Send suggestions and info to: Steve Silberberg (stevebo@onramp.net)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for the alt.comedy.standup Newsgroup
1. Tips for getting started in stand-up comedy
Q. Is alt.comedy.standup for telling jokes?
A. Definitely not. Don't post them. Not only are jokes formulaic and offensive to stand-ups, you will be derided mercilessly by the regulars. If you need to tell jokes, or like to pick up jokes you can tell at the office, go to rec.humor and talk to those morons.
Q. Then what is it for?
A. It is mostly a place where stand-up comedians, agents, club owners, comedy fans, and an occasional doorman hang out and discuss performing, the state of comedy, and other issues pertaining to stand-up comedy. It also serves as an informational venue for people who want to find out about about shows, touring, comedy CD's and the like. Please refrain from posting binaries.
Q. And what else, Dave?
A. To me, this newsgroup is like sitting at a big table in a restaurant after a show. Some comics are ripping each other, some just stay for a minute then come back later, some are trying to be funny, and some just want to eat and want everyone else to shut up.
Q. Just what is a stand-up comedian, Bob?
A. "Comedian: a breed of human being who, without benefit of a steady job, adequete plane fare or a social life, traverses the globe attempting to impart upon the masses his/her warped, intricate and often beguiled point of view while living from brown paper bags, overnight cases and on stale donuts and coffee."
Q. How many Open Mikes do I have to do to become a star, actual3?
A. It frequently amazes me how many people want - even expect - some kind of instant stardom. As someone who frequents open mics, I think it's important that people understand that the value you get out of them is not some diamond lane to superstardom but the opportunity to try different things in front of an audience and develop a comfort level that allows you to get better.
Along the way, of course, you'll have the fun of getting out of the house, away from the television and performing for people the way they used to do it in the old days. It's a lot like entertaining people in your living room, because the audience is mostly comprised of other performers. If you go into an open mic situation expecting some kind of immediate result, you're only going to be frustrated and get angry. And what's the point of that? You don't get good feedback that way; nor do you give yourself a chance to fail.
Q. What else can you tell me about these Open Mikes, actual3?
A. I consider open mics to be a hobby like fencing or building model railroads or refinishing furniture. You put in time and effort, you achieve a certain level of expertise, but the odds that you'll get back any of the time or money you invest are very small. It becomes a matter of deciding what you're going to do with your life.
So what am I going to do with the time I have left here on Earth? I can entertain people who are as bored as I am. For a few hours, I can forget my stupid money problems and help others forget, too. Open mics are great for that. If it turns out that I have a chance to make a little money from it, get a little recognition, and maybe hit it big, all the better. But when I'm up on stage at an open mic I try to get as much emotional and intellectual value out of those few moments as I can. If I didn't, I'd be in real trouble. Because that might be all I ultimately get out of it.
Q. I'm pretty damn funny. How do I go about getting a gig, Tim?
A. Oh, sure, you may be pretty damn funny. But you'll need a hell of a lot more than that to get one of your so-called "gigs." Bitterness, for one thing. If you haven't failed miserably at nearly every legitimate job you've ever tried to hold, then you might not have the necessary level of choking bile to perform stand-up. You see, the best stand-ups are those who are able to take their own sickening, pathetic obsessions and shortcomings, and splatter them all over an audience like an Alien Autopsy. Only then will you even begin to appreciate the masochistic delight you'll experience offering your brilliant analogies and sparkling wit to a room full of smoking drunks trying desperately to get laid by the other fattest person in the room.
Q. I'm really freaking funny, Liam.
A. Every time someone tells you how funny they are, you know right away that they're not, and the more they insist on the fact that they're funny, the more you know they're an untalented douchebag.
Q. What should my act be about, Mark?
A. There are jokes and subjects that the individual comedian wants to tell and explore and there are jokes and subjects the audience wants to explore. There is a large intersection and it is the comedian's job to find that intersection.
Q. There are no Open Mike's in my area. How do I get stage time?
A. Well you could move, but consider starting your own Open Mike. Go to a local bar, or club, or even shopping mall and pitch it to them. Tell them you are going to run a comedy night once a week or so. If you don't have, or can't afford equipment, a bar, or anyplace bands play are usually a good venues. The point is, make things happen for yourself. If you depend upon others for your success, you'll often end up getting screwed politically, financially, or creatively, but seldom physically.
Q. How do I set up an Open Mike, Al?
A. Find a bar or coffeeshop that has a small
performance area that's separate from the main bar area.
Make sure you can perform without worrying about the juke box, the television
set or waiters carrying food.
Ask the owner for permission to have small open mikes there during a time
when it's slow anyway.
Send notices to your local newspapers and drama classes to advertise that
you exist.
Open mikes that mix music, poetry, etc. with comedy tend to be more fun
for the audience members than those that just feature bad, open-mike-level
comedy.
Suggetions:
Make sure that the bar owner understands that most of the performers will
be really, really bad.
Try not to locate the acts any place where the performers will frighten
away the paying customers.
Charge a fee and give the some money to the bar owner.
Avoid setting up your open mike at a family restaurant or anywhere else
where many kids are present.
If you do end up somewhere need food or kids, make it clear to the performers
what the limits are.
Yes, censorship is bad, but there is nothing worse than a bad comic doing stupid enema jokes while people are eating. Especially when it's the same bad enema jokes you've hard 50 times before.
Q. Is gender a problem in stand-up, Cathe?
A. The problems I have found most in clubs is that there is a "quota" of how many women will get booked because "They're just not popular." The worst problem is the ability to break that wall of "woman = same old shtick" that glazes over owners and managers eyes. No man has ever been passed over for a gig because there was "already another man on the bill".
Q. What's a hack?
A. Stolen material. There's nothing lower or more reprehensible than someone who steals your material - - especially if they do it better than you. A hack also refers to material done to death, e.g. Cops in Donut shops, 7-11 jokes, OJ - Tonya - Bobbit jokes, differences between cats and dogs, airline food, etc. etc.
There is an entire FAQ, called the "Hack FAQ" (http://rampages.onramp.net/~stevebo/hack.html) which gets posted periodically to alt.comedy.standup and was originally written by Steven Rosenthal. The local file version is here.
Q. Who's a hack?
A. Sorry, FAQ's are limited to 64K.
Q. Why are there so many hacks?
A. In the case of stolen material, very few comedians maliciously hack others (some do though!). Most comedians have an uncanny ability to unconsciously store and catalog almost every bit they've ever heard. Often, they'll write a bit, forgetting that they heard something similar 4 years ago
Sometimes, comics will write the same joke independently of each other. You can usually both continue doing the bit. However, if this happens and the other comic does the bit on TV, you're screwed and should abandon it.
Comics who use stock premises do it because it's easy. Furthermore, you can connect with more audience members when pontificating about themes common to everyone. If you really want to do comedy about stock premises, ask yourself, "What can I bring to this topic that thousands of comics haven't already explored?"
Q. What's "the light"?
A. At some point while you're on stage, someone will shine a light in your eyes. This is the owner's/manager's way of saying "Your time is over, wrap it up." You then have about a minute to get off the stage. Generally, the light is used to make sure a show runs smoothly and on time. However it can also be used to tell you that your performance bites or that the person with the light has a petty vendetta against you.
Q. What is "working blue"?
A. Working blue refers to using off-color, not suitable for TV material. While four letter words certainly fall into this category, working blue is not limited to expletives. For instance, describing various secretions in great detail can also constitute working blue, despite the fact that you may have used acceptable medical terminology only.
Q. Should I work blue?
A. The short answer is to get up on stage and speak your passion. If you cannot possibly get your point across without using four letter words, then use them. If your personality is such that you use four letter words as a matter of course, then use them. But using them gratuitously is a crutch that should be avoided at all costs, especially if you have TV aspirations.
It's not always desirable to change your personality for the audience. Speak your truth. You can say what you think an audience wants to hear, and they may think you're funny, but you won't pioneer anything new unless you use that one thing that makes you different, your own personality.
So if your passion is to tell people that you think date rape is funny, why censor yourself? I personally do an awful lot of religion jokes. Many people hate it, but those are the types of things I want to tell people. I have no burning desire to tell people what I think the difference between cats and dogs are.
Q. Will studying other comedians help me do quality comedy?
A. There's no right or wrong answer. Some people feel studying others is a must do, for some, it's a must don't.
Even those who feel that they really learn by studying others, have to be vigilant about not copying them. Not the "I'm gonna rip that joke off" copy, but the kind of thing where they recycle a joke or premise without even realizing it.
For me, I'd rather fail with completely original thoughts and premises, than be successful using bits and premises that were inadvertently lifted from others.
Q. Should I pander to the audience?
A. Only to save yourself from stinking up a place. There are 2 types of comedians. Ones that are in it just for the ego stroke they get from audience laughter, and the other that wants to get a message across. It is a rare individual that can do both well. Pandering to the audience will help your ego, but won't help you develop as a professional.
Q. Do you ever buy your material?
A. I perform comedy to transmit my point of view to the audience and hopefully make people laugh. If I bought/stole/used someone else's material, I'd be no more than a talking monkey on stage regurgitating other people's thoughts. My ego isn't frail enough that all that matters is if people laugh at me, regardless of whether the thought was mine in the first place.
Q. I'm too freakin' lazy and vapid to write my own material. Where can I buy material so that people laugh at me and stroke my ego?
A
Q. What kind of material should I do, Tim?
A. You are perfectly free to collect and perform jokes such as those where various improbable combinations of people and animals go into bars, or you can muse philosophically about the rubbery skin on pudding, or you can ask those thought-provoking questions about why men must dominate the remote control... But why not get a real performance rush by letting your audience know your most secret thoughts? Let the audience know who you are and what you think. Talk about your own fears and faults.
By presenting what is most personal for yourself, you actually touch a common chord among more people. You can illuminate what it means to be human, and bring more humanity out of yourself and others. And that's what great stand-up is all about ... or you could just do dick jokes.
Q. What's a dick joke?
A. See "Working Blue".
Q. What differentiates comedians from other people?
A. Everyone experiences pain, of course. But a comedian has the ability to use their anger and intelligence to refocus and reconstruct their pain into entertainment. It's so obvious that it almost goes without saying, but comedians are generally more intelligent and sensitive than the average person. It's our undeniably superior (almost god-like) intelligence that made life difficult for us when we were children. We could see through the hypocracy and illogic of our parents and teachers, but because of our age and size we couldn't do anything about it. The more we pointed out the foolishness of our "superiors," the more they kept us down. But just as pressure and heat transform coal into diamonds, it's that frustration, social pressure and the heat of anger that transforms us into comedians.
Q. Are comedy classes useful?
A. No one can teach you how to be funny. However you can be taught to be less nervous on stage. You can also be taught some body language, how to handle the mike, and how to phrase jokes. Unfortunately, you can also be taught a "formula" for jokes.
Comedy classes are useful for building confidence, and sometimes getting showcases and gigs. However, if you're not funny, comedy classes won't make you funny. And they can be expensive.
One of the selling points of a comedy class is that your class is a built in support mechanism. Improv works on this concept. So do jockstraps.
So the answer is yes, comedy classes are useful, especially if you're the teacher. If you're a student, it depends.
Q. Tell me about tapes, Dave
A. Tapes should be from 5 to 15 minutes. From different shows, if possible. Club owners that have to see a 30 minute tape are more concerned with quantity than quality. YOU know whether you can do 30 minutes or not. The owner of Guffaw's Pizza 'n' Comedy Castle may have a different perspective, but I've gone to too many clubs that have comic's tapes as doorstops, coasters, etc. And see if you know a headliner that works the club regularly. Maybe they can recommend you OR bring you in as their middle. Better not suck, though, or you'll lose a booking and a friend.
Q. What should I put on a bio, Dave?
A. Bios should be a list of clubs where you KNOW you've done well. Try not to have too many Holiday Inn's listed. Include your current address and phone number and an agent, if you're unlucky. Have some references of headliners and club owners that think highly of you. You should ask them if you can put them on your bio so someone doesn't call them up and catch them off guard.
Q. What's a head shot?
A. A head shot is a photo of you. You often need to send them to agents and club owners before an upcoming performance. A goofy headshot will not get you work. It will still be up at the club in 10 years and will make you regret wearing those handcuffs and a hula skirt.
Q. What does a manager do? How about an agent? What's the difference?
A. a manager keeps your name in the loop. He guides your career and helps you make choices that are difficult for a performer to make because he/she can't step back and look at the whole picture. He keeps your name in the mix, so when something comes up people already have you on their mind. An agent just tries to sell you to anyone. The manager is (or should be) more selective. If you are looking for a manager, look at his/her clients and see what they are doing and if they are going to have long term careers, etc. Alot of the so called " best " managers in comedy today are selling their clients out so they can get ahead and look good.
Q. Any interesting Web pages?
A.
Q. Any Improv Web pages?
A. Who cares?
Q. No, really.
A.
Q. Any ancillary web sites of interest?
A.
Q. Any related news groups?
A.
Q. How about comedy chat?
A. Yes, there is a comedy chat line. To find out more, E-mail the founder, Richard Scott (limpet@earthlink.net) or the current host David Kelman (kelman@jax-inter.net). The server is irc.superlink.net and the room is #greenroom. Chat is regularly schedule for 9PM - midnight EST on Mondays.
Copyright FAQ
site: ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/ca/carrollt/law/copyright/faq/
Or, get a form TX (free from your local public library) and fill it out.
Send it, with $20 to:
The Register of Copyrights
Library of Congress: (http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/)
Washington, D.C. 20559
Send it certified mail.
Writer's Guild of America, East, Inc.
555 West 57th Street
NY, NY. 10019
Herb Sargent-President
(212) 767-7800
Writer's Guild of America, West, Inc.
8955 Beverly Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90048
(310) 550-1000 Ext. 502
To register by mail, send an unbound loose leaf copy of your script
along with a cover letter requesting registration. Include your name, Social
Security Number, return address, and phone number. Send it certified or
registered mail to:
Writer's Guild of America, West, Inc.
7000 W. 3rd St.
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Screen Actors Guild
213-549-6737
Punchline
Open Mike Tuesdays @ 8PM.
Lottery drawing for spots. Call if you are from out of town.
Comedy House Theater
Call Paula Jones for booking and auditions.
(912) 352-1800
Velveeta Room
6th St.
A rite of passage. Open Mike Thursdays @ 10 pm. Call by 9 to sign up
512.469.9116
Capitol City Comedy Club
Formerly know as The Laff Stop
Open Mike Mondays (sporadically). Call for details 512.467.2333
Crazies (http://www.powerup.com.au/~crazies)
Cnr CAXTON & JUDGE STREETS
PETRIE TERRACE
Brisbane
(07) 3369 0555
Sydney Comedy Store
Cnr Parramatta Rd
Crystal Street, Petersham
Open Mike on Wednesdays
Harold Park Hotel
Harold Park Racecourse, Glebe
Open Mike: Monday nights (call early)
The Star Dome
Hoover, AL
Open Mike on Thursday
Contact Tim Spinosi or Deena. (205) 444-0008
Comedy Connection
Faneuil Hall
617-248-9700
Showcases Sun-Wed. Hypnotist Thurs. Headliners Fri & Sat.
Dick Doherty's Comedy Vault at
Remington's Restaurant (http://www.dickdoherty.com)
124 Boylston St., Boston, MA.
800-401-2221
Showtimes: Thur, Fri and Sat 9:00pm Sunday Open Mike 9pm, $10 per person
Giggles
The Hong Kong Restaurant
Harvard Square
Cambridge, MA 02138
"Try the scorpion bowls"
The Kowloon
Nick's Comedy Stop
Route 1
Saugus, MA
Call Mike Clark.
Nick's Comedy Stop
Warrenton St.
Boston, MA
Call Vinnie Favorito. 617-482-0930.
Showcases Wednesday night
Ramada Inn lounge
Rt. 1
Norwood, MA
617-341-5101
Showcase Fri @ 9. Call Jeff
The Vault at Remingtons (http://www.dickdoherty.com)
Open Mike on Sundays
Contact Dick Doherty. 617-729-2565. 800-401-2221.
Call on Wednesday, ask for Tom. Bring 2 or 3 people at $5 each for the
show.
Virginmirth (vm@desirable.demon.co.uk)
Le Chateau
Park St, Bristol, UK
(+44) 0966-175-530
Open shows every second Wednesday.
Comedy Trap
874-5233
open mike nites on Thurs.
Comix Cafe
835-4242
Open mikes on Thurs Nite. Call Sunday at midnight. The first five messages
left on the answering machine will get a spot.
Funnybone
838-2800
Hiccups Comedy Club
(http://www.rochesterny.com/mall/21b2.htm)
120 E Main St (in the Rochester Riverside Hotel)
Rochester, NY
325-YUKS
Jester's Comedy Club
239- 10th Avenue SE
403-269-6669
This independent club has open mike on Thursdays, is pretty supportive
with amateurs, usually allowing 5 minutes per open miker.
Yuk Yuk's Komedy Kabaret
Blackfoot Inn
5940 Blackfoot Trail SE
403-258-2028
Open mike on Thursdays, but allots time to amateurs according to how well
the staff knows you. This is 2-3 minutes if you're new to them, and more
if they like you.
The Comedy Catch
For booking call (423) 629-2233 Steve Plemmons 423-855-1052 Open mike
Sunday nights. Local openers during the week.
The Subterranean Cafe & Cabaret 2011 W. North Avenue (Wicker Park)
Chicago, IL
312-878-6898
Go Bananas
(513) 984-9288
Shows every Thursday @ 9:00. Guest sets available if you call.
Laff's Comedy Corner
1305 N Academy Blvd.
Colorado Springs CO 80909
(719) 591-0707
Workshop Tuesdays 5:30-7:00. Open mike 8:00 Tuesdays, bring a VHS tape
to have your set recorded on house equipment.
The Lobby
2390 S. Hamilton Rd.
(614) 863-0650
Mondays @ 10:PM
Clancy's Down Under
520 S. High St.
(614) 863-0650
Treehouse Comedy Club
Norwalk, CT
203-371-5696
Treehouse Comedy
Longhorn Cafe, I-84 Exit 15
Southbury, CT 06488
Shows Saturday night @ 9:00. 203-264-4343. 203-794-1222
Backdoor Comedy Club
Don Carter's East, Skillman & NW Highway
Dallas, TX
Showcases Thu - Sat 9PM.
Contact Jan or Linda. 214-601-2204
Comics on Tap
The Village Clubhouse
Southwestern Ave
Dallas, TX.
Thursdays 10:00.
Contact Bill Cheek. 214-891-8267
Hyena's Entertainment Showcase
604 Main St.
Fort Worth, TX
(817) 877-LAFF
Wed-Sun 8:00. 2nd show Fri & Sat 10:30
Sign up during the week for Wed & Thurs.
Improv Comedy Club
4980 Beltline #250
Addison, TX
(214) 404-8501 (214) 404-0323
Shows every night 8:30. 2nd show Fri & Sat 10:30.
Best of Dallas on Wednesdays, call at noon to get a spot.
Tough to find stage time here. Easier if you're from out of town.
Joker's
The Comedy Club
Aurora, CO
Comedy Works
1226 15th St.
Denver, CO
(303) 595-3637
open mike every Tuesday
Wits End
Harlan St
Westminster, CO
Coconuts
Lakeland, FL
Friday nights @ 8:30 Call Wed. before show (941)687-2678
Comedy House Theater
Savannah, GA
Tuesdays @ 8:30 Call that morning for spots.
(912) 356-1045
3-5 CLEAN minutes. NOTE: This room is ALWAYS packed, including open mike
night.They seat 300,and usually turn people away due to overcrowding.
Love's Downtown Jazz and Comedy Club
610 S. Lee St.
P.O. Box 1541
Kingsland, GA 31548-1541
912-729-2727
The Comedy Showcase
Gulf Freeway
The Comedy Club
Shows Fri & Sat 7:30 and 9:45. Second show Friday is Open Mic
Contact Darlene Jolley
Crackers Comedy Club
8702 Keystone Crossing
Indianapolis, IN 46240
317-846-2500
One show nightly Tues. thru Thurs. & Sun., Fri. & Sat. 2 shows
Features and headliners are booked through TSM Artists, Inc., Box 4129,
Louisville KY 40204
Manager: Sandy Diperna
Broad Ripple Comedy Club
6281 N. College Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46220
317-253-4211
One show Tues.-Thurs., 2 shows on Fri., 3 shows on Sat.
Indianapolis Comedy Connection
247 S. Meridian Street
Indianapolis, IN 46225
317-631-3536
One show Tues.-Thurs., 2 shows on Fri., 3 shows on Sat.
Elaine from the Ice House makes most of the booking decisions for all three.
One Liners Comedy Club
50 Airport Parkway
Greenwood, IN 46142
317-889-LAFF
Started by Dave "The King" Wilson. Dave used to work regularly
at Crackers as a headliner. When he opened this club, the other three clubs
in town refused to hire anyone who worked for him. Comics who don't work
for him can work at all three of the other clubs.
City Limits
Coburg St., Cork
Tel/Fax: +353 21 501206
Contact Brian Coughlan
Hysterix Comedy Bar
Thirsty Duck
Elk Point Rd.
Stateline, NV
Ask for Dick Clark. 702-588-3899
Just For Laughs
Reno Hilton
Shows 7 nights @ 8:30, plus Fri & Sat @ 10:30.
Buzzy's Espresso
Open Mike every other Thursday @ 9PM.
Sign up @ 8 PM. 5-10 min.
Melrose Bar and Grill
2327 S. Eastern Ave.
(702) 641-7673
Fri. and Sat. nights, in between band sets 10 min.
World Trade Center Casino
1067 Griffith Avenue
(702) 387-5581
Tues. nights 7:00 sign up for 8:00 show 5-10 min. PG material preferred.
The Comedy Store
Alternative Comedy Show every Monday.
The Ice House
24 N. Mentor Ave
Pasadena, CA
Open Mike 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month
818-577-1894
LA Cabaret Comedy Club (http://www.la-cabaret.com)
17271 Ventura Boulevard
Encino, CA 91316
(818) 501-3737 Fax: (818) 501 3749
Velveeta Underground
(213) 882-1986
OPEN MICS: Call first, stop by, to check on their policy for comedy. Some may require advance sign-up; some may only allow music.
The Basement Coffeehouse
Echo Park United Methodist Church
1226 Alvarado St.
(213) 413-9111
Saturday open mic (comedy okay)
Coffee Junction
19221 Ventura Blvd.
Tarzana, CA
(818) 342-3405 Sunday open mic 3-5 pm (comedy?)
Common Grounds
9250 Reseda Blvd.
Northridge, CA
(818) 882-3666
Thursday comedy open mic w/ Stacey Jill Jackin
Darkwater Cafe
10780 Jefferson Blvd.
Culver City, CA
(310) 839-6739
Wednesday, Circus de Cafe, open mic (comedy?)
5th St. Dick's Coffee Co.
3347 1/2 w. 43rd Place
Leimert Park Village
(213) 296-3970
Monday: comedy night (could be open mic)
Greens & Grounds
124 N. San Fernando Blvd.
Burbank, CA
818-238-9100
You get 5-7 minutes. Not exclusively comics.
Grounds Zero Cafe
7554 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, CA
(213) 874-2261
Tuesday open mic comedy 7:30 sign-up
The Horseshoe Coffee House
14568 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA
(818) 986-4262
Every Wed "Wise Guys" Comedy Open Mic Sign up: 8:00 Show 9:00
p.m.
Hyperdisc music store and coffeehouse
2623 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA
(310) 581-3545
Monday open mic night with Maureen Davis-Russak 6:30 sign-up (comedy?)
The Kindness of Strangers
4378 Lankershim Blvd.
Universal City, CA
(818) 752-9566
Fri-Sat: Jeff Jam, open mic comedy Wed: open mic (comedy?)
Little Frida's Coffee House
8730 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA
(310) 854-5421
Wednesday: Women with Balls comedy showcase (don't know if this is open
or not, don't know if this is lesbian club or not, but...)
Looney'z
2920 Lincoln
Santa Monica, CA
Open Mike Sundays @ 7, sign up @ 6:30.
Petterson's Frish Rost
10019 Venice Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
(310) 839-3359
Tuesday comedy night (could be open mic)
Sacred Grounds
399 West Sixth Street
San Pedro, CA
(310) 514-0800
Wednesday open mic (comedy?)
San Gennaro Cafe
9543 Culver Blvd.,
Culver City CA
(310)202-8132(Night)
(310)813-8332(M-F, Day)
(310)836-0400
Sign up 6:30pm show at 7:00pm Tuesdays. Showcase night: Friday.
Tsunami
4019 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
Every Wed. Open Mic hosted by Pammy Sue Comics
(213) 661-3476 to pre-sign Show at 8:15 pm
Un-Urban Coffee House
3301 Pico Blvd.
Santa Monica
(310) 315-0056
Thursday: Comedy Crunch comedy open-mic
Barracuda Comedy Club
38 Hampstead High Street
London NW3
0171-586 0674
The Comedy Store
Haymarket House
No 1 Oxendon Street
London SW1
Yuk Yuk's Komedy Klub
(519) 680-1090. (519)680-1091
Open Mic last Thursday of every month. Contact Gerry Blais.
The Laughter
Lounge (http://www.personal.u-net.com/~zy/comedy.htm)
Steve Vernon on 0374 978634
Cheers
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Open Mike on Tuesdays
Christopher's
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Open Mike on Tuesdays
The Comedy Corner
West Palm Beach, FL
The Comedy Zone
Miami Beach, FL
10 minute spots on Wednesdays.
One Night Stan's
Hollywood, FL
Tuesdays 8:30 Just show up
Uncle Funny's
Davie, FL
(305) 474-5653
Open Mike on Sundays. Call on Wednesday.
Knucklehead's Comedy Club
Located in the Mall of the Americas
Bloomington, Minnesota.
Mostly major national acts.
Acme Comedy Co.
708 N. 1st Street
Mpls. Mn. 55414
612.378.6393
National headliners and features Tue-Sat.
Open Mike / Showcase Monday nights, 6:30 - 7:00 signup, 8:00 showtime.
Performance comes down to a random drawing. Out-of-towners who want to
audition for a feature spot contact Greg Langer and ask for a guest set.
Laughing Cup
18th & Nicollet
Tuesday nights open mike. Show up around 7:30 and ask for Dave Basham.
Scott Hansen's Comedy Gallery
St. Paul, Minnesota.
(612) 331 5653
The Comedy
Nest (http://www.iti.qc.ca/iti/users/sean/cn/cnhome.html)
E-Mail (comedynest@iti.qc.ca)
514-982-9644
Coconuts
Zanies
THE LAUGHING LADY OPEN MIKE
Mixed Grill
516 Jersey Ave.
Jersey City, NJ
5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays. 201-332-9023
Stress Factory
New Brunswick, NJ
(908) 545-HAHA. Open Mike Wednesdays. Call first.
Rascals
(http://www.rascalscomedyclub.com/sitemap.html)
425 Pleasant Valley Way
Ocean Township
West Orange, New Jersey
(973) 736 - 2726
Open Mike on Mondays in warm weather.
Dona Ana Repertory Theater
(http://www.barking.com/comedy)
PO BOX 8437
Las Cruces, NM 88006-8437
(505)525-0904. Contact Mark Kuker
(dart@zianet.com)
Boston Comedy Club
Caroline's
(212) 757-4100
Catch 22
East Village
Send material to Steve Po
PO Box 515
Millrift, PA 18340.
Please do not call the club.
Catch a Rising Star
(212) GO-CATCH.
Collective Unconscious--Reverend Jen's Anti-Slam
143 Ludlow Street between Stanton and Rivington
Open Mic Wednesday nights 7:45-11:15, signup at 7:30
The Comic Strip
Open mike on Mondays.
You have to wait in line every 3 months or so to get a number which determines
your night. Your night can be 4 months down the road.
Creations
21st St. between 5th & 6th Ave
Monday 8PM.
Down The Hatch
179 W. 4th St.
Greenwich Village
Gladys Comedy Room (In Hamburger Harry's)
145 West 45th
(212) 832-1762
Open Mike on Wednesday @ 8:00.
Open Mike Tues & Thurs 4:30-7:30 PM.
Other shows Fri & Sat.
Call Club Manager, Chris.
Gotham Comedy Club
34 W. 22nd St. between 5th & 6th Ave.
Open Mic Tue & Thu 5PM- 7:30PM
The New York Comedy
Club (http://members.aol.com/nycomclub/index.html)
241 East 24th Street
212-696-5233
Open Mic Mondays, 4PM. Ask for Steve or Al.
Two Drink Minimum. 1-800-32-FUNNY
Rebar
8th Ave & 16th St.
Open Mike Mondays 7-midnight. Sign up 6:45.
NOTE: This open mike is NOT the famous Rebar show
Spoon
Open Mike Monday @ 9PM.
12 Avenue A
Contact Bill Sherman (sherman@equitynet.net)
Surf Reality--Faceboy's Open Mike Night
172 Allen Street between Stanton and Rivington
Open Mic Sunday nights, signup at 7:45. Show runs until 4 AM.
Talk of the Village
Bleecker St. between Thompson & Sullivan
Contact Jim McCue
West End Gate
Broadway between 113th & 114th
Open Mike Tue & Wed 4-8PM
Tough room. Easiest room to get time in.
Comedy Corner
229 E Sheridan
Oklahoma City, OK
405-235-2332
Joker's
5929 N May
Oklahoma City, OK
405-840-5653
The Funny Bone
402-493-8036
ADVENTURER'S CLUB
Address: Pleasure Island at Disney Lake Buena Vista
Phone: (407) 934-7781.
Seven shows nightly from 8:15 p.m., stage shows and comedic characters.
BONKERZ
Address: 120 N. Orange Ave. (in Court Yard Cafe), downtown Orlando
Phone: (407) 629-2665
Shows at 8 and 10 p.m. and midnight Fri. & Sat., Showcase night at
8p.m. & 10 p.m. Wed.
COCONUTS COMEDY CLUB
Cappuccino's Restaurant Address: 927 W. State Road 436, Altamonte Springs
Phone: (407) 682-0071.
Hours: 8:30 p.m. Fri. & Sat.
THE COMEDY ZONE
Holiday Inn Address: 6515 International Drive, Orlando
Phone: (407) 351-3500
Hours: shows at 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Fri & Sat., 8:30 p.m. Wed. and
Thu.
THE COMEDY ZONE
Holiday Inn Address: 626 Lee Road, Winter Park
Phone: (407) 645-5233 Hours: shows at 8 and 10:15 p.m. Fri. and Sat. ,
8 p.m. Thu.
CARROLL VALLEY COMEDY CLUB
Call Sheree (overrule@cvn.net)
717-642-8211
The Star Theater
(602) 423-0120
Ask for Louis
PORTLAND, ME (Sorry, nothing in Smyrna)
The Comedy Connection
Portland, ME
PORTLAND, OR
Harvey's Comedy Club
436 NW 6th
Portland, OR
Charlie Goodnight's Restaurant-club
861 W. Morgan St., Raleigh, NC
919-828-5233. 919-833-8356. Frank King 919-834-4765
Duffy's Back Side Comedy Club
Falls of the Neuse Road, Raleigh, NC
919-847-6277
Borders Books
Emeryville, CA
Showcases Monday Nites. Must be clean.
Cobb's Comedy Club (http://www.webcom.com/shownet/cobbs/)
2801 Leavenworth (at The Cannery)
San Francisco, CA
(415) 928-4320. (415) 928-4445
Curtain Call (may be closed)
474-5918
Josie's Cabaret and Juice Joint
Gay/Lesbian/Bi Open Mic every Monday. Sign up 2 weeks in advance
415-861-7933
Nervous Laughter
252-9697
The Punchline
444 Battery St. SFCA
(415) 397-7573
Open Mike on Sundays @ 9:00. Ask for Hutch.
Knuckleheads
San Jose, CA
123 Broadway
Upfront Comedy Classics
Fridays and Saturdays at 11:30PM. Contact Cash Landy.
(310) 319-3477
(310) 572-6373
Belltown Theatre Center
115 Blanchard
Seattle, WA
206-728-7609
Open Mike 1st & 3rd Friday of the month, 11 PM
Club Broadway
Everett, WA
Open Mike Thursday
The Dubliner
3405 Fremont N
Seattle, WA
206-548-1508
Open Mike Sunday, 9 PM
Giggles Comedy Nite Club
53rd & Roosevelt
Seattle, WA
206-526-JOKE
Open Mike Sundays, 8 PM
Swannie's Comedy Underground
(www.comedyunderground.com)
222 S. Main
Open Mike Monday and Tuesday 8:30
206-628-0303
University Sports Bar & Grill
5260 University Way NE
Seattle, WA
206-526-1489
Open Mike Wednesday, 8:30
McCurdy's Comedy Club
Sarasota, FL
Contact Les McCurdy
Rooster T Feathers Comedy
Club
(408)736-0921
Wiseguy's
Connextions Comedy Club
(419) 867-9040 (recording)
(419) 867-9041 (person)
Amateur Showcase Wednesday Nights Be one of the first 3 callers that Monday
before noon
The Ben Wick's Pub
24 Parliament St.
Toronto, Canada
(416) 923-6089
Alternative Comedy Thursdays at 9PM. An open stage to any and all comedians.
Comedy Handbag
Red Spot Lounge & Bar
459 Church St.
9 PM.
Contact David MacLean
(cf767@freenet.toronto.on.ca)
Comedywood (http://webhome.idirect.com/~comedywd/)
800 Steeles Ave. W. Unit 11B
Thornhill, ONT L4J7L2 Canada
(905) 761-0543
Contact Boris Chernak
Yuk Yuk's Komedy Kabaret - Superclub
Toronto
2335 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 967-6431 ext. #228
Sink or Swim Mondays. Call 10:00 AM Monday morning to be one of 14 comedians
that night.
Laff's
520-323-8669
Open Mike Tuesdays at 8:00. Call Dave (?) Tues. afternoon to get on
list.
Tulsa Comedy Club
71st & Sheridan
Tulsa, OK
Open Mike most Tuesdays 8pm, no call ahead needed
The Comedy Circuit
Midvale, UT
Johnny B's Comedy Club
177 West 300 South
Provo, UT 84601
(801) 377-6910
Showtimes: Thurs 9, Fri & Sat 8 & 10.
Contacat Johnny Biscuit (owner), Terry Taylor
TV clean comedy in the heart of Mormon country. Open Mike Thursday only.
Mildred's
Roy, UT
Once a month showcase primarily for local talent.
David's
2324 S. Redwood Road
Salt Lake City, UT 84119
Call Carmen @ (801) 972- 9688 or (801) 531-8280 for showcase or booking.
Lafflines
Corner of Columbia @ 4th
UNITED KINGDOM AVALON
25 Litchfield Street, London. WC2H 9NJ.
Tel: 0171 497 2656 Fax: 0171 379 0325
Avalon is one of Britain`s leading comedy management and promotions agency.
Avalon is credited with the National Comedy Network, Britain's largest
network of regional comedy clubs.
INTERNATIONAL ARTISTES
Mezzanine floor, 235 Regent Street, London. W1R 8AX.
Tel: 0171 439 8401 / 0171 872 0089 Fax: 0171 409 2070
Established in the entertainment biz for 50 years.
OFF THE KERB PRODUCTIONS
The Old Bakery, 6a Philip Walk, London. SE15 3NH.
Tel: 0171 732 4018/1473 Fax: 0171 639 7021
Off the Kerb Productions has been providing the best alternative comedy
since 1993. It programmes comedy for a variety of festivals including Glasgow
Mayfest, Reading, Phoenix and Manchester.
RBM Garden Studios
11/15 Betterton Street, London. WC2H 9BP.
Tel: 0171 379 0344 Fax: 0171 379 0801
Multi-award winning agency - one Perrier winner, four Perrier nominees,
three Time Out winners - RBM has presented a varied and stimulating number
of acts over the last seven years.
RICHARD STONE PARTNERSHIP
25 Whitehall, London. SW1A 2BS.
Tel: 0171 839 6421 Fax: 0171 839 5002
RSP represents performers, writers and producers.
Be a Stand-Up Comic, or Just Look Like One. A Comedy Career Guide.
Bob Stobener, R. Scott Edwards.
Laughs Unlimited. 1989 ISBN 0-9624792-0-9
Decent how-to book. Small book 120 p.
Comedy Writing Step By Step
How to Write and Sell Your Sense of Humor
Gene Perret
Distributed by Samuel French Trade
This book is full of useful tips from a veteran comic writer. Makes a good
addition to the comic's reference bookshelf.
Comic Lives - Inside the World of American Stand-Up Comedy.
By Betsy Borns, Simon & Schuster, 1987.
Great inside look at what it was like in the clubs and on the road for
over 50 headline comics like Jerry Seinfeld, Steven Wright and Paul Reiser.
The Comic Toolbox
John Vorhaus
Ha Bloody Ha
By William Cook. Fourth Estate, 1994 ISBN 1-85702-180-0
Interviews with successful stand-up comedians, mostly British. The bulk
of the book is thirty comics talking about their life, experiences and
art.
Hell Gig
By Andrew Llessat (Brad Tassell) (llessat@aol.com)
527 N Greenriver Rd.
Box 176
Evansville, IN 47715
Send $10 to get a signed copy.
Hell Gig is one mans journey through the business of stand up comedy. Working
on the road fifty weeks a year. It's funny, poignent and has been called
required reading for anyone interested in how much it takes for a comedian
to get his act to the stage, and more.
How to be a Stand-up Comic
Richard Belzer, Larry Charles, and Rick Newman.
Carol Publishing Citadel Book. 1988 ISBN 0-8065-1319-5.
Not a bad book. More entertaining then enlightening.
How To Be Funny. Discovering the Comic in You
Steve Allen with Jane Wollman
Prometheus Books. 1992 ISBN 0-87975-792-2
Good book about the stand-up as an art form. How it works, what not to
do, etc. Good to tap into his experience (which is vast). The Laugh-Makers.
How to Make 'Em Laugh 'Til it Hurts
Gerald Wolfe (wolfe@wavenet.com)
Wolfe Publishing
2514 34th St.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
This book details the secrets of 20 great comedians.
Make 'Em Laugh
Steve Allen
Prometheus Books. 1993 ISBN 0-87975-837-6
Good book written in a conversational style. As if you visited with Steve
and he talked about comedy. Lots of history and anecdotes.
The Penguin Book of Women's Humor
Talks about the differnce between male and female humor.
Slapstick: An Illustrated History
By Tony Staveacre
Stand-Up Comedy as Art, Business, and Life Style.
McGill-Queen's University Press. 1990
High-brow analysis by interview of many comics about the comedy business
in Canada. Kind of stuffy reading, but some good content and statistical
information about the business.
Stand-Up
Comedy, The Book (http://www.pacificnet.net/~pablotwa/jcarter.html)
Judy Carter.
Dell Trade Paperback. 1989 ISBN 0-440-50243-8
Excellent book derived from her experience teaching a comedy workshop.
Highly recommended by some.
Successful Stand-Up Comedy Advice from a Comic Writer.
Gene Perret.
Samuel French Trade. 1993 ISBN 0-573-69916-X
Great book from one of Bob Hope's writers. Great insight into the inner
workings of stand-up.
Wake Me When It's Funny
Garry Marshall.
A good book worth reading, half of which deals with sitcoms.
The Comedy USA Guide (A must for any comedian working the road)
I'm not sure which address is correct.
The Talent Directory: $45.95 (In The U.S.)
The Trade Directory: $35.95 (In The U.S.)
Or get both books together for only: $68.95 (In The U.S.)
COMEDY USA (old?)
2107 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 306
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415)749-0990
COMEDY USA (new?)
PO Box 69-252
Los Angeles, CA 90069
(213) 658-7447
The Comic
Bible. $10 per issue, $55 for six months.
Primarily focuses on New York City, but useful for all comics.
Just For Laughs (Comedy newpaper published quartely)
22 Miller Ave. Suite G
Mill Valley, CA 94941
(415) 388-4746
Gene Perret's Round Table Newsletter
30941 W. Agoura Rd. #228
Westlake Village CA 91361
(818) 865-783
Gene Perret's Round Table And Comedy Services
2135 Huntington Drive, # 205
San Marino, CA 91108
LA Standup Directory
$10.
*Standup Comedy* (http://www.realpages.com/standup)
Newsletter Online and In Print
Contact: Craig Ralls 1-800-807-3828
1370 W Sixth St, Suite 305
Cleveland OH 44113
COMEDY GYM
8413 Stillwood Lane
Austin, Texas 78757
(512) 467-0886
comedygym@aol.com
Milton Berle's Comedy Software
Beverly Hills, CA
800 645-8432
Improv Maker Software
(http://village.ios.com/~kassj/improv.html)
By James Kass (kassj@village.ios.com)
Comedy
Generator Software (http://coulomb.uwaterloo.ca/~broehl/improv/cwdemo.html)
By Vince Constantino
Comedy Writer
Software (http://members.aol.com/ideascapes/comedy.htm)
By Vince Constantino
ScriptWright - Script Writing
Software (http://www.columbia.edu/~gg2/)
Compuserve ShowBiz forum, Lib 14
Bill Hicks' Mailing List
Sacred Cow Productions
Fossil Creek Studio
PO Box 26231
Austin, TX 78755
THE COMEDY COACH
(http://www.e-zines.com/TheComedyCoach/)
480 9th Avenue Suite A
Phone (800) LAUGH-OK (415) 668-7955
Contact Neil Leiberman (ComedyCoch@aol.com)
Comedy Connections BBS 941-925-8585
For more info, burt.wizeman@srq.com
Comic Relief
(http://www.comicrelief.org.uk/menu.html)
800-528-1000
Jay Leno's FAX line
818-840-2249
First, you have to have a contract with Big Dog Entertainment. You can
get paid from 1-50 dollars, but the going rate is 10 dollars a line, more
for a complete monologue
Judy Carter's Stand-Up Comedy Workshops
2112 Walnut Ave.
Venice,CA 90291
800 426-6427
310-915-0555
Just For Laughs
Montreal Comedy Festival
51 Sherbrooke Street East
Montreal, Quebec H2X 1X2
Andy Nulman (nulman@vir.com) or Andre
Gloutenay
(514) 845-3155. (514) 845-4140 fax.
Humber Comedy Workshop (http://admin.humberc.on.ca:80/~comedy/)
NewsJoke Inc. (http://www.newsjoke.com)
Seems to be a fax/e-mail (info@newsjoke.com)
service for morning DJ's and the like.
Al Rae's Online Comedy Workshop (yeats@autobahn.mb.ca)
Greg Dean's (gregdean@primenet.com)
College of Comedy Knowledge(http://www.business1.com/comedy/)
310-285-3799 (outside Southern California)
800-3STANDUP (inside Southern California)
Contact Greg Dean (gregdean@primenet.com)
ON-LINE HUMOR course (http://www.dialnsa.edu)
(212)229-5880 info & free bulletin.
FAX (212) 989-2928
Prof. Elliot Tiber (info@dialnsa.edu)
The Sitcom Writer's Workshop
Jack Gilbert
LA, CA
818-506-0429
Copyright (C) 1995-1998 Steven J. Silberberg
Email Brian David Phillips, Ph.D., C.H., at phillips@nccu.edu.tw.
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