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Produced by Rebekah Kochan and Dante
and Golden artists entertainment
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Dante has been a professional comedian for 33 years. He's opened for Richard Pryor, Robin Williams and more. He has performed for more US troop than any other comedian except Bob Hope. He was a top 10 cast member on NBC's Last Comic Standing! He holds the record for winning the most B.E.T. Comedy Awards.
Rebekah was the comedy host of the AVN awards on showtime to over 40 million people. She has been a comedian for over 10 years. She is a B horror movie star and a Gay Icon from her role as Tiffany in all the Eating Out comedy films.
Dante and Rebekah tour all over the world together 40 weeks a year,
and they were both Joan Rivers writers for E! Fashion Police. They also own Golden Artists Entertainment and are always looking for new clients.
Rebekah was the comedy host of the AVN awards on showtime to over 40 million people. She has been a comedian for over 10 years. She is a B horror movie star and a Gay Icon from her role as Tiffany in all the Eating Out comedy films.
Dante and Rebekah tour all over the world together 40 weeks a year,
and they were both Joan Rivers writers for E! Fashion Police. They also own Golden Artists Entertainment and are always looking for new clients.
The contest takes place only once a year
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The contest this year
THE U.S. COMEDY CONTEST!
The contest will start again on October 14th 2019. It will be have 12 weeks of preliminary rounds, A wild card week, and a semi finals all on Mondays at Sal's Comedy Hole/ THE SECRET COMEDY CLUB in Los Angeles. 7356 Melsrose Ave, LA, CA 90046.
With the finals taking place Thursday February 21, 2019 at the world famous ICE HOUSE COMEDY CLUB in Pasadena California! Thursday Feb. 21st at 7:30pm.
IF you compete this year and place 2nd, 3rd, or possibly 4th, you have made it to the Semi Finals on February 4th or 11th at Sals. Shows at Sal's begin at 8pm, contestants MUST be there by 6:45 to register at 7pm.
Guest tickets are $20 dollars per person at the door.
IF YOU COME IN FIRST PLACE IN PRELIMS THIS YEAR, YOU ARE IN THE FINALS you must be at THE ICE HOUSE in PASADENA on February 21 at 6:15 for registration. Shows at the Ice House begin at 730pm! Tix $15 on line or $20 at the door!
Sign up info at the bottom of the page!
The contest will start again on October 14th 2019. It will be have 12 weeks of preliminary rounds, A wild card week, and a semi finals all on Mondays at Sal's Comedy Hole/ THE SECRET COMEDY CLUB in Los Angeles. 7356 Melsrose Ave, LA, CA 90046.
With the finals taking place Thursday February 21, 2019 at the world famous ICE HOUSE COMEDY CLUB in Pasadena California! Thursday Feb. 21st at 7:30pm.
IF you compete this year and place 2nd, 3rd, or possibly 4th, you have made it to the Semi Finals on February 4th or 11th at Sals. Shows at Sal's begin at 8pm, contestants MUST be there by 6:45 to register at 7pm.
Guest tickets are $20 dollars per person at the door.
IF YOU COME IN FIRST PLACE IN PRELIMS THIS YEAR, YOU ARE IN THE FINALS you must be at THE ICE HOUSE in PASADENA on February 21 at 6:15 for registration. Shows at the Ice House begin at 730pm! Tix $15 on line or $20 at the door!
Sign up info at the bottom of the page!
SOME past winners
SOME OF OUR PAST WINNERS INCLUDE
ANTHONY JESELNIK, STEPHAN GLICKMAN, TONY BAKER,
JERRY GARCIA, CHRIS NEFF, NATE HURD,
SALLY MULLINS, SAM COMROE, JAY CRAMER,
Granison Crawford, Jose Raymond, Natalie Gray
K.I.L.Theodrick, Josh Kreps, Shannon Corder
and many more.
PAST CONTESTANTS of note INCLUDE
CHRIS D'elia, Whitney Cummings, Katrina law
2 time contest winner SAM COMROE
kicked ass on America's Got Talent this past year!
kicked ass on America's Got Talent this past year!
HOW TO SIGN UP AND RULES!
ANNOUNCING THE 16TH ANNIVERSARY of THE U.S. COMEDY CONTEST!
READ EVERYTHING!!!
ALL DATES ARE NOW FULL EXCEPT FOR THE 27TH OF JANUARY! LAST SHOW TO SIGN UP FOR!
This is the biggest comedy contest in the US. Unlike other contests, this one is only held once a year and has the respect of comics and the industry!
Past winners have gone on to doing big movies, star in sitcoms, reality shows, playing the road and even starring on Broadway!
We invite tons of industry and many comics who win or don't win receive many offers from agents and managers!!! The producers also Manage people and have picked up many new clients from this contest.
Past winners include
Anthony Jeselnik, Chris Neff, Stephen Glickman, Nate Hurd, Tony Baker, Natalie Grey, Jerry Garcia, Grannison Crawford, Jordan Pease, Sam Comroe, KIL Theodrick and Sally Mullins.
Here is how it works:
There are 2 categories……
2 year and under - You must have done comedy for less than 2 years. Some times people may have done comedy for a few months years ago and then got back into it this year. That is ok. As long as there is not dispute that you have done this over 2 years. 3 min spots!
Headliner - This is for everyone who wants to sign up for it. Even if you have done comedy less than 2 years, you can sign up for this category. 5 min Spots!
The Contest's preliminary rounds will be held on multiple nights.
AT SAL'S COMEDY CLUB IN HOLLYWOOD.
salslosangeles.com inside THE SECRET COMEDY CLUB!
7356 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046.
Do not call them regarding the contest. Any questions about the contest will be answered at Dante@comicdante.com
You must be 18 and up to perform.
The Icehouse comedy club is 18 and up there will be a cover charge on all dates. 2 item min.
38 North Mentor Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91106
(626) 577-1894
For the Contests preliminary rounds at Sal's Comedy Hole, the 1st place winners in both categories move on directly to the Finals.
Each night the top 2-6 winners in each category will move on, depending on how many people sign up. All of those winners move directly to the Semi Finals. Unless you are 1st place, then again you move directly to the finals.
JUDGES AND CONTEST RULES
Judges are made up usually of Industry professionals, Celebs, Past Winners, Headliners and sometimes random audience members with no affiliation with comedians.
There are usually 3-12 judges per night. Past judges have included Jan Smith the booker of the Ice House, Porn Star Ron Jeremy, Producer of ROSANNE Allan Stephan, Malika Kinison (Sam Kinisons widow), Sherri Strain producer of over 40 films, Frank Kelly owner of the Jon Lovitz Comedy club, Rowdy Roddy Pipper from WWF/WWE (RIP), Kid Reed of Kid and Play, Stephan Isreal producer of the film Swimming with Sharks, Agents and Managers and tons of comedy bookers, to name a few.
Judging is based on 4 category’s,
1. Stage Presence
2. material
3. audience response
4. Judges own opinion.
They are instructed to give 1-5 points to each comic in each category. The most points you can earn per judge is 20 points.
Comics in the 2 year and under category are given 3 minutes and in the headliner it is 5 minutes. You may go over you time by 59 seconds, however you will be deducted 4 points from ever judge for every minute you go over your time. NO POINTS DEDUCTED FOR GOING UNDER YOUR TIME! This year the audience may also have a small say in the winners.
You may sign up for THE WILD CARD night if you do not make it your first time. I highly recommend signing up for one of the 1st nights of the contest in case you want one more shot. If you re-sign up then you have to buy in again. If you make it to the finals or Semi Finals there are no more sign up fees!
THE WILD CARD SHOW IS FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY ENTERED THE CONTEST AND DID NOT MAKE IT AND ANY FIRST TIMER WHO WANTS THAT DATE. SOME EXCEPTIONS ARE MADE ON THAT NIGHT. IT IS A $30 SIGN UP FEE ONLINE OR $40 THE DAY OF , WITH NO MONEY GOING TO WINNERS THAT NIGHT. THE PRIZE FOR THAT NIGHT IS THAT 1ST AND 2ND PLACE WINNERS FROM THAT NIGHT GO DIRECTLY TO THE FINALS AND SKIP THE SEMI FINALS. MONEY FROM THIS SHOW IS NOT PUSHED TO THE FINALS AND DANTE AND REBEKAH ARE ALLOWED TO JUDGE THAT NIGHT ONLY.
This Contest is produced by DANTE (Last Comic Standing, BET's Comic View, writer for Joan Rivers, Director of the films Bro What Happened? and UNFALLEN, Headliner for 30 years.) and Rebekah Kochan (star of over 20 horror films, Gay Icon, Comic host of the 2014 AVN awards, movie producer, writer for Joan Rivers). Together they own GOLDEN ARTISTS ENTERTAINMENT. It is a full service Ent. Company that makes films, books live acts and Dante manages comedians, actors and celebrities. They are not allowed to vote as judges in the contest. (Except on the wildcard night) Their role is to produce the contest, settle disputes in judging and make sure the contest is the most fair contest possible.
Comics must be at the show 1 hour before start time. This is when we register you, collect monies and draw randomly for spots. If you are running late due to traffic or an act of God, you may call DANTE (818-635-7910) and ask to have your spot drawn by proxy. If you show up late without a phone call, you must have a unanimous decision by all contestants in you category to allow you in and you must go up first.
Some comics may be added to the contest or Semifinals or Wild Card depending on if they win sister contests.
Shows at Sal's begin at 8pm, contestants MUST be there by 6:30 to register at 7pm.
Guest tickets are $20 dollars per person at the door.
Sal’s is very slow on Monday nights so please promote and invite people or you will perform to comics and judges only!.
Shows at the Icehouse begin at 730pm!
IF YOU ARE IN THE FINALS you must be at THE ICE HOUSE in PASADENA at 6:00 for registration. Leave 1 hour early from Hollywood. ITS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO GET THERE! YOU MAY NOT RECEIVE EMAILS!!!
Guest tickets are on sale now at the Ice House. Tickets are $15 per person in advance. Tickets will be $20 per person on the day of the show.
If you do not get passed your first night, you may sign up again for the contest, but you must pay fee again.
If you register and miss your spot when the emcee announces you, you will be disqualified that night and will lose registration money. Believe it or not, people have run off to do another spot or went to the bathroom and lost their spot in the contest.
You must follow the rules of the club and of the state. No drugs or fighting will be allowed. No destroying of stage or club will be allowed. If the bar or club throws you out for any reason you lose your spot and registration fee.
Money, registration and prizes
To sign up for the contest please send an e mail ASAP to dante@comicdante.com ONLY!!!!!!!.
Let us know your full name, phone number, category ( 2 year and under or headliner) and that you have read all the rules. And most importantly PICK A DATE and let us know! TITLE YOUR EMAIL : COMEDY CONTEST SIGN UP If you are paying your entry fee by paypal in advance, do it first, then send the email to us stating you have paid at paypal. Please do this all together as its too confusing to have you sign up then pay later by paypal. Or VENMO @Dante-Rusciolelli
Entry fee is $32 in advance by paypal and must be paid as you register for the contest. Paypal address is dante@comicdante.com. Or VENMO @Dante-Rusciolelli or it is $40 at registration on the day of and you must have it in cash. The extra $10 is a late fee that goes towards costs. Comics will only always split $30 entry fees. ($32 the $2 goes to Paypal)if you pay in advance and have to cancel your spot before 72 hours before your contest you will be returned your entry. Or if you need to switch days later, you may as long as that date is still open!
Money will be used as follows:
½ of the money collected will go to the winners of the preliminary shows. It is paid out that night!
¼ of the money to pay the winners of the finals, trophies, gifts, to pay an emcee, employees and so on.
¼ of the money will go to the producers to cover production.
Most of the money is given out during the prelims.
$50 will be taken out of the contest money each night to pay the Emcee and DJ! $25 from each category.
(We like to pay people)
NEW ONLINE CONTEST.
OUT OF TOWN / STATE / COUNTRY COMICS,
You can fly in or drive in and participate in the contest as normal, or we will have an online preliminary round this year for people out of town only. Please let us know in the email your full name, what category if you want headliner or under two years. Please also provide a stand up comedy clip that is 3 to 7 minutes long. Longer clips do not get better consideration. We will choose finalists and Semi finalists. The fee is still $32 By PayPal to Dante@comicdante.com please write in Subject line OUT OF TOWN COMIC VIDEO. Please pay the fee before submitting. Or VENMO @Dante-Rusciolelli The deadline for submitting videos will be January 7. We will announce soon after all of the winners so you will know if you were competing in the finals or semi finals. There is no limit to how many can sign up online however the more that sign up the more we will pass through to the show. Also winners will receive money just like as if they were in the club. Money will be paid by PayPal or given to them at the live shows
Prizes may include
Cash, a trophy, title for one year as the winner of THE US COMEDY CONTEST, announcements of Winners on multiple websites, possible random gifts provided by sponsors and will include gigs.
A bookings contract with Golden Artist Entertainment!
A paid gig to the 1st place winners at Canyon Cowboy
in Canyon Lake California produced by Melissa Greenberg
http://www.thecanyoncowboy.com/events#event=6534556
A possible paid gig for the headliner at Clearwater Casino near Seattle! Has to be cleared by casino.
We usually hear of more paid gigs that will be prizes as the contest goes on. DANTE also books road work and usually gets the winners work right away.
If we do not have enough contestants signed up on a particular night, then the contest that night may be canceled and you will be returned your registration fee. However in 13 years that has never happened.
This is the biggest and most respected comedy contest in the U.S., so please sign up early as we always are over booked!!!!! You DO NOT need to be from LA to enter!
SOME COMICS MAY BE ADDED TO THE SEMI-FINALS OR FINALS FROM WINNING QUALIFYING COMEDY CONTESTS THAT WE PARTNER WITH.
COMICS!
FOLLOW and TAG us on twitter
@USComedyContest
@REBEKAHKOCHAN
@DANTETHECOMIC
@GoldenArtistsLA
@thesecretcomedy
Please promote the show that you are on. Mondays are normally a very slow night at Sal's on Melrose. The size of the audience will depend on the promotions of the comics. OR YOU WILL BE PERFORMING FOR JUST JUDGES!!!
IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW WHAT TIME TO BE AT THESE SHOWS.
ALL SHOWTIMES, ADDRESSES AND TIMES TO DRAW FOR SPOTS ARE LISTED ON THIS SIGHT. DON'T WAIT FOR OR EXPECT AN EMAIL. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR FINDING OUT WHEN AND WHERE TO GO!!! Each year comics show up at the shows at showtime and expect to go up. Nope. You missed out! Sorry not our fault.
Again,
To sign up for the contest ...
please send an e mail ASAP to dante@comicdante.com ONLY.
Pick a preliminary date. Let us know your full name, phone number, Email, category ( 2 year and under or headliner) and that you have read all the rules. Also let us know if you have paid by paypal! Or VENMO @Dante-Rusciolelli
