Programme

The 8th Conference took place on Wednesday, 4th October 2017 at the Pleasance Theatre in London. We are preparing for CIC9 and are requesting your input. Please complete our survey here.

Schedule:

As per previous years we hosted a full day of panels, network opportunities and an evening programme.

09:00 – 18:00 Day time programme
09:00 Registration open, coffee & tea available
10:00 Welcome words & First Panel
11:15 Short break
11:45 Keynote
12:00 Second Panel

13:00 Lunch
14:15 Third Panel
15:15 Coffee / Tea break
15:45 Fourth Panel & Conclusion
17:00 – 18:00 Drinks Reception
18:00 – 19:30 Comedy International Dinner
20:00 – 22:00 Comedy International Showcase

Panel Topics CIC8:

The Comedy International Conference presents four main panels and one keynote.
Key comedy industry figures will lead panel discussions on topics covering:-

10:00 – 11:15 Welcome words & Panel 1 – Comparing the Market
This panel is our annual catch-up with international Comedy developments, including new regions and successful cooperation. We will be discussing cultural barriers; the international audience, growth opportunities, reviewing developments in talent exchange.
What do we know about grass roots development in the international market? Can we find out about the state of play with the foundations that may, or may not have been established for the future development of talent in non-native English speaking countries? How is the talent pool looking in the different regions now we know that money making acts can tour Europe and beyond extensively?
The discussion is open; we welcome success stories and bold plans from the panel as well as from the creative entrepreneurs in the room. Brexit will be on the agenda.

Chaired by Carl A H Martin, cahm.uk, panellists include:
– Avisar Savir, Sabres Entertainment Group (Israel)
Nino Bantic, London Calling Comedy / Urbani Ured (Croatia / UK)
– Merel Mathey, Comedy Cafe (NL)
– Ivan Kirkov, Comedy BG (Bulgaria)

11:45 – 12:00 Keynote – ArtsMinds: Looking after the industry
An Introduction to Mental Health in Comedy

From long, irregular hours, stress to dealing with mental health and the safety of ourselves, our teams, artists and audiences. (How) do we look after this in the Comedy Industry?
What kinds of support networks are currently available to help people with mental health problems, how can they help and how are people dealing with issues themselves or with clients with problems?
ArtsMinds is a collaboration from BAPAM (British Association of Performing Arts Medicine), Equity, Spotlight and the Stage to bring together essential resources for performers and creative practitioners facing mental health issues.  Louise Grainger from Equity will discuss the project, the support that’s available and how, as industry professionals, you can help dissipate the stigma around mental health.

Speaker: Louise Grainger, Equity / ArtsMinds.co.uk (UK)

12:00 – 13:00 Panel 2 – Venue tactics
Venues play an important role in engaging audiences in popular culture – diverse programming including Comedy and interacting with the local community helps keeping venues in business. At the same time venues provide a platform for new talent to find their feet and for superstars to interact with a live audience.
The venue (team) is partially responsible for selling the Comedy tickets, marketing the shows, accommodating the tour production and providing a great and safe experience for the audience.  Often they are all-rounders.
On this panel we will discuss the valuable role of venues in the Comedy business, from booking practices to operational consideration. We invite representatives from small to XL venues and venue organizations (both on the panel and in the room) to share their experiences in working in Comedy in the UK and worldwide.

Chaired by Alex Rochford (UK)
– Beverley Whitrick, Music Venue Trust (UK)
– Chris Jones, Selby Town Hall / Small Venues Network (UK)
– Steve Lock, Soho Theatre (UK)
– Jessica Toomey, Frog and Bucket Comedy Club (UK)

14:15 – 15:15 Panel 3 – Audience development: On Air, On Screen, Online and On Stage
Last year we spoke with the agents and managers about talent development. In previous years we have discussed the impact of television on the live comedy industry, the response was not always positive. Is it time to explore this relationship further, how do on screen comedy and live comedy compliment and complicate each other and (how) has this changed? How does (live) recorded comedy set expectations for live audiences, what happens with talent once they hit the screens? How has the distribution of television comedy opened new markets? How does online talent transfer into live shows? What role does radio play in this and what is the international reach of radio Comedy?

Chaired by Mark Boosey, British Comedy Guide (UK)
– Nathalie Laurent-Marke, Mick Perrin Worldwide (UK)
– Victoria Lloyd, Radio Comedy, BBC Studios (UK)
– Matt Campion, Spirit Digital Media (UK)
– Hannah Chambers, Chambers Management Ltd (UK)

15:45 – 16:45 Panel 4 – Data, Marketing & Ticketing; Comedy Tourism
What is new in the world of Ticketing & Marketing, how to target, reach and get the audience in.
Music Tourism is a hot topic, what do we know about Comedy Tourism? How do the different industries work together? We will be looking at cities, festivals, tours, genres, brands and individual events & artists. With all the information available, would it be possible to get insight in how to future proof the comedy market? What data is valuable for short term monetisation and what can be done long term?

Chaired by Steve Machin, Accent Media Ltd (UK)
– Adam Brooks, Ents24 (UK)
– Brij Gosai, Pollstar (UK / US)
– Danny Keir, Sound Diplomacy (UK)
– Sabeha Mohamed, Eventbrite (UK)

16:45 – 17:00 Conclusions
Closing remarks on the event by Conference founder & producer Sytske Kamstra

Content is subject to change. The 2016 programme details can be found here

Panellists include cross-market specialists. Any updates on the panels will be announced here and in our newsletters. More information about the previous panel topics & events can be found in the archive section. As the conference is aimed at the Comedy industry, we value your opinion. If you may like to have input, please email us your thoughts.