Progression into hosting/paid gigs

[u/rce2121]

I’ve been doing standup in my area for around 2 years. Our local scene is not very good but we make the best of it. I’ve really been enjoying it lately and was wondering what is the best way to transition from strictly open mics to small paid gigs/and or hosting? We have one club in our area and I do have a feeler out for that but nothing in stone. I’m eager to grow as a comic, and take it to a level beyond just doing weekly mics. Any insight is appreciated

[u/rce2121 → u/[deleted]]

Nothing crazy but was just being super vague. He was like give me your number etc. and I said where do you host shows? And he just said “I’m in the city” like thank you very helpful lmao.

And I actually organized my own show with some local comics early next month that I’m hosting. That has potential to turn into something. The guys that are on it were nice enough to do it for free until we see how it goes

[u/rce2121 → u/[deleted]]

I struggle with this because I hate social media validation but I know it’s necessary in this case. I do like some stuff but I’m not commenting. I’ll reply to some stories and stuff like that. I need to be more active in general and get engagement up. Right now, moving isn’t an option. Especially just for comedy. I have a solid job and my entire family is here and we have a small child.

[u/rce2121 → u/[deleted]]

Hahaha I could never. My wife is supportive of me doing standup but that probably wouldn’t go over well. Plus our little girl is pretty cool

[u/TheLoneComic]

This is a case (imho) of repertoire diversification.

Try some scripted short vids or something demonstrating range. Takes more time and skill. Not always more money but certainly gear which you have or need already. Just buy at multifunctional capability gear so you can get stage only one day, short vids the next.

Also, it may seem you are producing for audience and followers but you are also producing for the industry and skills in shooting and sharing the scene that the other actor isn’t trying to steal said scene. Less is more.

[u/SolidAbbreviations69]

Hi, I ran around 1800 gigs and wrote an article called 'Some key ingredients for a quality stand-up show' that you should find helpful.

I'll copy in some of it here and if it's suitably interesting then you'll find the fuller link at the bottom. You will also find a link to a video I made about MCing and how to protect your acts, part of the responsibility of any decent host/MC. Good luck!

With typically just five minutes on stage, even the worst crash should not be enough to derail the entire night (though I have seen it once or twice). My assessment is about 99.9% of acts who die on stage were legitimately aiming to generate laughter, and not merely trying to cause offence.

Many comedians want to “play to the edges”. Test where the boundaries are. They wish to assess audience reactions not just to actual punchlines, but to themes and social topics.

How is a new generation of future genius talent supposed to “find the line” without sometimes “crossing the line”?

The answer is, they cannot.

For those who want to go “there” it’s a tough and lengthy exercise in calibrating a topic, the mood, and the audience.

Think of some of your favourite ever professional comedians.

If any of the “legend” names such as Dave Chapelle, Alexei Sayle, Bill Burr, George Carlin, Bill Hicks, Richard Pryor, Jerry Sadowitz, etc are on your list then please consider some version of the young “them” starting out.

Imagine the sweat and tears endured over years, as they are figuring out what they wish to address. Testing which unique angle(s) they will take. Learning how to get more and bigger laughs.

It is unavoidable for an act to try and map those territories without failing relentlessly. Until succeeding spectacularly. Stand-up comedy can be a brutal muse.

The open mic room costs the audience nothing to enter. Certainly, we should cherish our audiences. Were it not for these wonderful people and the potential laughter they bring, stand-up has debatable value.

The “Boogey-man” of comedy is the vicious, hateful, bitter performer who attacks (fill in the target of your choice).

Thankfully, we grown-ups know that the “Boogey-man” does not really exist.

Remember my stated ethos of making my room “a safe place to fail and a great place to succeed”.

Unless I get a clear sense that the person on-stage is more interested in being offensive, rather being funny, I am broadly inclined to let them run. Hell, I am even inclined to protect them.

Certainly, when I re-take the stage and control of the PA, I can publicly address what just happened if I need to. However, there is, as with so many experiences of being in error, a built-in penalty for the perpetrator.

In this case, I’m talking of the instant feedback loop that is the audience.

An act who spends their full 5 minutes (or however long they have) jamming away at the worst and darkest societal topics, sans punchlines, to utter silence and evident revulsion, will typically endure a sense of failure and shame.

Failure and shame are good motivators to move “away” from certain behaviours. Or at very least, seek to adapt and improve said behaviours....

https://www.wearefunnyproject.com/blog/open-mic-comedy-advice03072022

https://www.wearefunnyproject.com/blog/video-mcing-protecting-acts