Festival Code of Conduct

Trust & Support One Another.

We expect performers to help make each other look good. That means they provide encouragement and support on and off stage; they collaborate and work together instead of competing; they do not distract or discourage performers on stage, and, when possible, they watch and enjoy the show along with the audience; they build trust with one another.

Trust is of utmost importance. If you feel unsafe while performing, you are free to stop the show and shall not be penalized for doing so.

Be Present.

We expect our performers to give their focus and attention to one another and to their performance. Performers should listen to one another both on stage and off stage. Performers should be in control of themselves at all times; they should know their limits as it pertains to alcohol and drug use, and they should not be visibly inebriated before or during a performance.

Be Respectful.

Practice “The Golden Rule”! We expect performers to respect physical and sexual boundaries. They should limit physical contact to appropriate social norms (handshakes, high fives, fist bumps, consensual hugs) and on-stage editing (in improv). Remember that other performers are here to perform first and foremost, not to be asked out/hit on.

We expect performers to treat sensitive and risky subject matter carefully and with emotional intelligence. Performers should be open to having a constructive, open conversation about a performance afterwards if the occasion arises. Our expectation is that, to the extent that performers/performances critique anyone, they attack the establishment, not the downtrodden.

Be Openhearted.

We believe that performers succeed, and fail, together with grace. Any critique of a performance should only be given when absolutely necessary, and should be accepted and delivered in a spirit of kindness and empathy. We ask performers to make a deliberate, conscious effort to empathize with everyone, even if they seem to be very different from you. We expect everyone to go out of their way to make others feel welcome.

Practice anti-racism, anti-sexism, anti-hate.

We expect both performers and community members-at-large to listen when people talk about their experiences of racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, queerphobia, fatphobia, and discrimination of all kinds. We ask everyone to embrace uncomfortable conversations with those who may have misguided opinions, and to call out discrimination of all kinds. We remind performers and community members to be mindful of the privileges they have, and if someone addresses an issue, there’s no need to feel awkward – say thanks and accept the comment with grace!

This code of conduct borrowed with love from our home theatre Comedy Café Berlin