Central Texas Hosts Moontower Comedy Fest and More Festivals

Last night was the culmination of a week and a half long festival showcasing some of the best comedians in Austin and across the country. This was the 13th year since the first  Moontower Comedy Festival in 2012. 

📈 From Humble Beginnings to Major Comedy Hub: The Growth of Moontower

In 2012, seventy comedians performed at twelve venues during a four-day festival event named the Moontower Comedy and Oddity Festival. That year, Steven Wright, Aziz Ansari, Maria Bamford, and Wanda Sykes were among the biggest names at the festival. Thirteen years later, Ansari and Bamford returned to perform at the festival again, along with over 150 other comedians at fourteen different venues including The Paramount Theatre, The Creek and The Cave, and State Theatre. 

💰 Big Numbers, Big Laughs: Moontower Festival's Impressive Attendance and Economic Impact

This year approximately 65,000 people attended the festival according to the Austin Theatre Alliance CEO, Jim Ritts. Ritts told KXAN that the “economic contribution from all of this is somewhere between $7.5 and $10 million.” 

🎤 Behind the Mic: A Comedian's Experience at the Moontower Festival

I was lucky enough to be featured on three of the shows during this year's festival.  My experience was pretty common for the non-famous comedians that were performing. On my first night I performed in the smaller more intimate Velveeta Comedy club in front of approximately 50 people on a show with nine other comedians. The next night I was on two more showcases with similar lineups, and a themed show called “Surrounded”. Surrounded was a crowd work show where the comedian performs in the center of the room surrounded by the audience.  

🎬 Industry Buzz: Agents and Bookers Flock to Austin for Comedy's Best

In attendance at the festival along with the comedians and fans were the industry representatives as well. Agents from some of the biggest talent agencies in the country like UTA and CAA and bookers for late night shows like The Tonight Show. 

🎸 Central Texas: A Hub for Festivals Beyond Just Comedy

Central Texas hosts some really great festivals. Just a couple of weeks ago I attended the Two Step Inn festival in Georgetown. In May, Yee Yee Fest will be the one and only place to catch Granger Smith performing live this year, and there will be some awesome mudbogging taking place. Temple is even getting in on the festival action later in the year when the first ever Tanglefoot Festival in the heart of downtown. 

If you love live entertainment, then there is no better place to be than in Central Texas because anything you want is going to take place right here.