Mastodawn

Hidden costs mean many comedians make 'zero profit' from festival runs
By Velvet Winter

Doing a run of shows at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is the pinnacle for a lot of Australian comedians, but the festival's tens of thousands of punters are rarely privy to the behind-the-scenes costs.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-07/melbourne-comedy-festival-cost-australian-festivals/106530094

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'Zero profit': Many comedians pay thousands to put on festival shows

Doing a run of shows at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is the pinnacle for a lot of Australian comedians, but the festival's tens of thousands of punters are rarely privy to the behind-the-scenes costs.