BINGE IMPROV COMEDY TOURNAMENT
This is improv with everything on the line. Teams will compete in a multi-day, bracket-style battle where quick wits, compelling characters, and bold choices take center stage. For any team, any style, and any size, this tournament is open to all forms of improv. Whether you’re short-form powerhouses, long-form storytellers, or somewhere in between, you’re invited to compete. But, only one will claim the ultimate comedy trophy!
Entering the Tournament – the Preliminaries
The “play-in preliminaries” are on Thursday, August 21 at 7:30 pm. We’re having open signups, so any number of teams can compete with a maximum of 16 entries. Performers will have a minimum* of 7 minutes to perform, and a panel of judges will select the top 8 teams to advance to the tournament as part of Big Couch’s annual Binge celebration (August 28 to 31). Individuals may participate on multiple teams, and coaches are available! Please be sure that everyone on your team is available for all the dates in the tournament should you advance.
Sign-up by midnight on August 15. There’s no fee to enter!
*If fewer than 16 teams sign-up, we’ll adjust the time accordingly. For example, if only 10 teams sign-up, each team will get 10 to 12 minutes.
Advancing in the Tournament
The rest of the tournament takes place as part of the Big Couch Binge Anniversary Celebration!
- Elite 8 – Thursday, August 28 from 7 to 8:30 pm, 10 minutes per team
- Final 4 – Friday, August 29 from 7 to 8 pm, 12 minutes per team
- Showdown – Saturday, August 30 from 7 to 8 pm, 20 to 25 minutes per team
Each round will be judged by a combination of expert panel and audience vote, so bring your best—and your biggest fans.
Why Enter?
- Show off and see high-energy, high-stakes comedy
- Opportunity to perform during a marquee celebration weekend
- Eternal glory (and probably a really fun trophy)
- Win an ice cream party from Lucy Boone Ice Cream!
This is your shot to go all the way. Will your team make the cut? Will you survive your round? Will you take the crown?
Come play. Come watch. Come laugh.
Official Rules
General Guidelines
- All Improv Styles Welcome: Short-form, long-form, musical, genre-based, and all hybrids are allowed.
- Team Size: Teams can have any number of performers. Individuals may participate on multiple teams.
- Availability: All team members must be available for all tournament dates if they advance. Coordinators may not be able to honor any requests for time changes or order preference.
- Coach Support: Coaches are recommended and available upon request.
- Props and Costumes: Allowed, but minimal setup and teardown is strongly encouraged to keep the show moving. Setup of any set pieces will count toward a team’s performance time.
Performance Times:
- Preliminaries: Minimum of 7 minutes per team. If fewer than 16 teams sign up, performance time may be increased (e.g., 10–12 minutes for fewer teams).
- Elite 8: 10 minutes per team
- Final 4: 12 minutes per team
- Showdown (Finals): 20–25 minutes per team
- Teams will not be able to exceed allotted time as the tech will pull lights on their set.
Tournament Advancement
Teams advance from the preliminaries based upon a judging panel alone. For rounds 2 and 3 (Elite 8 and Final 4), advancement is determined by combining judges ratings with audience electronic votes to advance the teams with the top scores (4 from the Elite 8 and 2 from the Final 4). Winners are announced at the end of each round.
Judging Panel Criteria
- Scene work and comedic timing
- Creativity and bold choices
- Teamwork and listening
- Audience engagement
Judges will also be providing feedback cards indicating what was done well and what could have put a team over the top!
Prizes
- Elite Eight – everyone that reaches the Elite Eight will receive a four-day show only pass to the Binge!
- Final Four – Binge 2025 pin and sticker for each member
- Second Place – $20 gift card to Big Couch plus Binge 2025 pin and sticker for each member
- First Place – Ice Cream Party at Lucy Boone Ice Cream plus Binge 2025 pin and sticker for each member!
Team Conduct
Big Couch expects every member of every team to be respectful of each other, their competitors, audience members, show producers, and venue staff. This tournament is meant to be fun, entertaining, and inclusive, so we ask every participant to maintain an enthusiasm for fairness and mutual support. All members of every team must agree to Big Couch’s community standards to ensure a positive experience for all performers and audience members. Show producers and staff reserve the right to end a performance or remove performers who exhibit content or other behavior that is deemed objectionable, harmful, or aggressive. Teams also have the right and are encouraged to bring concerns to show producers, staff, or the venue’s co-owners.