By no means exhaustive, I’d like to suggest a quick list of tips for running a successful improv festival.

I’ve had the pleasure of both running one (Zmack Shanghai International Improv Festival in the 2010s), and attending several (Manila, Hong Kong, Belfast, Dublin, Paris, Nancy…).

My motto would be: offer the best conditions possible so that performers, coaches, participants and audience members can also give you the best of themselves.

1. Be transparent for everything

From your initial intentions & objectives, and who is in the team, to advertising, recruiting, designing, scheduling, financing, recording, paying, ticket pricing, workshop fees, safety, etc., you should be as transparent as possible. Lay it all out. If you’ve got something to hide, ask why… Frustration builds with misunderstandings, lack of communication, and opaque decisions.

2. Have a plan A, a plan B, and every other letter of the alphabet

Your flexibility and adaptability, while sought after onstage for an improv festival, are also great skills in organising an improv festival. Think solution, smile, consult with colleagues.

3. Process Owners

I love the concept of “process owners”. They may not be the person actually doing the task, but ensuring that the task is done. They remind, ask, check up on their team. They’re not managers in the sense that they do not have authority or major decision power. They’re “just” the oil in the clogs.

4. Be welcoming

Focus on the experience of the performers, the coaches, the workshop participants, the audience… and the team! Because of the economic nature of improv, a lot of people spend their own time & money for the love of improv, so being welcoming is the next best currency to provide. Walk people places, recommend stuff, be generous, be available, be helpful, make others look great…

5. Money matter: transportation fares, meals, workshop fees, accommodation, show passes, drink tickets…

If and whenever possible, budget all this:

• Pay people to perform — if not, make sure they haven’t spent a dime on anything else. What else can you give them? A professional recording of their show? Press exposure?

• Pay people who teach — make sure coaches agree to the fee system, be clear as to how they participants’ money is being used.

• Provide per diem money for workshop days (even if limited, a small envelope is always welcome to cover at least part of the lunch break).

• Drink tickets — every team member should get a minimum of 2 drink tickets (soft drinks at least).

• Accommodation — that’s a tough one. While difficult to provide bedrooms for all, it’s also very costly to performers to find and manage AirBnBs and hotels. Ask friends, ask for grants, partner up with local venues for deals, do you best. If home stays are provided, have safety policies in place.

• Reimburse train/plane tickets fully or partially.

• Show passes — in my opinion, no performer should have to pay to see other shows. At least (but not ideal), they shouldn’t have to pay, even a reduced fee, for anything on the same day, even if there are several sessions. I know that when you’re growing your festival, most of the audience will be other improvisers performing there. I know. Ask local performers to bring friends and family, make sure everyone advertises and promotes on their social networks, at the end of their shows, etc. Has the venue got a newsletter? Maybe pay-what-you-want tickets?

• Dinner food — simple, vegetarian food would be nice for performers on that night. In a separate, communal room. Quantities are limited. People wash and dry their own dishes (one "clean water basin” to wet the utensils, one “soapy basin”, one “rinse basin” and voilà). Shout-out the SDI in Nancy for this one.

6. Other perks you might think of

• safe luggage room/closet;

• goodie bags;

• welcoming people at the airport/train station, helping with local transport;

• Professional shots of their performance;

• Water bottles or fountains backstage;

• A clean dressing room with steamer/iron, clothe hangers, mirror;

• If appropriate, tech rehearsals (10 minutes maximum, with another 5-min check-in before they let people in)

If money is tight, think of compensations: available helpers, photos, videos, press, professional time management of tech rehearsals & shows, best MCs ever, clear policies, be present at the beginning of workshops, backstage, show your face, welcome all, make the audience’s seats comfy, etc. Little things go a long way.

Running a festival is no easy task, especially in bigger cities where everything is expensive. Be patient, grow slowly, find your team. Do you have other recommandations and check-lists? Any anecdotes? Please share.