburgh, one of our previous panellists, says of his experience: "Being part of the Panel for Edinburgh Comedy Awards is the ultimate way to enjoy the festival for a live comedy fan in the UK. Getting to see behind the scenes of the process of whittling down hundreds of shows to a winner was a privilege in itself but to be included in the discussions and casting a vote for my favourites was a surreal and massively rewarding experience. The days are long but I enjoyed every minute of it and cannot recommend applying to be on the Panel enough."
Alex Caven from Bristol, a panellist last year, says: "Being a public panellist, for the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, has been a massive honour and a privilege. Seeing over 100 shows, living, laughing and breathing comedy is such a gorgeous way to spend an August at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. I can honestly say I have made friends for life, with the initial connection being the love of live comedy. It is not always easy, dashing from show to show. It can be tiring. It's Edinburgh in the summer, so expect rain. But also expect the time of your life! I used to think I had a favourite comedian, but now I have favourite comedians. Being part of the awards panel opens your eyes to such a rich feast of comedy talent. Artists venturing into their first hour long show, standing in an equal playing field with more established acts. There is nothing in the world that can come close, in my opinion, and applying to be a public panellist, is quite simply one of the best decisions I have ever made."
The awards' producers explain: "We are looking for real punters who know and care about comedy. You must be available to stay in Edinburgh from 10 - 24 August as a minimum. In return, Edinburgh Comedy Awards will provide you with accommodation, travel, show tickets and invitations to the best bars and parties in town!"
To apply you should email team@comedyawards.co.uk by 12pm on 15th May 2024 with the following...
1. "Tell us in approx 350 words why you are the best candidate".
2. Write three short reviews, no more than 150 words each, of your three favourite live comedy acts.
If you are shortlisted you will be required to attend an informal interview in London or online on 22nd or 23rd May. Travel expenses out of London will be reimbursed.
The selected panellists will be announced in June.
Full terms and conditions
1. Entrants must be 18 or over and resident in the UK.
2. Entrants must be available full time and able to reside in Edinburgh from 10 - 24 August.
3. The competition is not open to employees of the Festival Fringe Society or anyone connected professionally with the comedy business.
4. The prize is a position on the Edinburgh Comedy Awards judging panel for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024. The winner must attend approximately six shows a day, possibly more, and provide short reviews for all shows attended.
5. Only one entry per person.
6. The winners will be chosen by the Award Director Nica Burns and Producer, Emma Brunjes, and the decision is final.
7. The prize is non-transferable. There will be no cash prize.
8. No responsibility will be taken for entries lost, delayed or incomplete.
9. All costs incurred by the winners other than travel and accommodation are at the winner's expense.