JANUARY 2025
+ FEB 1ST!!!
-
The Linen Building -
JANUARY 2025 + FEB 1ST!!! - The Linen Building -
Supporting artists working their craft.
Let’s get these talented suckers out of the Treasure Valley already! Winner and finalists will be eligible for gigs in and out of town.
Oh and did we mention… $$$
Who’s ready for funny?
Blue City Comedy 's grand annual comedy showcase competition!
Show Dates
7PM-9:30PM
COMIC OF THE YEAR
Blue City Comedy 's grand annual comedy showcase competition!
20+ Local comics will showcase their talent and compete for money, opportunities and tools to continue honing their craft, EVERY ROUND. And a GRAND PRIZE of a $1,000 and the title of Blue City Comedy’s COMIC OF THE YEAR, if they take it all in the 4 ROUND COMPETITION.
Local producers score each set and audience votes for their favorites to crown the champion!!!
The artist who wins this will win because they have the strongest, most cohesive 20-minute set. We are creating World-Wide Worthy Features here!!!
Check out the finest the Treasure Valley has to offer.
Meet your Comic of the Year: 2025 …
HOST: Tyson Gusman - Host and Producer of Off the Cuff
Our Core Community Producers - Judges Panel:
Leslie Bing - Host and Producer of The Bing Comedy Hour
Eric Larson - Mad Swede Comedy Booker
Reese Samuels - Producer of Cause We Can Comedy
Marina Wool - Host and Producer of Dragged Under
Krystal Moore - Host and Producer of Femme Fatale, Jack Mormon Comedy Hour & Mom Jokes
Round 1
Fri | 1.24.25 | 7PM- 10PM
THE LINEN BUILDING
Special Guest Judge:
Tiffany Eller - Managing Director of The Boise Bard Players
Ted Livermore - Founder and Host of Lectures By Lushes
20ish* comics - $20 for their 5-minute set. 10 are chosen and will move on to Round 2.
YOUR 2025 PICKS:
Matthew Voorhies, Brittany Hargis, Max Knudson, Tilly, Aaron Wiemiller, Andrew Kent, Rain Forest, Victor Pellegrino, Jake Myers, Chris Foster, Natasha Dash, Jasmine Rogers, Derek Haydon, Samson Large, Sonya Feibert, Katie Bird, Dustin Chalifoux, Brett Haney, Myles Matthews, Ian Yearsley, Dan Clark, Nick Daniels, Louis Katz, Ellis Ulery
* Why ish? Well, comics are humans, and humans are unpredictable- It’s good to book a few extras!
Round 2
Sat | 1.25.25 | 7PM- 10PM
THE LINEN BUILDING
Special Guest Judges:
Jared Mudson - Watson’s Comedy Club Booker
KRIS SHARMA - Blue City Comedy Regular
10ish move on to participate in Off The Cuff - $40 for their 10-minute Improved set - 7 contestants move on to the Semi Finals.
Semi-Finals
Fri| 1.31.25 | 7PM- 10PM
THE LINEN BUILDING
Special Guest Judge:
Megan McCaleb - CEO of Improv Team Culture
GREG SISCO - Comic of the Year: 2023
7ish move on to the Semi-Finals. $50 for their 10-minute topical written set. Topics have been announced. Comics have over a month to prepare a 10-minute set that includes these topics in some way. The top 4 will move on to the finals.
OUR TOPICS ARE….
Boise Hipsters
〰️
WINCO
〰️
Childhood Fears
〰️
Public Transportation
〰️
Hobbies
〰️
Renting
〰️
Deepest Regrets
〰️
Boise Hipsters 〰️ WINCO 〰️ Childhood Fears 〰️ Public Transportation 〰️ Hobbies 〰️ Renting 〰️ Deepest Regrets 〰️
Finals
Sat| 2.1.25 | 7PM- 10PM
THE LINEN BUILDING
Special Guest Judges:
Dylan Haas - Treefort’s Comedy Fort Booker
SOPHIE HUGHES - Comic of the Year: 2024
Top 4 bring their best 20-minute feature set for $150.
1 will walk away with the Title of Blue City Comedy’s Comic of the Year and the Grand Prize of $1,000!!!
The person who wins this will win because they have the strongest, most cohesive 20-minute set, and the chops for what it takes to be an artist in a world thankless of the value of art.
We are creating World-Wide Worthy Featured Artists here!!!
People sitting around a table at a social gathering, smiling and laughing, with drinks on the table, in a dimly lit indoor setting.
Four people standing behind a railing, laughing and engaging in conversation, inside a wooden building.
A woman sitting on a chair playing an acoustic guitar and singing into a microphone on a stage in a cozy, intimate venue with brick walls and warm lighting.
A male comedian in a blue shirt and gray pants stands on stage holding a microphone, smiling while performing in front of an audience seated in a dark room with a brick wall.
A comedian stands on stage holding a microphone and a microphone stand, performing to an audience in a dimly lit comedy club with a brick wall background.
A man in a dark jacket shaking hands with a man in a patterned blazer on stage during a performance, with audience members clapping in the background.
A young woman with dark, wavy hair, smiling softly, holding a microphone on stage with a dark background.
A male comedian performs on stage with a brick wall background, standing in front of a microphone and gesturing with his right hand, while an audience watches.
A woman in a brightly colored striped sweater is speaking on stage, gesturing with her right arm extended toward the audience, holding a microphone in her left hand. Audience members are visible with their backs to the camera, listening attentively.
A man performing stand-up comedy on stage with a microphone, wearing a black leather jacket and jeans, in front of an audience.
A man with glasses, a beard, and a black vest is speaking into a microphone on a stage at night, with a dark background and a few audience members visible in the distance.
A comedian performing stand-up on stage at a comedy club during the 'Come of the Year '23' event, with a large screen behind displaying finalists' names and photos, including an intermission countdown of 10 minutes.
Young man in a navy jacket and cap performing stand-up comedy on stage with microphone, audience in foreground, dark interior of comedy club.
A woman with glasses and curly hair performing stand-up comedy on stage, holding a microphone and gesturing with her other hand, in front of a brick wall.
A man with curly hair holding a microphone on stage during a comedy show. A large screen displaying names and photos of performers is in the background.
A woman wearing a gray beanie and black shirt with a red heart is playing an acoustic guitar and singing into a microphone on a stage with a brick wall background.
A bearded man wearing glasses, a cap, and a black jacket playing an accordion and singing into a microphone on stage in a dimly lit venue.
A woman in a red top and white glasses performing stand-up comedy on stage with audience members watching in a dimly lit venue.
Comedian on stage performing in front of a seated audience at a comedy club.
A man dressed in a blue Adidas tracksuit jacket and pants delivering a stand-up comedy routine or speech on stage, holding a microphone and gesturing with his left hand while addressing an audience in a dimly lit room.
A man with a shaved head and beard wearing an orange snake print blazer speaking into a microphone while holding a paper in his hand.
Two people sitting at a table in a dimly lit restaurant or bar, looking at menus. One woman with red hair and white glasses, and a man with a beard wearing a cap.
Two people sit at a table with drinks, looking at papers, in a dimly lit setting.
Crowd of people socializing in a well-lit indoor space with vibrant green and red walls, and visible exit and restroom signs.
People sitting and socializing in a dimly lit restaurant or bar, with drinks on the tables and framed pictures of deer on the wall.
FAQs
-
We have our 3 main producers judging the whole competition for consistency of booking perspectives. In addition, one special guest judge will offer their expertise each round!
-
No worries! Just submit your Headshot, Bio and a 3-5min set to Booking@BlueCityComedy.com by Wednesday 11/27.
-
Everyone is welcome! However, we are looking for artists that have really sculpted their craft. Experience does assist with that element.
-
Holly King, Dustin Chalifoux, Montana Burke, Kris Sharma, Tyson Gusman, LJ Sullivan, Chris Foster, SaraFina Rodriguez, Matthew Vorhies, Jake Martin, Josh Price, Natasha Dash, Dan Clark, Brett Haney, Danny Monsoon, Tanya Cope, Samson Large, Andrew Kent, Norelle Bond, Victor Pellegrino, Reese Samuels, Jake Myers, Sophie Hughes, Kat Lizarraga, Jack Wheeler, Katie Bird, Che, Merry Cole, Breanna Kelley, DD Bauer, Brian Nelson, Parker Krahn, Jared Munson, Emmanuel Vera
-
Sophie Hughes
-
Kris Sharma
Tyson Gusman
Danny Monsoon
-
Greg Sisco
-
Kris Sharma
Jack Wheeler
Myles Matthews
-
Winners of Comic of the Month 2023 (Jan-May):
JANUARY was HENRY STODDARD and Runner-Up- Holly King
FEBRUARY was DUSTIN CHALIFOUX and Runner-Up- Yeti Abides
MARCH was MONTANA BURKE & MARINA WOOL and Runner-Up- Kris Sharma
APRIL was TYSON GUSMAN and Runner-Up- Myles Matthews
MAY was LJ SULLIVAN and Runner-Up - Chris Foster
June-December didn’t happen due to personal reasons with BCC staff.
Not all Winners and Runners-Up will be competing in C of the Y |’24. Participation depends on availability and interest.
-
Judging Rubric: Comic of the Year
Category 1: Preparedness (25 points)
Organization (10 points):
Is the routine well-structured and organized?
Are transitions between jokes smooth and well-timed?
Does the comedian exhibit a clear understanding of comedic timing?
Material Preparation (8 points):
Is the material rehearsed and polished?
Are props or supporting materials used effectively?
Does the comedian demonstrate a mastery of the chosen material?
Adaptability (7 points):
How well does the comedian handle unexpected situations or audience reactions?
Is there evidence of quick thinking and the ability to adapt to the flow of the performance?
The Riff Round Deviation : Round 2
Organization (7 points):
Does the routine feel forced or have a flow?
Are transitions between jokes smooth or intentional?
Does the comedian exhibit a clear understanding of comedic timing and call backs?
Material (8 points):
Does the comedian complete the full 2 minutes on each topic ?
Are props or supporting materials used effectively?
Does the comedian demonstrate a mastery of the given material?
Adaptability (10 points):
How well does the comedian handle unexpected situations or audience reactions?
Is there evidence of quick thinking and the ability to adapt to the flow of the performance?
Category 2: Originality (25 points)
Creativity (10 points):
Does the comedian bring a fresh perspective to common topics?
Are the jokes and premises original and inventive?
Unique Style (8 points):
Does the comedian have a distinctive comedic style?
Is there evidence of a unique voice or perspective in the delivery?
Innovation (7 points):
Does the routine incorporate novel ideas or approaches to comedy?
Are there elements that set this performance apart from others?
Category 3: Stage Presence (25 points)
Confidence (10 points):
Does the comedian exude confidence on stage?
Is there a strong and positive connection with the audience?
Body Language (8 points):
How effectively does the comedian use gestures, facial expressions, and body language to enhance the performance?
Does the physicality of the routine contribute to the overall comedic impact?
Command of the Stage (7 points):
Does the comedian effectively utilize the entire stage?
Is there a good balance of movement and stillness, contributing to the overall stage presence?
Category 4: Audience Reception (25 points)
Engagement (10 points):
How well does the comedian connect with the audience?
Is there evidence of audience engagement through eye contact, responsiveness, etc.?
Laughter and Response (8 points):
How consistently does the audience respond with laughter?
Are there moments of heightened audience engagement, such as applause or positive reactions?
Readiness for Audience Dynamics (7 points):
How well does the comedian handle audience reactions, whether positive or challenging?
Is there an ability to read the room and adjust the performance accordingly?
Total Points: 100