Green Room Etiquette for Comedians

The green room is a sacred, special place. I still remember my first actual green room experience.

It was a showcase at a well known venue in Denver. The comics' names were all written on a white board, with dicks drawn along the edges and a random, "Jeff was here" scrawled in the corner. There was a basket of incredibly random "goodies" that looked picked over, as the most appealing items that were left was a bag of obviously crushed potato chips and an empty koozie.

The show producer would pop in and out, only to try to sell shrooms to the comedians in the room and tell us to quiet down a bit. One comedian was rolling a blunt in the corner before disappearing out the backdoor. Comedians continued to wander in through a backdoor from the alley. Not everyone was on the show, but everyone was there to say hey and support... and maybe see if they could get a quick 5 minute guest spot if they could find the producer. 

All that to say... every green room experience is going to be a little different. We asked the San Diego Comedy Scene for some of their tips on proper green room etiquette. Keep in mind that showcase green rooms are very different from green rooms for feature shows. (Here's a quick article about the difference between a showcase and a feature show).

On a Feature Show, It's the Headliner's Room

Respect the Room, Let People Prep

For most green rooms on most shows, the room is reserved only for comedians on that show. 

"Don't go into the green room unless you're on the show!" - Aaron Trahan, Producer of Comedy or Worse

Deedee Stepney chimed in to add:

"I had to actually ask some comedians to get out of the green room at Mic Drop. None of them were performing that night. One brought his damn kid."

The green room is a space for comedians to prepare for their sets. Everyone has their different methods, so it's best to respect everyone's routine in that space. That means comedians that aren't on the show should not be in the room.

If you want to be taken seriously as a comedian, then be professional on or around shows.

There May Be "Substances" in A "Green" Room

Be aware that comedians all have their different ways to get ready for a set. There may be substances offered to you in a green room. This is simply just a note to tell you, it'll happen, so if that's a problem for you, make a plan beforehand for how you'll handle it for yourself. 

And uh. If you are the one to bring substances, be aware of those around you. If you didn't bring enough for the class, think about partaking elsewhere.

In the words of Ashley Chalease:

"If you're snorting a line, offer the headliner some, too. It's just courtesy."

And finally, if someone seems bothered by it, be courteous, and consider partaking elsewhere. Adrian "Ace" Diaz, Producer at Monkey Feet Entertainment put it succinctly:

"Not all green rooms are green."

If everyone seems generally not into it, then take it elsewhere.

Consent Is Key

No one should be pressuring anyone in the green room. Make sure that's not you. If someone makes you feel uncomfortable, feel free to let the producer know. But also just know, this is how the comedy scene is. If they're not hurting anyone, then learn to roll with it. 

My take on this stuff is based on the metaphor: 

Everyone should be allowed to swing their arms as much as they damn well please, as long as they don't hit someone.

So make what you will of that.

On that note, I personally have an immunological disorder where certain triggers can send me into anaphylaxis or cause other uncomfortable symptoms like turn my face red or cause hives. A lot of people have similar sensitivities. Please, for the love of gawd, do not smoke or vape inside. It's rude for those around you. Just take it outside. But do a line, do shots, or take shrooms inside all you want, as long as everyone seems comfortable with it. That generally doesn't have second hand effects that can ruin someone else's set.

And if someone says they're sober and mentions at all that they might struggle with triggers, respect that lifestyle and do your shit discretely.

Stop Running Bits On Everyone

"For fucks sake, don't be "on." Being suck i na room with comics whose sole conversation is running bits or tagging other people's comments is a literal nightmare." - Dave Callans

This sort of goes along with "consent is key"... Make sure the victim you're running lines on is a consenting audience.

It's a common situation in the comedy scene; when you get around other comedians, you sometimes can't help but turn the comedian brain on. But not all fellow comedians appreciate that.

I remember fondly the first time I was chided for it... I think a lot of new comics go through that excited phase where everything is a bit.

I was hanging out with a comedian mentor of mine before a show, and I was "on", nervously throwing some of my jokes into the conversation, and my friend Scott interrupted me, yelling, "Are you doing a fucking bit on me right now?!" And then he walked away, mid-"conversation". And honestly, I think we all need OG's in our life to do that when we're new in the game.

So read the room. If people seem to be into it, sure, roll with the ones that want to play ball, in a way that's respectful of anyone else in the vicinity. But if some of the comedians look like they're trying to prep for their set, keep it chill. 

Just Read the Room

The recurring theme here is be aware of those around you. Make sure what you're doing isn't impeding on others' prep routine of sorts. And if there's a headliner, look to them for direction.

And last but not least, wise words shared from Alex Petit:

"Use a coaster, green room or not." - Alex Petit

Have any more thoughts on Green Room etiquette? Drop them in a comment.