Equity launches Comedians’ Charter at Edinburgh Fringe

Equity has launched a new Comedians’ Charter that aims to improve the working lives and ensure the safety of comedians.

The charter was developed by Equity's Comedians’ Network and launched on 7 August at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

It lays out a set of standard practices for venues and promoters to sign up to, covering pay transparency, safe working environments, late-night transport safety and anti-harassment and discrimination policies.

The charter launch comes at a critical time for comedians. In April 2021, after a year of lockdowns, a survey by the Live Comedy Association found that 50% of comedy workers had lost at least half of their incomes.

Half of those surveyed were considering leaving the industry, the survey found, with 60% saying that they made less than 5% of their pre-pandemic income from online shows and 81% reporting a decline in mental health.

Tackling harassment at gigs

The charter is part of Equity’s strategy to unionise comedians and comes in the wake of reports that comedians are experiencing an increase in abusive behaviour at live gigs since lockdowns.

The charter includes a section on new policies advising that “venues should have anti-harassment and discrimination policies available on their websites, and should bring these to the attention of acts at the point of booking and to ticket buyers at the point of sale”, as well as displaying them at venue entrances.

Policies should make clear that “harassment or discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated and will result in perpetrators being removed without a refund”, the charter said.

Acts should also be clearly informed about who to speak to in the event of an incident and what steps will be taken by the venue, it said.

Transparent pay

Other issues tackled in the charter include clear communication about payment.

“The Equity Comedians’ Network condemns any performance conducted at the artist’s expense on behalf of someone else,” the charter said.

It provides guidance on written agreements in the case of split takes and states that “if money is exchanged between venue and promoter or audience and promoter, then acts should be paid”.

The charter also states that venues should clearly outline the available facilities to acts, including information about any shared facilities.

Venues should also provide acts with clear guidance on public transport options, the charter said, and “where a venue is not within easy walking distance of public transport options, suitable provision for transporting the acts should be discussed and agreed in advance where necessary”.

Venues should facilitate acts leaving gigs early to catch the last train home and “should not assume that acts are happy to car share”, it said.

A call to unionise

In addition to the charter, Equity plans to produce a pack with comprehensive guidance for venues and promoters, including template policies.

“In the months ahead, we’ll be reaching out to venues and promoters across the country and seeking to work with them to make the charter the industry standard,” said Rob Lugg, Equity’s Organiser for Comedians.

“Our members will also need the support of audiences to help us achieve this by making sure that they only attend comedy gigs that carry the Comedians’ Charter Mark once it is rolled out.”

He also called on “every working comedian in the country who isn’t already a member to join Equity”.

“By coming together and acting collectively through their union, comedians have the chance to push for real change and for a fairer and more sustainable industry,” he said.