• Events
    • Los Angeles Open Mics
    • Los Angeles Shows
    • New York Open Mics
    • New York Shows
  • Book A Tour
  • Venues
  • News
  • Podcast
  • About
    • About The Comedy Bureau
    • Contact
    • Consulting
    • Digital Wall of Trustees

open call

divider

The Elysian Is Taking Pitches for Original Shows for Their Next Spaghetti Festival
June 23, 2023
News
open call, spaghetti festival, submissions, the elysian

Last year, The Elysian took on its very first festival, which is daring as is in a city with a veritable festival’s worth of comedy on a nightly basis, The Forget About Spaghetti Festival debuted so many amazing, original, never before seen shows that included some of the very best things that we saw on stage in 2022.

The Elysian is doing it all again with what their now calling The Spaghetti Festival and going through the whole beautiful process once more by opening submissions to any and all for shows that are, “…interactive, solo or group performances that are driven by an interesting or unique concept or story.”

They’ll be picking ten shows to make up this year’s Spaghetti Festival and all shows selected, “…will receive a performance slot, promotional support, creative development assistance from our committee of artists and producers, & more.” Also, if picked, your show will be part of what is pretty much still the ground floor of what could very well become a much needed lightning rod in the LA comedy scene.

Get more details and submit at elysiantheater.com/spaghetti. Oh yeah, the deadline is Jul. 9th at 11:59PM PT. Hopefully, if you don’t have an idea already, the fireworks on the 4th will kick your frontal cortex into high gear.

 

The Elysian Is Throwing Its First Festival (and Is Now Taking Submissions)
June 3, 2022
News
comedy festival, elysian theater, experimental comedy, los angeles, los angeles comedy, open call, open submissions, underrepresented

In under a year’s time, The Elysian has made waves in the LA comedy scene and has become a hub for so many weird and wonderful folks that were scattered to the many winds of comedy when 2020 reared its grotesque head.

Now, they’re making another big mark on the scene by throwing their very own festival that will specifically “serve as a springboard for underrepresented creators and unusual work.” The Elysian’s First Festival will happen over ten nights from Oct. 20th-30th and is really open to lots of wild ideas, even if they’re not strictly comedy.

If you get picked, you’ll get a very nice neat package to help you develop the sweet idea you had for the festival including:

– A night at the Elysian
– A $500 production stipend
– Creative development support through a mentor from the Elysian community
– Promotional support, including headshots, graphic design support, and a professional recording of your show
– Tech support, including a full three hour tech rehearsal
– Free admission to the other shows in the festival
– Some kinda Fest swag

The deadline is Mon. Jun. 20th at midnight PT and you can potentially be part of the Elysian’s First Festival by submitting here.

The Yes, And… Laughter Lab Is Looking for Comedians Who Want to Make a Social Impact
February 4, 2022
News
open call, social justice, submissions

It’ll be a never ending debate as to whether a joke can actual change the world for the better. Certainly, comedy can demonstrably start a conversation (ex. Joe Rogan and disinformation via his podcast). Also, comedians who are also activists can give a comedic bent to their activism (ex. Lizz Winstead and Abortion Access Front/Feminist Buzzkills).

Wouldn’t be it great if that happened more often?

Cue the Yes, And… Laughter Lab, an incubation and training program that seeks out diverse comedy folks that are looking to make a difference in the world with their work. They’re accepting submissions for their program that will offer pitch training, development of whatever comedy project and initiative is accepted, opportunity to connect with philanthropists, social justice orgs, and entertainment industry leaders. Oh yeah, there will be some cash for finalists ($2000) as well.

FYI, applications are due Feb. 18th at 11:59PM ET/8:59PM PT. Finalists will be notified on the week of on Apr. 4th.If you’re intrigued, find out more and apply at yesandlaughterlab.com.

The Pack Theater Is Coming Back Next Month! (and Is Accepting Submission for Live Shows)
February 3, 2022
Uncategorized
improv, live comedy, los angeles comedy, open call, pack theater, sketch comedy, stand up comedy, submissions

Pre-pandemic, you could often find us more than once a week at tiny, but mighty comedy venue known as The Pack Theater. Founded by legendary improviser Miles Stroth, it was a great place for in-betweeners, experimenters, risk-takers, and comedy folks who had that DIY/punk rock spirit to what they wanted to do in the art form. That really resonated with us, which is why we ended up catching some of our favorite shows there as well as coming on board to produce the micro-short-form variety show, Speedface.

That’s why we’re overjoyed to hear that The Pack survived all the way to this side of the pandemic, especially being one of the pioneering venues when it came to transitioning to virtual comedy, and they’re going to reopen for in-person shows back in Hollywood starting next month.

In fact, they’re accepting pitches for new shows right now.

Think about/keep the following in mind when considering applying:

-Slots will be available on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday nights with the possibility of having a Saturday night slot as well.

-All applications will go to the Artistic Committee for evaluation. We are especially interested in shows that come from BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and all traditionally marginalized voices.

We are looking for the the following types of shows including, but not limited to:

-Stand Up shows (roast shows, open mics, booked shows with a hook)
-Improv based shows with a hook or theme
-Variety shows
-One-off shows to be featured on 5th weeks (one person shows and comedic theater type shows welcomed)
-And of course the random weird wtf shows that we love at the Pack

If interested, read up more and apply here.

Keep up to date with everything Pack Theater related @packtheater across socials.

Rizzle Is Holding Another Short Form Video Contest, This Time for the New York Comedy Festival
October 27, 2021
News
new york comedy fest, open call, rizzle, short film contest, submissions

Of one of the many apps where you can do short form content these days, Rizzle is offering you yet another (they did a contest for Asian Comedy Fest) chance to take those short form comedy video skills and win up to $1000 in prizes and a slot at a New York Comedy Festival showcase next month.

Specifically, you must have/download Rizzle and post a 60 second video that sums up that classic notion “Only in New York” with the hashtag #makeNYlaugh. The five best videos will be prize winners and then be screened at the exclusive New York Comedy Festival Rizzle Showcase at Asylum NYC on 11/14. Just take a gander at the flyer below and you ought to know it’s a marvelous grand show to be on.

The deadline to submit is Mon. Nov. 1st and it’s free to enter and you can submit from anywhere in the country. So, go get Rizzle and come up with your bit about the train, rats, Manhattan still acting too good for Brooklyn, etc.

Third Annual (HBO & NYLFF) Latino Stand Up Competition Now Taking Submissions
October 11, 2021
News
hbo, hbo latino, new york latino film festival, open call, stand up competition

It’s a little wild to think an entire year has past since the last Latino Stand Up Competition, but here we are, yet again. HBO and the New York Latino Film Festival have once more partnered up to search for the best Latino/Latina/Latinx comedians across the U.S. to feature at the New York Comedy Festival next month and to give a special to the winner of the whole damn thing.

All you have to do as a Latino/Latina/Latinx comedian is submit a 3-5 minute of your stand-up for consideration for the competition. This is the third year of the HBO/NYLFF Latino Stand Up Competition and it’s still free to enter!

Get rules, specific deadlines, and instructions on how to submit here until 10/22 here.

.@HBO in partnership with the @NYLFF and VIVA Pictures, are now accepting submissions for the third annual Latino Stand-Up, a national competition in search of the best Latino stand-up comedians in the country: https://t.co/YqBbW6L43e pic.twitter.com/fD6A27brT8

— HBO PR (@HBOPR) October 8, 2021

SF Sketchfest Announces Dates for 2022, Open Submissions, and Will Require Proof of Vaccination
August 24, 2021
News
improv, open call, podcasts, sf comedy, sf sketchfest, sketch comedy, stand up comedy, submissions

SF Sketchfest snuck in one of the last big festivals in 2020 right before lockdown and then went virtual for 2020 and, we’re glad to say, is back for a full-fledged, in-person festival for 2022.

Specifically, one of the world’s foremost comedy festivals, both in duration and depth and variety of comedy, will be taking place from Jan. 7th-23rd, 2022 all throughout San Francisco. Even though that’s a ways away, you’ll be glad to know that they’re taking proper precautions by requiring proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for everyone involved including attendees, performers and staff.

Tickets go on sale in November, but, more importantly, you can submit for consideration be part of the SF Sketchfest (and they pretty much accept any and all types of comedy) up until midnight PT on Oct. 15th.

Get more details, submit, and more at sfsketchfest.com

Adult Swim Has an Open Call for Live LA Open Mic (That Will Happen When It’s Safe To Do So)
December 11, 2020
News
adult swim, megan koester, open call, open mic

It’s not often that some a network like Adult Swim has an open call for open mic, but, as you are more than well aware of at this point, 2020 is far from any sort of normal that any of us have known.

Performances at this mic will be taped as part of a special project with beloved LA comedy staple Megan Koester and will only do so with ALL NECESSARY COVID-safe protocol AND when it’s SAFE to do so (i.e. that date is TBD–but maybe, maybe sometime in January). Still, when that date comes, you can do a tight three minutes if you’re in the LA area and relive the former “glory” that is imbued in all comedy open mics.

If interested, you can fill out this form here.

Gallery 1988 Is Now Taking Submissions
August 31, 2020
News
gallery 1988, open call, submissions

One of our favorite art galleries in all of LA (and what might be the preeminent pop culture art gallery in the U.S.) is Gallery 1988 as it is one of a handful of places where art and comedy very directly intersect. They’ve hosted exhibitions of art dedicated to anything from The Simpsons to SNL to It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia to classic stand-up comedy and so much more.

Now, in these times, they’re taking a big leap by announcing an open call for submissions for the next few shows coming up. Just send 3-4 JPEGs or link to site to info@gallery1988.com and if they dig your stuff, they’ll reach out to you within four weeks.

If you have a penchant for making wonderful, curious, amazing art that’s very likely inspired by something in pop culture, you really ought to submit.

View this post on Instagram

We’ve only done this a few times in 17 year history – but we’re calling for submissions! We know more artists are home creating than ever before and we have some great shows coming up. Please send 3-4 JPEGs or a link to a website to info@gallery1988.com (no theme needed). We can’t respond to everyone, but if your work fits for an upcoming exhibit – you’ll hear from us within 4 weeks. THANKS!!

A post shared by Gallery 1988 (@galleries1988) on Aug 31, 2020 at 11:27am PDT

Channel 101 Is Taking Submissions for 5 Minute TV Pilots Again
August 4, 2020
News
channel 101, open call, submissions

The mighty indie short form TV institution known as Channel 101 (pretty much the birthplace of Rick & Morty FYI) has kept themselves going throughout lockdown, despite not being able to have their renowned monthly screenings. They’ve screened entire series from their archives, taken up audio pilots, and even done micro versions of a normal Channel 101 program via Twitch.

Now, with several months having passed in quarantine, they’re now ready to take on doing a full-length, virtual Channel 101, which means that they’ll be accepting brand new 5 minute or less pilots to enter the Channel 101 fray.

The deadline to submit is by Aug. 25th at submissions@channel101.com. The screening will take place only a few days later on Sat. Aug. 29th. Find out more about Channel 101 at channel101.com .

View this post on Instagram

With the power of the internet we're BACK! Channel 101 will have it's first live stream screening Saturday, August 29th on our twitch channel (twitch.tv/channel101official) Submit your 5min or less pilot to submissions@channel101.com by August 25th and check out the current Prime Time line up at channel101.com

A post shared by Channel 101 (@channel101official) on Aug 3, 2020 at 5:24am PDT

Paul Feig’s Powderkeg Looking to Feature “Shut In” Short Films Made in Quarantine
April 6, 2020
News
film festival, open call, paul feig, powderkeg media, short film

Depending on where you are in the world, you might have been locked down in your house for several weeks or even months at this point. With all of that time on your hands, especially if you’re part of the millions of people out of work, you might have gotten into baking, learning a foreign language, or even tried to make a comedic short film or sketch.

If you happened to have done the latter (or plan to do so), you’ll be happy to know that Paul Feig’s Powderkeg is looking for such short films/sketches to screen/spotlight as part of their new Shut In Short Films program. We will say that, having gotten a number sketches sent to us for potential posting here at TCB, if you are thinking about doing or sending sending up Tiger King, you will be far from alone in doing so.

Here are the details below:

“The guidelines are simple: Filmmakers grab a phone and make a comedic short inside the confines of where you are sheltering in place. Shorts should be under five minutes. Shorts will be screened by us and we will spotlight the filmmakers on our website and twitter/IG. You can email a link to your short at shutinshorts@powderkegmedia.com”

View this post on Instagram

Filmmakers and storytellers! My digital company Powderkeg has launched the Shut In Film Festival. We are looking to spotlight people who are getting creative while they are sheltering in place. For more info, visit powderkegmedia.com or head to @powderkegtv! We want to hear and see your voice!‬

A post shared by Paul Feig (@paulfeig) on Apr 3, 2020 at 6:50pm PDT

Atlanta’s Laughing Skull Comedy Festival Now Taking Submissions for 2020
August 28, 2019
Uncategorized
atlanta, comedy festival, laughing skull festival, open call, stand up comedy, submissions
image

The Laughing Skull Comedy Festival has been going for over a decade down in Atlanta, GA via The Laughing Skull Lounge and has worked its way to be one of the most respected comedy festivals in the country.

They’re gearing up for their 2020 run and are now taking submissions for stand-up comedy here.

Deadlines and fees are as follows:

Early deadline-submit by October 20th-$30​
Regular deadline-submit by October 21st – December 22nd-$40
Final deadline-submit by ​December 23rd – Feb. 24th-$50

Their picks for the festival will be announced Mar. 9th, 2020. Go get all the info and submit for The 2020 Laughing Skull Comedy Festival here.

The First Ever Southland Comedy Festival Is Taking Submissions for Stand-Up
June 27, 2019
Uncategorized
comedy festival, los angeles, open call, southland comedy festival, stand up comedy, submissions
image

Finally, someone is giving another shot at throwing a legit comedy festival in LA.

The Southland Comedy Festival, set to debut Jan. 7th-11th, 2020, will feature the best stand-up they can find in and throughout the LA scene at comedy clubs, bars, underground venues, and more. For specific showcases, they’re really try to go out of their way for industry execs and reps to be see bright, shiny, new stand-up talent that ought to be elevated.

All you need is a 5-7 min. tape to send and $35 submission fee (until July 25th, then $45 until August 25th, $60 until October 25th) for consideration. If you’re interested in submitting, do so here.

Get more details in general about the first Southland Comedy Festival here.

Stand Up NBC Returns to Find Stand-Up Talent Across America
March 21, 2019
Uncategorized
los angeles, open call, stand up comedy, submissions, talent search

Stand Up NBC Returns to Find Stand-Up Talent Across America

Stand Up NBC, the annual nationwide search by NBC for diverse stand-up comedy talent is happening again over the next several months with open calls in Chicago, Los Angeles (that’ll actually be in Oxnard for some reason-so get ready to drive for that one), Nashville, New York and Seattle (Bellevue). You can also submit a short clip as well within the given window of dates based on your location.

Los Angeles dates are as follows: 

Online Submission Window: May 13th – May 31st
First Round Open Call: July 8th
Semi-finalist Showcase: July 9th

You’ve got time to get a set together, but, in the meantime, you can get more details here.

Mike Birbiglia and Ira Glass Are Taking Submissions for Mike’s (Sort of) Understudy for “The New One” on Broadway
December 1, 2018
Uncategorized
birbigs understudy, broadway, open call, submissions, the new one

The announcement continues:

But – next best thing – on January 16th, you’ll perform your monologue on the Cort Theatre stage introduced by This American Life’s Ira Glass. In other words … your own Broadway debut! (Nathan Lane: please do not apply.)

To be clear, I don’t want you to impersonate me. I want to see YOURversion of it. You can post the videos on Instagram or Twitter or Facebook with the hashtag #BirbigsUnderstudy. Be sure to tag @NewOneBway!

Thanks for throwing your hat in the ring! Really looking forward to this.

Love, Mike.

Even though it’s ultimately a minute or so of stage time and you’ll be performing a monologue from Mike’s old solo shows, this definitely is something you might want to get in on.

Also, we would not be surprised if this ends up being the seed or a major plot point for Mike’s next show.

Snapchat Is Launching a Comedy Creator Initiative and Is Taking Submissions Until Nov. 30th
October 22, 2018
Uncategorized
open call, short form series, snapchat, submissions
image

If you’re on or dabbling with Snapchat these days, here’s a nice little opportunity for you.

Snap is looking to produce 10 different short form comedy series that feature 3-5 min. episodes to feature on Snapchat. Those picked from submissions will get $20K to make the 10 episodes.

If you’re into it, you can find out more details and submit here.

Comedy Central Opens Their Doors for New Animation Ideas and Talent Via Their New Animation Shorts Program
October 1, 2018
Uncategorized
animation, open call, submissions

Comedy Central Opens Their Doors for New Animation Ideas and Talent Via Their New Animation Shorts Program

If you’ve got a funny animated short (and if you’re reading this, we’re guessing you either do or know someone who does), this might be a great opportunity to take advantage of and potentially end up animating over at Comedy Central.

The open call for submissions just started today and you can get more details and submit here. By the way, it’s free to submit.

Heads up to everyone who does @loopdeloop-blog!

The International Songwriting Competition Is Accepting Submissions for “Comedy and Novelty” (Including Stand-up)
August 4, 2018
Uncategorized
contest, musical comedy, open call, songwriting contest, submissions
image

The International Songwriting Contest takes in thousands of entries every year in an attempt to highlight the songs of new talent. Within that field, they’re also looking for entries in “Comedy and Novelty”, which covers musical comedy, parody songs, stand-up, and recordings of comedy groups/troupes. 

There are cash and other prizes for top placing finalists throughout the ISC and all finalists are listened to by a special judge panel that includes the head of Comedy Central Records. Past winners have included two favorites of ours Rachel Bloom and Garfunkel and Oates.

You don’t have to worry about censoring content and there is no official running time/time limit for entries. All material must be original and all writers must be credited. Entries are being taken from now until Wednesday, September 19th at $30 per entry. 

If that all sounds good to you, get more details and enter here.

Second City Hollywood’s LA Diversity in Comedy Festival Is Now Taking Submissions
July 31, 2018
Uncategorized
comedy festival, improv comedy, los angeles, open call, second city, sketch comedy, stand up, submissions

Second City Hollywood’s LA Diversity in Comedy Festival Is Now Taking Submissions

The world famous Second City will be having their latest LA Diversity in Comedy Festival from October 11th-14th. They will be featuring diverse sketch, improv, and stand-up and, as such, are accepting submissions up until Saturday, September 1st. 

That gives you a month (i.e. plenty of time) to get your submissions in.

Get more details and submit here.

Lyric Hyperion Is Holding Its Very First Lyric Hyperion Short Film Festival
July 2, 2018
Uncategorized
dr brown, film festival, josh turek, los angeles, lyric hyperion, open call, short film, submissions
image

One of favorites venues in town is doing yet another cool thing by throwing their very first short film festival.

The Lyric Hyperion Short Film Festival, produced by Philip “Dr. Brown” Burgers & Joshua Turek, will be an all day-and-night affair that’ll showcase the best shorts they can find, which ought to be pretty good considering the sorts of shows and screenings that they’ve been doing at The Lyric Hyperion over the years (just go through our listings here at TCB if you’re not familiar and you’ll notice plenty of Lyric Hyperion events).

The submission deadline is Wednesday, August 1st with a more than reasonable fee of $10 and films are to be no longer in running time than 30 minutes. The festival itself will take place on Saturday, September 1st.

Get more details and submit here.

Gimlet and Squarespace’s “Casting Call” Contest Is Looking for the Next Great Podcast
May 16, 2018
Uncategorized
gimlet creative, open call, podcasts, squarespace, submissions
image

If you’ve got a great podcast idea, but are looking to be part of a network (and have a budget to produce it), Gimlet Creative and Squarespace’s Casting Call contest might just be the thing for you.

They’re having an open call for submissions for podcast ideas until May 21st.

If you enter, the following might happen:

Our panel of judges will join host Jonathan Goldstein to select three applicants to fly to New York and produce their pilots. At the end of the journey, one talented hopeful will be awarded a mini-series produced by Gimlet and maybe even a Squarespace sponsorship of their own—because is a podcast even a podcast without one?

Get more details and enter here.

TruTV Will Be Doing Another Round of Their Comedy Breakout Initiative Renewed at NY TV Festival
April 3, 2018
Uncategorized
comedy breakout, new york tv festival, nytvf, open call, submissions, trutv

TruTV Will Be Doing Another Round of Their Comedy Breakout Initiative Renewed at NY TV Festival

Whether scripted or unscripted, TruTV will be looking once more for new ideas via a contest at the New York Television Festival. 

It’s free to enter and you should keep in mind that they’re looking for something with a distinct point of view. Submissions open up on May 2nd and are accepted through May 23rd. The winner, who will get a $25K budget to officially develop the project with TruTV, will be announced in July.

Get more details here.

JFL Montreal “Eat My Shorts” Short Film Competition Taking Submissions
April 19, 2017
Uncategorized
film contest, just for laughs, kevin hart, lionsgate, montreal, open call, short film, submissions
image

Just For Laughs and Kevin Hart are holding a short film contest called “Eat My Shorts” that will not only have 5 films screen at the one and only JFL Montreal Comedy Festival in July, but have one filmmaker/team get a development deal through the LOL website/app. 

Submission rules/guidelines:
-They’re looking for films that speak to diverse, multicultural, millennial audience
-Total running time must be no less than 3 nor more than 22 minutes in length (including credits)
-All languages will be accepted but subtitles must be in English
-Submission deadline is May 13th.

Best of all, there’s no purchase necessary to enter or win.

Get more details and submit here.

Submissions Are Now Open for 2017 Green Gravel Comedy Festival in Iowa
March 14, 2017
Uncategorized
comedy festival, green gravel, iowa, musical comedy, open call, podcast, stand up, submissions

Submissions Are Now Open for 2017 Green Gravel Comedy Festival in Iowa

Iowa’s Green Gravel Comedy Festival is returning for May 12th-13th as well as donating their proceeds to both the ACLU and Planned Parenthood. 

Comedy in the middle of the country for great causes? Sounds pretty fantastic to us.

Deadline is appropriately scheduled on April 1st.

$15 – Iowa Stand-up Comedians (Must provide verification of Iowa residency or address).
$20 – Podcast Submissions, One-man/woman Shows, Musical Comedy Acts
$25 – Out-of-State Stand-up Comedians

Get more details and submit here.

There Will Be an Open Casting Call for Will Arnett’s Revival of The Gong Show This Weekend
February 9, 2017
Uncategorized
abc, auditions, gong show, open call, variety acts, will arnett
image

On February 11th at The Glendale Galleria, you have the chance to show up and try out for the renowned bizarro variety show known as The Gong Show that is getting brought back by Will Arnett. 

The auditions will run from 10AM-9PM, but you do have to fill out an application and RSVP. Get that done and more details here.

Older News »

Recent News

divider

  • The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 257: Sam Walt Jones & Manifesting the Theatrical in Live Comedy - The undertaking of putting on a live comedy show can be a lot, but putting… Read More
  • Pick of the Day 5/7/25: Club Video (in NYC) 5/17 - The cool kids at Club Video are back at it again. That's to say they… Read More
  • Pick of the Day 5/5/25: The Frogtown Show 9th Anniversary 5/10 - Nothing quite like an anniversary for a wondrous monthly show to remind you of the… Read More

Sign up For The Newsletter

Copyright © 2020 The Comedy Bureau
All rights reserved