Well it was ambitious!! I have being working on events for almost 3 decades but FIC 2013 was one of the toughest I have been involved with. The Goal was to demonstrate the potential of the event and how it could be amplified beyond just straight up shows in Barcelona but also to take some of the secret to BCN’s success to Madrid. This success has been built on the consistent development via workshops, competitions and just offering an INDEPENDENT annual comedy performance platform and focus for the obvious talent spread around Barcelona in it’s various languages.
We set about a couple of years ago seeking to create a comedy community from the public to the artist and if we could pull enough people together under this banner then we could collectively force the issue, that this is a worthwhile project, something worthy of support from either/both the public and private sector...
The objective simply, to become sustainable and while I am massively grateful to all our supporters and sponsors to date we have to try and attract that elusive significant title sponsor to help us build some structure and properly develop, so if anyone reading this knows anyone working in marketing... give them a nudge!
And its not just about the typical beer brands who we will have approached but the myriad of other companies who can be a good fit for a comedy festival from the many Start Ups to the Tourism companies, etc, etc we are open to all ideas and can build a partnership that can offer marketing managers real return.
So what happened in this the 6th edition here is a quick rundown of the highs and lows, in no particular order...
We set about a couple of years ago seeking to create a comedy community from the public to the artist and if we could pull enough people together under this banner then we could collectively force the issue, that this is a worthwhile project, something worthy of support from either/both the public and private sector...
The objective simply, to become sustainable and while I am massively grateful to all our supporters and sponsors to date we have to try and attract that elusive significant title sponsor to help us build some structure and properly develop, so if anyone reading this knows anyone working in marketing... give them a nudge!
And its not just about the typical beer brands who we will have approached but the myriad of other companies who can be a good fit for a comedy festival from the many Start Ups to the Tourism companies, etc, etc we are open to all ideas and can build a partnership that can offer marketing managers real return.
So what happened in this the 6th edition here is a quick rundown of the highs and lows, in no particular order...
Iberia's premier amateur competition The Funniest FICer: Well we saw the potential in 2012 and how it engaged so many people citywide and knew it would have to be a primary focus. The ambition was to take the exact same formula to Madrid, a sponsor was secured with the fearless www.stoketravel.com who upped their prize funds big time and gave a cash injection that insured the organisation between Madrid & BCN was possible.
It was first time out for the Spanish capital and it needed to kick off in early September which didn’t help straight after the ‘Spanish August’ but we managed to get out 2 heats and produced a memorable final filled with real diverse talent to choose a champion to represent the city. Barcelona took off exactly where it left off in 2012 and had a full eager line up of 3 heats + Final vying to produce a champion.
The final in BCN was an incredible challenge for the judges to pick one from literally 5 performances that were all worthy of winning.
It was truly amazing to watch people really develop in 12 months and up their game to compete and in the end it would come down to Josh Saxon (Madrid) and Stephanie Figueira (BCN) to battle it out. Special mention must go to Josh who just picked up a mic for the 1st time ever within the process and demonstrated the natural talent he has but Stephanie Figueira played to all her strengths to nail a set worthy of the ultimate Funniest FICer title.
Huge thanks to everyone who took part you all played your part in a wonderful grassroots comedy experience.
It was first time out for the Spanish capital and it needed to kick off in early September which didn’t help straight after the ‘Spanish August’ but we managed to get out 2 heats and produced a memorable final filled with real diverse talent to choose a champion to represent the city. Barcelona took off exactly where it left off in 2012 and had a full eager line up of 3 heats + Final vying to produce a champion.
The final in BCN was an incredible challenge for the judges to pick one from literally 5 performances that were all worthy of winning.
It was truly amazing to watch people really develop in 12 months and up their game to compete and in the end it would come down to Josh Saxon (Madrid) and Stephanie Figueira (BCN) to battle it out. Special mention must go to Josh who just picked up a mic for the 1st time ever within the process and demonstrated the natural talent he has but Stephanie Figueira played to all her strengths to nail a set worthy of the ultimate Funniest FICer title.
Huge thanks to everyone who took part you all played your part in a wonderful grassroots comedy experience.
The ecstatic Class of 2013 post show Logan Murray: What can be said of this guru of comedy who delivered his 5th intensive weekender in collaboration with the festival. It was exactly what it always is... the most fun, exciting, exhilarating, personal development experiences on the market. Within the festival format the workshop show, which is fast becoming a legendary night out, packed Las Cuevas del Sorte and a visibly enjoying himself Logan led his 12 students through a truly wonderful show. He will be back in 2014, it will once again be amazing and the only thing to say is get it booked now!! It will go onsale very soon, keep an eye on the newslertters.
Logan also delivered his renowned Public Speaking Workshop which was totally sold out and left behind another 12 greatly skilled performers
Logan also delivered his renowned Public Speaking Workshop which was totally sold out and left behind another 12 greatly skilled performers
Mike Ward - Quebec The Headliners: It is the world’s only multilingual comedy festival and once again we sought to find top quality acts in each of the ‘perceived’ biggest resident Expat communities. It is a very difficult proposition to assess and has always been a trial and error style experience.
This year we introduced Russian and French for the very first time!!
When it doesn’t work out the artist and festival both suffer but over the now 7 years and 9 languages!!! that we have presented shows in, every comic has given their very best to the audience that came out no matter what the size.
It is a mark of their professionalism that despite small crowds Nikolay Lukinsky, Mike Ward and Marlon Kicken all gave great performances to audiences that would have worked much better in a smaller room so lessons learned there!
This year we introduced Russian and French for the very first time!!
When it doesn’t work out the artist and festival both suffer but over the now 7 years and 9 languages!!! that we have presented shows in, every comic has given their very best to the audience that came out no matter what the size.
It is a mark of their professionalism that despite small crowds Nikolay Lukinsky, Mike Ward and Marlon Kicken all gave great performances to audiences that would have worked much better in a smaller room so lessons learned there!
Fem Riure - New Catalan collective THE LOCALS: We are once again baffled by the local industry as we have always perceived from the outset that this is their festival that we are happy for them to stake a claim, take some ownership and help us grow. Alas despite offering a FREEE!!!! open invitational platform to local comics the response was once again pretty pathetic!
I think its because we imposed a DEADLINE for submission!!! The dreaded D Word.
So a big thank you to http://www.lafamiglia.tk/ for taking part in Castellano. Or else there is something more fundamentally wrong in the local industry. Any time we offered the festival submission to local artists we got a simple how much will you pay. It appears that chasing money is the absolute goal, via creating TV friendly scripts rather than focusing on developing uncensored individual comedy talent. It is your festival
We had one real victory that we are intensely proud of being a cataclyst for making the Catalan language show 'FEM RIURE' happen.
It involved local Catalan and International comics and was the essence of what the ‘independent’ philosophy that has been behind FIC from day 1. Comics and artists creating their own art and taking advantage of a platform that offers something much broader. Spanish comics take note!!
The festival site received OVER 50,000 unique visits from July to November!! and it can grow even further. I hope the group go on to create more performances and we see them again next year. FEM RIURE formed for the festival, sold their show out and now are building on it. Well done and thanks for your faith guys
I think its because we imposed a DEADLINE for submission!!! The dreaded D Word.
So a big thank you to http://www.lafamiglia.tk/ for taking part in Castellano. Or else there is something more fundamentally wrong in the local industry. Any time we offered the festival submission to local artists we got a simple how much will you pay. It appears that chasing money is the absolute goal, via creating TV friendly scripts rather than focusing on developing uncensored individual comedy talent. It is your festival
We had one real victory that we are intensely proud of being a cataclyst for making the Catalan language show 'FEM RIURE' happen.
It involved local Catalan and International comics and was the essence of what the ‘independent’ philosophy that has been behind FIC from day 1. Comics and artists creating their own art and taking advantage of a platform that offers something much broader. Spanish comics take note!!
The festival site received OVER 50,000 unique visits from July to November!! and it can grow even further. I hope the group go on to create more performances and we see them again next year. FEM RIURE formed for the festival, sold their show out and now are building on it. Well done and thanks for your faith guys
Marcus Brigstocke The English speaking programme was created in an effort to provide diversity over the 4 weeks that would attract different public - Tony Law delivered his unique style of award winning alternative comedy, the legendary Howard Marks created a completely new twist on one of contemporary cultures greatest stories with a mix of theatre and is inimitable charisma, the Logan Murray Workshop show was arguably the best yet and the final festival gala with the FICer final and Marcus Brigstocke... well we promised the comedy event of the year and it was so much more than that. Brigstocke was simply awesome!!
He gave over 1 and a half hours of blistering straight up, Stand Up using every arm and accent in his arsenal and he has a few. 280 people in Tradicionarius lapped up the final act of a giggle packed 4 weeks. It was a stunning finish to the previous 4 weeks and what FIC is all about!!!
So will the ‘perennial never going to happen again’ comedy festival happen again, it needs support and is out there looking for it right now.. lets see!!
He gave over 1 and a half hours of blistering straight up, Stand Up using every arm and accent in his arsenal and he has a few. 280 people in Tradicionarius lapped up the final act of a giggle packed 4 weeks. It was a stunning finish to the previous 4 weeks and what FIC is all about!!!
So will the ‘perennial never going to happen again’ comedy festival happen again, it needs support and is out there looking for it right now.. lets see!!
FIC's Funniest FICer - Stephanie Figueira THE THANKS!!! It is difficult to thank everyone that deserves a mention but I think you all know who you are! :) and how you contributed to getting a fantastic event over the line. Special mention goes to the guys from B.I.G who are at the core of all things comedy in Barcelona and we wish them the best with their festival starting this weekend November 6, their Stand Up counterparts S.U.C.K but also Adolf Ferreres and Carlos Oriach for your translation help, Chris Groves for the morale (not technical) support but a vey special mention to the multi talented Queen of VENT! and now official Funniest FICer (it should be noted that the GG stepped back from all judging and she was the unanimous choice in each decision making situation, well deserved!!), the ever positive incredible energy that is Stephanie Figueira without whom this event would never have made it to Week 2!!!
There are new pressures developing in the administration of this event all the time. We want to bring the very best comics in the world and unfortunately for reasons nothing to do with FIC, our reputation is second to none in industry circles but agents are now demanding 100% payment in advance to confirm their artists. All across the world where artists of this level are highly coveted there have been problems. It puts real pressure on the necessity to find a sponsor or we might have to use a crowd funding vehicles if there is to be a FIC 2014. We hope you will continue to support the event however it materialises in what are very challenging times for everyone. We will take all the lessons learned and put together a programme we hope will excite and entertain and seek to get over the line as best we can!!
Cheers and hope you enjoyed some of it!!!
GG
There are new pressures developing in the administration of this event all the time. We want to bring the very best comics in the world and unfortunately for reasons nothing to do with FIC, our reputation is second to none in industry circles but agents are now demanding 100% payment in advance to confirm their artists. All across the world where artists of this level are highly coveted there have been problems. It puts real pressure on the necessity to find a sponsor or we might have to use a crowd funding vehicles if there is to be a FIC 2014. We hope you will continue to support the event however it materialises in what are very challenging times for everyone. We will take all the lessons learned and put together a programme we hope will excite and entertain and seek to get over the line as best we can!!
Cheers and hope you enjoyed some of it!!!
GG
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