The 2006 Raw Comedy competition is well underway. For the eleventh year, newcomers to comedy have registered to compete in one of over sixty heats, covering every capital city in Australia and many regional centres. Each of these entrants are vying for a spot in the National Final and a chance to win a trip to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. In the past comedians such as Chris Franklin, Anthony Menchetti, Adam Spencer and Damien Callinan have all graced the Raw stage. “Although comedy competitions and open mic nights in general date from the Jurassic period”, notes Toby Sullivan, Minister for Special Projects for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, ”...I think it would be hard to find a competition that is as truly national, on the same scale and with the same regional opportunities, as Raw”.
This year sees the introduction of a couple of exciting additions. A selection of heats will be recorded and made available as Podcasts via Triple J. When this is up and running, it will give everyone the opportunity to hear the Raw action occurring in other parts of the country. The major addition of interest will be the “Raw Recruit” prize which will be awarded to a first time Raw entrant. Selected by a panel of judges on the basis of their performance at their State Final, the winner will perform a spot at the National Final even if they aren’t necessarily their State representative. The prize for this prestigious title will be “an ugly, inappropriate, second hand sports trophy”. According to the Raw Judging Policy, the aim of Raw is “to uncover and support new performers with the potential to make a sincere contribution to the artform and the industry in this country, in the years ahead.” Toby reflected that “I think it’s done a pretty good job, in as much as nowadays, almost every working comedian one comes across has done Raw at some point in their career… the second overriding aim, is for Raw to be a massive community celebration of stand up…On a world scale, I reckon Australians are about as good at comedy as they are at competitive swimming, and Raw is the country’s Pier-To-Pub. Raw is a chance for people to have a crack, at a friendly, professionally run gig, compered by top talent, and fully supported by the Festival.”
Comedy is a highly subjective artform, which can present a dilemma for even the most experienced judging panel. “Making choices can be very difficult for the judges,” says Toby, “as much handwringing and mind-changing goes on at the heat in Frankston as it does at the National Grand Final, all in the highly pressured ten minutes they’ve got after the last act, while the compere fills! And it’s true that sometimes the audience is surprised by the results, although less often than you imagine. All that said, studies show that your typical Raw gig is only approximately 1.2 times as controversial as the average episode of David and Margaret at the Movies.”
Back in 2004, I entered Raw myself. Since I had left it a bit late in registering and all the Melbourne heats were full, I was allocated a slot in the Geelong heat. I performed my “JD3000” routine, which I had only performed twice before. It consisted of my antiquated Lap top computer sitting on the stage and an electronic voice over on CD telling computer jokes. I was perched on the side of the stage controlling the animated face on the screen, “Wizard of Oz” style. Yes, it was as dodgy as it sounds! Aside from some technical issues, the set seemed to go well. Although I didn’t win over the judges, I was pleased that the evening’s MC, Greg Fleet, sat in the front row and laughed heartily throughout the five minutes. It was both a nerve wrecking and enjoyable experience.
Everyone has their own reason why they enter Raw. Mine was an attitude of “why not! At least I’ll get a chance to perform.” Tommy Dassalo, a runner up in the 2005 competition reflected that it was an automatic thing that you do as an Australian comic, saying “sooner or later every new comic enters Raw”. The Tasmanian representative in 2005, Tim Logan recognised that his entry was due to “lunacy…I did it as a way of challenging and humiliating myself.” The 2003 joint winner Nelly Thomas admitted that she had succumbed to peer pressure, “I was ‘encouraged’ (ie. harrassed) by Linda Haggar.”
In terms of expectations Nelly says she had “very few expectations. I figured I’d get a gig out of it” while Tommy had heard “a lot of stuff before the first heat about how the good the crowds are”. Tim was more direct, citing that “you expect pain, torment and bowel issues.” “Doing heats at a packed Evelyn Hotel is one thing I’ll always remember,” reflected Tommy, “because it’s a competition you end up having a lot of your mates come down to support you/get drunk, which in my opinion, makes for a top evening, regardless of the result. Plus just getting to hang out with other comics backstage is fun.”
With my pre-recorded routine, I was unable to approach the Raw gig differently to my previous outings, but Tommy had this to say on his approach to Raw: “I tried not to [approach it differently], but I think subconsciously the fact that it’s such a big, prestigious competition kinda plays on the mind a little bit, which to a degree influences how you approach it, and your mindset when you’re preparing what you’re going to do (as in, making sure you use all your best material). Once you get on the stage though, you realise it’s just like any other gig.” Tim was very ad hoc with his approach because he “had no idea how to do it, probably why it took me a few years to figure it out and stop mincing about. I had entered about three or four times, never took it seriously. I think starting out is about finding out how seriously you’ve got to take comedy at least sometimes. I actually went into it to win it this year. I admitted to myself that I wanted to do this.”
There can be a temptation for Raw finalists to alter their routine from heat to semi to National final. Nelly revealed that she had “thought about it. At the time I had two sets (Well I thought I did. Truth be told I probably had one). I asked around, got advice from a couple of people and in the end, I decided if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” Tim was similarly tempted, but he actually followed through. He explained that “every time you finish you want to change something I think, and they tell you not to, that its an evil impulse. I did change it a little and led with a different bit about the Cookie Monster. I think it worked. Go with your impulses, that’s what got you where you are.”
All said and done, the main attraction of Raw would have to be the potential of winning a trip to Edinburgh. Nelly, who won this fabulous opportunity reflected that “[It was] a hugely rewarding creative experience. I think I came back as a better performer both because I performed a lot (and time on stage is the only way to improve) and because I got to see some of the best comics in the world perform. I performed in ‘Raw Prawns’ (an Australian showcase) every night did about 10 other guest spots. My favourite was performing in their equivalent of ‘Upfront’ called ‘Birds on the Bill’ – about 6 months after my first gig I had the chance to perform with some of the most amazing female comics in the world. It was awesome.”
With virtually every Australian comic entering it, Raw has developed quite a reputation in the industry. So much so that everyone is eager to promote themselves to the public by using their achievement in Raw as a marketing device. Sometimes this makes it difficult to separate a National Winner from a State Finalist! According to Nelly “it had helped on the CV, but I do think that in this business, you’re only as good as your work. In other words, awards and so on don’t mean much to the people watching, they just want you to be funny.”
MICF are proud that the competition is held in such high regard, with Toby remarking that “It’s really gratifying to consider that Raw appears to be a valuable and important part of contemporary Aussie stand up as either hobby or vocation.”
In the post Raw world, many contestants have gone on to many other things as a result, even if they haven’t actually won. Performers such as Sarah Kendal (finalist in 1998) and Nick Sun (winner in ‘05 as well as winning the “So You Think You’re Funny” competition in Edinburgh) are currently performing on the UK circuit. Tim found himself performing in “Hobart Comedy Festival spots, a roadtrip with real experienced comics, regular gigs every few weeks and now [I’m] running my own fortnightly room at the Republic Bar & Cafe in North Hobart.”
After their Raw experience, what words of advice do our panel have for potential entrants? Tommy says “Try not to worry about the result – just rock up, do your thing, enjoy the crowd, get drunk and you’ll have a good time.” According to Nelly the main thing is “to do the material that you like most. Take advice, but stick to what represents you. Prepare, don’t think you can just jump up and wing it. I rehearsed about 100 times at least. When nerves make your rectum fall out, you need to fall back on good preparation!” “Don’t kid yourself, it’s competitive,” adds Tim. “Don’t pretend you don’t want to make everyone laugh and like you, you wouldn’t be climbing up there like a loon if you didn’t. L.A comic Jim Mcdonald recently told me, write everyday, every damn day. And let them know you love being there, they’ll love you for it.”
If you want to register for Raw Comedy, visit the MICF Raw website ASAP and you may secure a spot in one of the remaining heats. To see the Raw Comedians in action, heats are on every Tuesday night at The Evelyn Hotel (Doors open at 7) with the semi finals on the 4th and 11th of April.
The National Final of Raw Comedy is on Sunday 30th of April at the Melbourne Town Hall. Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster
Many thanks to Toby Sullivan, Tommy Dassalo, Tim Logan and Nelly Thomas for their assistance and wisdom.