How To Become a Comedian : Open Mics for Beginning Comedians

[luvcomedy123]

Jerry Seinfeld's first ever gig was a bomb - he is now worth over $800 Million. Louis CK's first gig was so bad it turned him away from comedy for 3 years...and he is now regarded as one of the finest working comedians in the world today. Remember, if you start out bad... you've got nowhere to go but up! Comedians of the world, big and small, go get 'em!

[TheGuerrerocomedian]

my first open mic was a nightmare!!!! but once youre done your confidence will be as high as it can be and if you bomb who gives a shit it happens to everyone!! just go out and be funny you wont regret it!

[MagicianDillonReyna]

I have material, but it doesn't feel good to me. It feels more chuckle worthy than professional quality. Any tips?

[MrPuller66]

Do you worry about people stealing your material at open mics?

[TheGuerrerocomedian]

@MrPuller66 it happens 

[JCAlba89]

best advice for anyone interested in stand up is just go out there and do it, find a open mic near you and start practicing. dont pussy out. you will bomb sometimes, it happens to everyone. get as much stage time as possible so you can be comfortable being on stage and work on your delivery. im still learning, but for someone like me that's been wanting to do stand up, its an awesome feeling being on stage, even if you do suck lol

[0Passionate0]

I'm only 13 and I really want to do a stand-up open mic night. I have about 3 minutes worth of pretty funny stuff, but I'm not sure they'll let someone of my age do comedy at an open mic. My jokes aren't like childish, and I'm not clueless like most 13 year-olds. I am scared my voice and hands would shake like they always do when I am public speaking even if I did get into an open mic night. I could probably pass for 14, 15 if I had too.

Any advice?

[MrCLANWARS2010]

Hi i did a couple of open mic nights and have no problem getting up there , writing jokes have a few wrote down. do u think u could look at my 2 vids and give me your views regards

[grahamoakes]

Just started doing open mics myself in England (Newcastle) so far so good! Its great being able to watch comedy on youtube from both england and america, so similar yet distinctively different.

[lonelygnome1]

I'm 4 years old, and I just did my first open mic the other night! Thanks, Chris!

[VALsacount2]

@lonelygnome1 4 years, and you can type? Damn, kid you got skills fast!

[blacksushi150]

I'm 16 and I live in Orlando and I found alot of places I go to do open mic'ing but gas is a problem for me :(

[fffffcccckkkk]

@hcelam yeah, don't open mic at a coffee place... if you're doing comedy. there's gotta be a comedy club that will let a kid under 18 do a set, if it's tricky then try and get in with the owner. it's gonna much easier to make drunk people laugh than hipsters at a coffee shop.

[hcelam]

@fffffcccckkkk k thanks ill try

[coffeetalkwc]

Just did my 1st ever Open Mic last night!  Thanks for the video and tips here

[magikano96]

i'm only 13, and a girl and i've done comedy at a few bars, and they love me!!

[maxisme21]

@magikano96 thats fuckin cool. im 14 n im tryin to do an open mic. get famous lol

[magikano96]

@maxisme21 I hope you make it! ill try and get famous. but what i really need is love lol

[filmgeek22]

Hey guys! is there any chance you could go on my youtube and watch my video called 'my first stand up comedy gig' as i need as much critical and constructive comments as i cn possibly get. thank you very much. :)

[filmgeek22]

Im going to hopefully take part in my first open mic on the 1st March! Eeeeek... nervewracking

[StuartJolly]

I have a gig then aswell it will be my 4th gig just remeber nobody in the audience wants to make a fool out of you. Its your first time they dont expect much so any laughs you get are a bonus and try and settle on stage easily.

[filmgeek22]

@StuartJolly Yeah im so nervous, but ive been told to treat nerves as adrenaline and try to embrace it.

[ben2nd]

@prammaven ahah, I c what you did thar. im an amature comedian atm and only done a couple of shows so i think ill try the glue thing next time, lets just hope it doesnt get me in a sticky situation (groans) ZOMG

[ben2nd]

I think that comedy should be a connection between the performer and the audience, rather than just telling stories, ross noble is a good example

[sonypsp05]

the hole point is have fun

[mcmanusdown]

@sonypsp05 this stuff writes itself!

[sonypsp05]

really and truly from my point of view is to be confident about yourself be relaxed and naturally speak your mind. don't write jokes or have someone write for you. the point is just be yourself. explain the life that you live everyday in a funny way so people can relate.

[tonye100]

i think if you try to be funny you will fail....

you have to be yourself and let you funny side shine through..

if that makes sence

[Sviolinist]

Agreed, but energy is a huge part of it. Think about it... the guy at the office who tells jokes around the water cooler is fucking hilarious... but would you want to see that at a comdey club? Hell no. Would his _material_ work? Probably. Delivery is VITAL to the comedy business. You can be yourself... sure... but you need to have personality and confidence. Some people really don't have that, and it shows, and it isn't funny.

[DangerousMusicProd]

it really do make sence, i usally get people laugh. nad i can come up with amazing jokes on the spot. my friends say that.. that is a gift? is it? :)

[pturner561]

I'm writing some material but I'm really nervous about getting up there

[mrplao]

well don't invest so much of your pride in it. If it succeeds great, if it fails you can always work on it but remember it's like a trapeez act that a bunch of comics aren't paying attention to. You'll be fine and proly aren't as bad as the hacks that live at open mics

[foolsbetrippin]

im in the same bout. do it!

[nachocamacho44]

like mrplao said, don't put too much of your pride in it. I almost threw up I was so nervous before I did my first open mic. if you think the material is funny, get up there and do it. Don't be rattled if you don't get laughs as soon as you get up there. stick with your material and it'll work itself out. I know you posted this 6 months ago, but I hope it helps.

[twataris]

@pturner561 go for it, whats the worst that could happen? some asshole shouting abuse- fuck them

[maxisme21]

@pturner561 yo if your nervous then get a bit drunk. jus tipse

[mattman2900]

@pturner561 I would say if you're really nervous, go up and do it. But if you think you'll freeze up, then first I'd take like a public speaking class, or acting gig and try that to open up. It's hard to make people laugh, yes, but you got to start somewhere.

I've just written my first set and browsing locations. Will I be nervous? A little - and I was required to do four years of Public Speaking in High School. Some nervousness is good - it helps keep you from being over confident. :)

[MarzetJunior]

@pturner561 aye man same here i told my material to my sis & her friends and they were dyin

[Thecermit]

@pturner561 did you ever do it?

[pturner561]

@Thecermit no..lol but I have not ruled it out.

[the1holysaint]

u don't "have" to do open mics,BUT it is good practice and helps u refine(or so to speak) your material

its also a good way to get your name spread around because the more open mics u do the more people will hear you and talk about u and u could start to get noticed better

[FMCritx]

Open Mic Night, this is when the bar or club will open up the stage for almost anyone.

[Aplupiani]

this was great. Thanks for the supportive words to all of us new comedians. You are 100% accurate regarding your description of open mics. I went to an open mic last week and it was exactly as you described.

[fifafootball2005]

what is 'open mic'??

[PencintaMuzik89]

What is open mic..?? How..??

[setupdisk1]

Ricky Gervais is shit thats why

[chawk111]

Neither did Conan O'Brien.

[escobarwonTV]

@toomasmoore how did he start then???? wasnt he a writer 1st tho?

[andrewsurtees]

@toomasmoore

well yes, if you can write a genre-defining sitcom first then you're not going to have to open-mic. For the rest of us though it's basically the only way.

I've got about 8 mins of pretty good stuff now and going to start open-micing in london in the next few weeks. Been writing the stuff for a few months and pretty sure at least some of it's funny, but stil fing terrified

[10keynod10]

@andrewsurtees Hey let us know how u do why you try your stuff at an open mic night, I ve also been writing stuff for a while now Im confident its funny but Im not sure about my delivery.. Best of luck..

[pecdec8705]

@toomasmoore While funny Ricky Gervais is also far from great in his stand-up specials. Although I'll never deny his brilliant comedic mind, open mics will only help.

[toomasmoore]

@pecdec8705 what i meant twas you don't have to do open mic to get into comedy, there's a lot more in the comedy world than stand up. Thats all i meant. I'm sure doing open mic if you want to do stand up alone is the best thing.

[yourmum739]

@toomasmoore well he didn't really have to because by the time he got into stand up, everyone knew who ricky gervais was because of the office being such a hit

[timoth88]

Yea Im preparing a little set right now hoping to do an opec mic very soon.

[LeezeArray]

Awesome!

[edwinlopezjr]

Thank you. These tips help. I hope to go on open mic soon....very soon.