January 2026: Raw Comedy

FAQs

I thought I’d write a quick little article about Raw Comedy with the caveat that I did not win Raw Comedy. I did not get runner up either. I got a scathing review for my set actually, which was brutal at the time and still brutal now. Reviewers are mean. Steve Bennet was right, my song was hack, but it still works Steve and sometimes you’re performing for two bucks do’s and a truckers Xmas party and, in my experience, the nuances of modern feminism don’t pair that well with Chocko’s big night.

I do judge Raw sometimes and I was on the telly but it was SBS so not really (Fady Kassab kicked my ass and continues to on most lineups, don’t follow him if you want to feel good about yourself).

Melbourne Town Hall for Raw Comedy National Final 2019

What jokes should I do?

Do the jokes that tell us something about you. Who are you? Your set should be a little tasting plate of what your first hour will look like. If you don’t have any jokes like that then do your best jokes that aren’t about dating, ADHD, comedy being like sex or anything else that has been covered a billion times.

Do I have to tick diversity boxes?

Nope. You just have to be unique. If you have an interesting or unusual lived experience then absolutely talk about that. Not because it ticks diversity boxes, but because it will be interesting and potentially stand out from the hundreds of ADHD/Dating App jokes the judges have already heard.

Should I bring 20 friends?

Yeah, bring 100. It absolutely makes a difference when half the crowd is there to support you. Isn’t that cheating? Yeah, a bit, but if you are worried about things like fairness and morals then why are you in this business?

What is the judging criteria?

There is one on their website. Judging Policy

But don’t assume the judges read it. They are not paid so it’s crazy to expect that they all did their homework. I factor in originality of premise, crowd reaction (taking into account where the comic is on the lineup), natural comedic instincts and if they look like they are having a great time. I believe the reason a lot of first timers do better than more seasoned open micers is that they are so excited to be there. The regular open micers psych themselves out and treat it like a school exam. Trying to get it word perfect and if one line falls flat they panic. The audience/judges can feel it if you care too much up there and caring heaps is not funny.

Last year I crushed my set and I didn’t get through. Why do you hate me?

I didn’t hate you until you asked me that. Raw might have been the biggest crowd you ever performed in front of. So it might have seemed like a crush to you but that doesn’t mean you were the biggest crush of the night. You just got more laughs than you’re used to. Most comedian judges have performed many times in the venue you are performing at. They know what a crush really sounds like.

Or, maybe you did get the biggest laughs on the night but your premises were a bit weak. If your jokes were about your penis or how men always come first then we were bored, even if the crowd loved it.

Can I ask for feedback on my set?

You can, but again, the judges aren’t paid so they don’t have to and they probably don’t remember you 3 weeks later anyways.

I tested it in front of the mirror/at an open mic/in front of my friends and it’s exactly 5 minutes.

Then it’s too long. Aim for 4.5. Do not go over. The show is so so so long and boring. If you go over, I hate you and the fact that you have added another unnecessary minute to my night. If you do 4 minutes 20 and it’s great, that is way better than going over. Never ever go over.

Should I do crowd work?

No. Save that shit for the internet. Crowd work is a waste of time. Write a joke.

Does winning Raw Comedy lead to anything?

Sometimes. Sometimes not. It’s not as linear as that. It’s a huge sign that you are going in the right direction, but it’s up to you how you use that momentum. If you don’t continue to evolve and write and get better then probably not. Not winning doesn’t mean you suck either. It might mean that, but it more likely means nothing. There are so many ways to do comedy. This is one just one. It’s not even the most lucrative one. Make funny sketches on the internet, do it as a side hustle while keeping your day job, write narrative hours that require you to sit on a stool and get real for a second, write for TV, become a corporate host or get on the cruises.

Hope this was helpful.

Good luck!