Getting Started in Comedy in San Diego: A Beginner’s Guide
So your friends tell you how funny you are, you love going to comedy shows and are thinking about taking the leap into stand up? San Diego is a great place to get started in comedy. There are so many options available, depending on how much support you want and where you live, you can probably find exactly what you are looking for.
1. Check Out the Local San Diego Comedy Scene
Before stepping on stage, get a feel for the comedy scene by attending some shows. San Diego has a variety of comedy venues, from major clubs to intimate bar mics. Some key places to check out include:
San Diego Boasts 8 Comedy Clubs
- The Comedy Store La Jolla – A branch of the legendary Comedy Store in L.A., this club hosts pro shows and a weekly open mic.
- Mic Drop Comedy – One of San Diego’s newest comedy clubs, featuring a great open mic and pro showcases as well as stand up comedy coaching, classes and workshops.
- American Comedy Co. – A downtown staple where you can see big-name comedians and local talent with a weekly open mic.
- MadHouse Comedy Club - Daily open mics, local talent and nationally touring comedians.
- The Laugh Factory - a mainstay of comedy, the Laugh factory has shows with local as well as national talent
- The Yellow Door - Converted theater that hosts local talent, comedy game shows, and open mics.
- The Fourth Wall - A newer venue to San Diego, with loads of local talent and open mics.
- The Grand Comedy Club – Located in Escondido, it’s another great spot to see live comedy and eventually get stage time. This club is about to reopen in a new location, on Friday March 14th.
Bars and other venues:
- You can find bar shows, smaller theaters and local shows all over the city.
- Look through instagram, facebook and eventbrite for shows in your area.
- Check out our Shows + Mics page for recurring shows around San Diego.
2. Write and Rehearse Your Material
Before you go up on stage, you should write your material. Some people think they're bold and can wing it. Our advice? Don't.
Most open mics give you 3-5 minutes and when you are first starting out, that may feel impossible. But good writing will get you there. You should dedicate time to write your jokes and practice them before the open mic.
There are many options for getting help with your joke writing from classes, to workshops, to coaching (more on that below). There are even writing groups where comics meet up and help each other fine tune their writing.
3. Sign Up for Open Mics
The way to get into it is to just dive in with an Open Mic that's made for new comics and experienced comics working out new material. In San Diego, there are open mics happening every night. Each one may be run slightly differently and have different sign up rules, length of time etc.
San Diego Comedy Open Mics can be found on our Shows + Mics page. You can filter by location and day of the week, too.
Open Mics are typically used to test out new material, work out your timing and delivery but they also offer a unique opportunity to network.
In San Diego, we have a high number of independent producers who have shows happening all over the city. Those producers are often at the open mics, looking for new talent to showcase at their events. As you develop and refine your first tight 5 minutes, those producers are watching and will approach you when they think you are ready.
How To Pick Out Which Open Mic To Do
This comes down to personal preference. San Diego has a unique community when it comes to Open Mics, because you can get up in front of real audience members at an open mic. But... maybe that's not what you want.
Some things to think about when choosing your first mic:
- Does the place feel comfortable to you?
- Are you okay with a large or small amount of real audience being there?
- How long of a set are you prepared to do?
- What day works best for you?
Some open mics have a higher percentage of comedians in the audience, which has it's pros and cons. Mic Drop Comedy, for example, has a mix of audience and comedians, heavier on the comedians. But the comedians that are there are very supportive and helpful, so it's an easy and comfortable way to get on stage.
On the flip side, American Comedy Co. is a bit more of an endeavor. You don't have a guarantee that you'll get up if you go, since it's a bucket list. And there can be over 60 audience members there to watch. If you haven't been on stage before, maybe think about dipping your toes in somewhere else before heading there. But hey, that's your call!
Some low pressure spots to get started include Madhouse Comedy Club, Mic Drop as we mentioned, and most bar or restaurants mics.
At the end of the day, it's your choice, and to be honest, you won't be great your first time anyways. But it's for the experience. Pull the trigger, make it happen, see how it feels.
4. Network with Other Comics
Comedy is not just about performing; it’s also about making connections. Stay after open mics, talk to other comedians, and be supportive of their sets. Many local comics will share advice, let you know about new mics, and even help you find gigs. The comedy scene is varied, with extroverts and introverts, and you are bound to find your tribe eventually.
American Comedy Co., Madhouse, Mic Drop, and many of the local bar open mics are great for networking before the mic gets going.
A comedy buddy is also a great way to work on jokes, support each other at shows, mics, take photos and videos of each other as well as offer moral support. Everyone bombs from time to time, and having someone there helps immensely.
5. Keep Performing and Improving
What feels funny with your friends, or coworkers may not land well on stage. Sometimes you write a joke and it works, and other times we rewrite that joke 20 times before it hits. It takes work.Comedy is about repetition, refining jokes, and learning from your mistakes. Keep showing up, keep writing, and keep performing. Over time, you’ll develop your style and stage presence.
6. Take a Comedy Class
San Diego offers many options for learning stand up comedy: While you can just jump right in, you can also take various classes offered around the city. You don’t have to go it alone, there is so much support at a variety of meeting time, price points and locale. The classes all end with a showcase, where you can show off your new skills to family and friends.
- Mic Drop Comedy/Broken Drift Productions
- Empire Comedy
- Armed Services Arts Partnership
- Pretty Funny Women
7. Level Up
There are coaches, both in person and online who can help you work through your set and refine your writing, help with performance anxiety or give pointers on timing and stage presence. Comics like Jesse Egan, Miles Weber and Andrew Norelli all offer one on one coaching help, as does Broken Drift Productions, you can learn how to get booked. Check out our Resources page for a few you can reach out to.
You can also join a writing group, or start your own; comics meet up and go through their material, providing insight and advice on writing your material. Locally, comedian Craig Sutton runs a group call Write Tight that's worth checking out.
Look for comedy camps, competitions and other events to find new ways to get involved, meet other people in the scene and keep improving.
8. Have Fun and Enjoy the Ride
Starting in comedy is an exciting challenge. Whether you’re in it for fun or have big dreams of making it in stand-up, San Diego is a great city to begin your journey. Embrace the nerves, laugh at your own mistakes, and most importantly—keep going!
