The ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards is making a comeback with a significant sponsorship deal, promising cash prizes for three winning categories at this year’s Fringe Festival.
Sponsorship Deal
Jones Bootmaker has pledged £15,000 towards the initiative, allocating £5,000 to each winner of the Best Show, Best Newcomer, and the Panel Prize categories.
Nathan Cassidy, the comedian who founded the ISH Awards, expressed his excitement about the sponsorship, highlighting the much-needed support for comedians.
There is an incredible amount of goodwill towards the awards from comedians, many of whom need more support.
Under this sponsorship, the best newcomer and Panel Prize winners will receive equivalent prizes to the prestigious original awards. Cassidy emphasized the significance of the awards in boosting comedians’ careers and their experiences at the Fringe.
Dave Abbott, head of brand at Jones Bootmaker, expressed delight at sponsoring the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, acknowledging the hard work of performers at the Fringe.
They perform great stand-up, we design great shoes, it’s a perfect fit.
The ISH Awards Process
The (ISH) Edinburgh Fringe Awards process involves around 40 panel members who are chosen from performers, producers, technicians, and others in the industry who have some time to spare during the festival.
These panel members will see all eligible comedy shows at the Fringe before August 12th. They then nominate shows that make them and/or the audience laugh a lot (Yes, that’s the criteria! I mean it is a comedy award), creating a long list of potential nominees.
From August 12th to 19th, panel members will see more shows from the long list and vote for their favorites. The five shows with the most votes in each category—Best Show and Best Newcomer—become the nominees.
Panel members then try to see the remaining shows they haven’t watched and vote for the best in each category. Additionally, they vote for the winner of the Panel Prize. The shows with the most votes are declared the winners and receive the prizes.
Last Year
Amidst concerns over the Edinburgh Fringe’s return in 2023 due to sponsorship challenges, dedicated fans have initiated their own rendition of the awards: The (ish) Edinburgh Comedy Awards, with “ish” symbolizing “Insert Sponsor Here.”
Volunteers of the Ish Awards offer their services for free, organizing show allocations and managing emails, demonstrating their unwavering passion for the comedy industry.
Awards Showcases at the Fringe
In addition to the sponsorship, organisers will host awards showcases at this year’s Fringe, providing further opportunities for recognition. These showcases will take place at The Counting House every Thursday to Sunday at 11.30pm as part of the Free Festival.
Insert Sponsor Here finally has a sponsor and we’re even more excited now for the Fringe! If you’re looking to scratch that comedy itch before the Edinburgh Fringe, we’ve got a bunch of very talented comedians and hilarious comedy shows playing here at Big Belly Comedy Club so come on in!
