Table of Contents

Sample

Browsing Chapters

Getting stage time is the most important factor in the education of an aspiring comic. I can teach you many comedy techniques, but the only thing that will teach you to be funny is performing in front of people. Many beginners make the mistake of waiting for the "right time" to try stand-up comedy. This is-how can I put it delicately-a big load of crap. There is no right time, there's only right now.

OPEN MIKES
Don't expect to be treated fairly
Sign-ups are usually in advance
You'll get bumped by the regulars
Heed the signal to get off-stage

SHOWCASE CLUBS' UNPAID SPOTS
Target a club and hang out there as often as possible
Do clean material
Keep it on time

ORGANIZE YOUR OWN SHOW
Build a little stage
Make the comics bring the audience

JOIN TOASTMASTERS

CHARITY AND CIVIC CLUB MEETINGS

SOCIAL PARTIES

IN PARKS OR ON THE STREETS

DANCE BARS

Top

Browsing Chapters

Ordering My Book

OPEN MIKES

These are nightclubs, restaurants, coffee houses, etc. that let anyone get up and take a shot at doing 3 to 6 minutes of stand-up comedy. If you can be funny at an open mike, you can probably be funny anywhere. Here are some tips to help you:

DON'T EXPECT TO BE TREATED FAIRLY
These places seldom provide pleasant experiences. Most often, you'll be going on stage very early, before anyone's come in, or very late, when everyone's left. If you're lucky enough to get an audience at all, it'll probably consist of other comics waiting to go on or three drunks eating chili and farting. But keep the faith. Remember, it's always darkest just before it gets pitch black.

SIGN-UPS ARE USUALLY IN ADVANCE
You usually have to sign up for open mike nights earlier in the day or sometimes a week or more in advance. This can be time-consuming, but make the commitment anyway.

YOU'LL GET BUMPED BY THE REGULARS
There will be times when the club regulars will bump you to a later spot or knock you off the roster altogether. I know it's frustrating, but until you have more seniority, expect to be the low person on the comedy totem pole. Your time will come.

HEED THE SIGNAL TO GET OFF-STAGE
Many clubs have some kind of a light or signal to let you know it's time to get off stage. Heed it well. If you go more than 30 seconds over, they'll become more forceful about getting you off. Worse yet, they may ask you not to come back.

ORGANIZE YOUR OWN SHOW
Find a restaurant, bar, or dance club that has a P.A. system and a microphone and offer to put together a comedy night. Most owners of these establishments will cooperate if you convince them it will bring in more business at little or no cost to them. You may have to do all the organizing and even pay for advertising, but if you can pull it off you'll have a decent place to perform. If possible, pool your resources with other beginning comics and delegate some of the responsibilities. Some tips:

BUILD A LITTLE STAGE
If the owner will let you, construct an elevated stage. It's psychologically helpful for a performer to be above the crowd. When you're on the same level or lower than your audience, trying to be funny can sometimes be a discouraging venture.

MAKE THE COMICS BRING THE AUDIENCE
Many clubs are doing this now. The amount of time the comic gets to perform is determined by the number of butts he or she puts in the nightclub seats. No butts-no show.
My significant other, Gayla Johnson, and student, Dave Reinitz, put together a show at a restaurant on the Universal City Walk here in Los Angeles. To ensure getting a good audience, they turned the show into a contest. The winner was to be determined by audience vote, so the comics were motivated to bring in as many people as they could. Every ten weeks all the winners were brought back for a semi-final, which had a cash prize donated by the restaurant. In 1995, the finals of their contest happened to coincide with the American Comedy Festival sponsored by Comic Relief, which was held at City Walk, and they were included as part of the festival. As of this writing the contest is still going on and everyone is pleased, especially Gayla and Dave, because they have a place to perform every week.

Table of Contents

Sample

Browsing Chapters

Top

Ordering My Book

Homepage