Added on January 4, 2011  Pete Starr   , ,

Preview: Tickled Pig 2011 – Heat 1

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Sam Gore | Giggle Beats

Sam Gore

On January 23rd, Tickled Pig’s annual search for the funniest student in Leeds begins again. Marking its 4th year in business, Tickled Pig works to a simple format; any student from Leeds can enter as long as they have 7-8 minutes of original material and the pluck to deliver it, in front of the shows famously amicable crowd.

The winner of each heat goes through to a final in March, with two runners up also having the chance make it to the event’s finale for an opportunity to win £100.

The event, despite its relative youth, has already served as the starting point or spring board for an impressive array of talented young comics. The shows alumni include previous winners Max Dickins and Andy McWhirter as well as 2009’s Laughing Horse New Act of the Year winner Sam Gore.

The event takes place in the cosy surroundings of Pulse@Leeds University Union. Tickets offer great value for money with at least 8 acts performing per heat, aided in the quest for funnies by Tickled Pigs resident compere Robbie Ormrod, who certainly knows his way around a gag or two.

Tickled Pig offers several nights of fantastic original grass roots stand up from the fresh fertile mind’s of Britain’s future. Get yourself down for a chuckle.

Tickets cost £5 on the door. Anyone wanting more information or to apply to appeal in another heat please contact Robbie at [email protected]

by Pete Starr

  • Simon

    An opportunity to win £100…

    Good deal?

    When the audience pays £5 for a ticket, with no professional headliner, professional compere, payment for acts, or prize for 2nd place… not really.

    If he sells out the three heats and the final, this promoter will make £1800. Fair?

    • Robbie

      Simon.

      This whole entire thing costs a hell of a lot to run. I have made a considerable loss over the past years running this, so I don’t take kindly to accusations of profiteering.

      Also, the heats cost £4 entry, and we offer a pound off of that for LUU Comedy Society members.

      For the event I pay for professional judges, travel expenses (for judges, compere, door staff, myself), percy pigs, promotion, and venue hire. Travel expenses being the biggest cost – living in London does not make for a cheap commute.

      You’re also not taking into account that I run this in 5 other places. Think about how much time and travel that is, and not just for me.

      And in response to your “if he sells out” – I’ve never sold out. The average audience is around 25-30. On the rare occasion I do sell more than 50 tickets, I can make back some of the money that I’ve bled from previous shows.

      Essentially, you should really think about the costs and time involved with running a thing like this before you accuse someone of making excessive profit.