Australia Launches the First Global Open-Mic Stand Up Comedy Contest

Online, October 19, 2012 (Newswire.com) - FiveMinutesLive.com, the first global open-mic contest for comedians has just opened. FiveMinutesLive.com gives anybody anywhere in the world five minutes to record an unedited comedy video for the whole world to judge.

Sydney entrepreneur, Adrian Saunders, is one of the two founders of Sydney's iconic "Quest for the Best contest". His new Online concept combines Saunders' passion for creating engaged online communities with his love of stand-up comedy.

"The most frustrating part of being a new stand-up comic is the lack of stage time available. When you do land a gig, often the audience is small and often consists of other comics nervously waiting their own stage time".

FiveMinutesLive.com allows comics to have a global audience. Our commitment is breathe new life into the local comedy scenes, create an opportunity for comics to develop themselves and create the stars of tomorrow". Saunders states.

Launched with local Australian comedians in September 2012, FiveMinutesLive.com has opened its doors to the wider World this October. Running for a full years season, the brand new comedy contest offers a $5000 USD prize for the most popular comedian and a $5000 for the most liked "critic" comment.

There are three rules to the game. First, the entrant must be an amateur(defined as earning less than $5000 USD per year). Second the footage can only be edited with a cut at the beginning and the end (i.e. one take). Third, there must be no nudity or sexually explicit imagery in the footage. With the exception of these three rules, comedians and aspiring comedians are free to say or do anything they want.

"To be honest, I was and am a little nervous about what may show up" adds Saunders. However, open-mic is open mic. It's the raw, unpolished and uncensored environment of a live open-mic stand up comedy room that we are recreating Online for the whole world to enjoy. Let the chips fall where they may" Saunders adds resolutely.

FiveMinutesLive.com brings the concept of the local stand-up comedy contest from the corner rooms of local pubs and clubs to a global Online audience.

Comedy requests represent over twenty million searches on Google each month (not including the more generic term "entertainment"). Comedy and entertainment also take up over 23% of all YouTube searches. With these statistics in mind it is evident that Online has become an alternative venue of choice for consumers to enjoy comedy from the comfort of their own lounge rooms.

FiveMinutesLive.com is a pioneer project availing amateur comics with a worldwide audience and the chance to become a global star.