How To Prepare For Your First Open Mic
So you’re interested in doing stand-up comedy? How do you get started? Open mics.
Okay, so what are those and how do they work?
You’ve come to the right place! Below I’ll give you the insider tips on how to get started and a few tips to keep in mind. But first…
What is Stand-Up and What Are Open Mics?
Standup is a beautiful alchemy of creativity, writing, public speaking, and connecting with an audience in real time. But on the surface, it looks like some schmuck talking into a microphone trying to tell funny jokes (emphasis on “trying”).
As amazing as this art form is, it takes a little bit of craziness to try out, and an open mic is the first mile marker in your standup adventure. It’s the training ground for comics.
At open mics, you'll see new comics and old veterans working out new material on a crowd that is typically mostly comprised of other comedians. Open mics are a chance to get on a low-pressure stage to learn how to be on stage and tell your jokes into a microphone.
Plain and simple, open mics are where all stand-up comedians and aspiring comedians get started.
Michael Colon works out material at a bar show in Ocean Beach, CA.
Who am I and why should you trust me?
Hi there! I’m Michael Colon, your friendly neighborhood standup comedian. I’ve been a comic for 3 years, and over half of that time has included producing/hosting my own open mic and producing shows for Don’t Tell Comedy in San Diego. Check out our instagram at @donttellsandiego.
Ask any comic and they’ll give you their own advice at varying levels of effectiveness, and the following are my recommendations. Having run and hosted a mic for a year and a half and seen comics (and non-comics) take my stage hundreds of times, I can speak from experience both as a comic and a producer/host. The below tips are the things that have been most beneficial to me as a comic and the things I appreciated the most as a host.
How to Prep For Your First Open Mic
The first step into going up at an open mic is to find one. You may have a bar in your local neighborhood that runs an open mic, or you might be aware of one of our many local comedy clubs around San Diego. The best way to find the open mics around town is checking the “Open Mics” page on this website.
There are also Facebook groups dedicated to letting comics know what mics are happening around town. Nearly every major city has its own Comedy Facebook group, so check or ask around.
T
Todd Perry hosting an open mic in Sunset Beach, CA.
Go Watch Open Mics
I would also highly recommend going to an open mic as a spectator before you take the stage. You’ll be able to learn the culture of the mic scene in general, watch how different open mics operate, and, more importantly, see you won’t be the worst person on that stage.
Set a Due Date
Take as much time as you need during this phase, but also give yourself a due date for your first time going up. I’d recommend between 1-2 months of research, or full send whenever you feel like it. There are no right answers.
Write Down Your Jokes
Write your jokes down word for word the way you want to say them on stage and rehearse it for the few days before hitting the stage.
After you have your jokes written down, you can start to plan a "set list". For most people, that means naming each joke with a few keywords to remind them what the joke is. Then write that down as a list that you can keep on you while on stage. That's your set.
Record Yourself Practicing Your Set
Do your set completely as you want to do it on stage, and record it. This way you know how long it takes to get through. This piece is critical because you'll only have a limited time on stage.
Be Realistic: You'll Probably Bomb
Set a realistic expectation. Nobody kills during their first set, and at this point you’ve probably seen enough bombs at open mic to take out Hiroshima.
My first time going up, my goal was just to get one little giggle. If I got one giggle, my performance was a win. And a giggle is exactly what I got! Feel free to let the audience know at the start of your set that it’s your first time going up; you can only use that card once.
~~~~
Alright, you’ve done all the preparation. The date in your calendar has come, you’ve invited a few friends, and it’s time for you to hit the stage! LET’S GOOO!
Andi Whiskey hits an open mic to work out material.
What to Know Before You Go Up For The First Time
One important thing to know is how to sign up. Different mics have different methods of signing up and arranging the lineup. If you’ve been to the mic a couple times, you should have an idea on how signups work. Some mics have a clipboard, some pull your name from a bucket. Others may use a website or have you register beforehand. Know before you go!
The most important point of this whole article: Know how much time you have, and stick to it. Look on the mic or club’s Instagram/website or the open mic group on Facebook to see how much time you get. If you don’t see an answer, check in and confirm with the host when you arrive. Then stick to it.
Open Mic Etiquette
When you first arrive at the mic, check in with the host, introduce yourself and thank them for the spot. This will let them know you’ve arrived and it attaches a face to the name written on the signup sheet.
Also, don’t run the light!
What’s the light? That’s your cue that time’s almost up. The first light is your one minute warning to wrap up. The second light means get off the stage. Keep an eye open for where the light is located during the acts before yours so you know where to look while you’re up there.
Know how much time you have on stage. As it’s an open mic, it’s probably somewhere between 3-5 minutes.
Yes, this is worth saying again because running the light is the easiest way to burn bridges in comedy, especially if you’re bombing. But if you respect the light, the host will see it as you respecting them and the show.
If you run the light, hosts aren’t afraid to interrupt you, play you off, cut the mic or roast the 💩 out of you. If you keep to your time and respect the room, I promise the audience will cheer you on and clap when you’re done with your set. This is the easiest way to win your first mic.
Other Things To Keep In Mind
There are a handful of details you need to keep in mind for your first time on stage.
Annie Isaac hosts some great open mics around San Diego.
Know What You're Going To Do With The Mic
A small detail that beginners don’t think about is the mic stand. You have two options: speak into the mic in the stand, or take the mic into your hands and move the stand out of the way. If you don't move the stand out of the way, it can create a visual barrier between you and the audience, and it’s a dead giveaway you’re a new comic.
Make Sure You Record It
You might hate yourself for having it documented, but your future-self will be thankful you have it archived (whether to see your growth or to laugh at how terrible it was).
Make it a habit of recording video of every set. Initially it feels awkward to video yourself on stage, but rewatching your tape is a huge growth opportunity.
Comics like to voice record their sets, but they’re missing out on their body language (60% of communication with an audience). You’ll notice small details you won’t be able to perceive while on stage, like nervous fiddling with the mic cable or lack of eye contact with the audience.
Network, Be Social, Make Friends
Finally, be a good person for the sake of being a good person. The people you meet at the mic will become your friends if you choose to spend time at open mics. The comedy scene is small, and everybody talks. Your reputation will precede you, so be cool and don’t be a dick. Also, you never know who books what shows and who’s connected to whom.
Eddie Pozos puts in work at the American Comedy Co. Open Mic.
What To Do After The Mic
Hang out with the other comics! Get to know them, network, and trade Instagram information. If you see somebody who’s funny and nice, ask them for their feedback on your set. They’ll feel flattered that you’re asking for their advice.
After every set, rewatch your video and ask yourself the following questions:
- What am I happy with from this set?
- What’s one thing I’d like to improve the next time I go up?
I like to create goals every time I take the stage so I can focus on a specific aspect of my performance. Goals for me look like running a new joke, removing a body language quirk, or getting rid of filler words in my set. This way every mic can be a win even if people don’t laugh (which happens quite a bit at open mics).
Closing Thoughts
Performing for the first time is exciting! And getting your first laugh on stage is a rush! Overcoming your nerves is a battle you become well acquainted with doing stand-up.
Before my first time going up, I had dreams all week of going on stage and doing my first set. And if I’m being honest, I still get nervous before going on stage from time to time. But I take a few deep breaths, remember I’ve done this a bunch of times, and once they call my name I click into place and do the damn thing.
So what are you waiting for? Get out there already! And welcome to the crazy :)
