Name: Open Comedy
Author: Open Comedy

Question 1

What is Open Comedy?

Accepted Answer

Open Comedy is a free platform where comedians and bookers find each other. If you're a comedian, you build a profile with your clips and apply for gigs - open mics, paid spots, support slots, whatever's going. If you run a night or book acts for a venue, you post your events and comedians come to you. No fees, no commission, no catch.

Question 2

Is Open Comedy free to use?

Accepted Answer

Completely free - for comedians and bookers. There's no subscription, no listing fees, and we don't take a cut of any bookings. If a booker offers you a paid gig through the platform, that money is between the two of you.

Question 3

How do I create an account?

Accepted Answer

Head to the sign-up page and fill in the basics. You pick whether you're a performer, a booker, or both - and you can change that later if you need to. Most people have their profile set up in about five minutes. Once you add a bio and your location, you'll start showing up in searches and can apply for gigs straight away.

Question 4

What's the difference between a performer and booker account?

Accepted Answer

A performer account is for comedians - you get a profile page, can upload clips, and apply for gigs. A booker account is for anyone who puts on shows - venue owners, promoters, comedy night runners. You can have both on one account, which is handy because plenty of comedians also run their own nights.

Question 5

Which countries does Open Comedy operate in?

Accepted Answer

Open Comedy works anywhere, but the busiest communities right now are in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and Ireland. We've got comedians and bookers signing up across Europe and beyond. If there's a comedy scene where you are, you can use the platform.

Question 6

How do I find comedy gigs near me?

Accepted Answer

Head to the Gigs page and set your location filter. You can narrow things down by date, distance, and the type of opportunity - whether you're looking for an open mic to try new material, a paid weekend spot, or a headline slot. When something looks good, hit Apply and you're in the running.

Question 7

How do I apply for a gig?

Accepted Answer

When you find a gig you like, click Apply on the card. If you're logged in, a one-click apply box opens right there - your default travel arrangements, video clip and profile ride along automatically. Pick a spot, optionally add a note, and submit without leaving the listings page. The booker sees your profile and videos alongside your message, and you'll get a notification when they respond.

Question 8

How fast can I apply to a gig?

Accepted Answer

About two taps. Logged-in performers click Apply on any gig card and a quick-apply panel opens inline - no page change, no re-typing your details. Your default travel info, default video and stage name are pre-filled from your profile, so submitting an application takes seconds. If a spot needs a fee quote, you type that one number and you're done.

Question 9

How do I upload comedy videos to my profile?

Accepted Answer

Go to Manage Videos in your account menu. Paste in a YouTube or Google Drive link and it gets added to your profile. This is the first thing most bookers look at, so pick clips that show what you actually do on stage - a solid five-minute set is worth more than a flashy sizzle reel. Two or three good clips is the sweet spot.

Question 10

Can I get notified when new gigs are posted?

Accepted Answer

Yes - we send email alerts when new gigs pop up in your area. Make sure your location is set on your profile and that notifications are turned on in your account settings. That way you can apply early, which genuinely helps - bookers often start reviewing applications within hours of posting.

Question 11

What should I include in my comedian profile?

Accepted Answer

Think of your profile as your pitch to bookers. Write a bio that says what kind of comedy you do and how long you've been doing it - keep it honest, not salesy. Add two or three video clips of your strongest material, a decent photo, and your location. Bookers booking a weekend club night or a pub gig want to quickly see if you're the right fit, so make it easy for them.

Question 12

How do I find open mic nights?

Accepted Answer

Filter by Open Mic in the Gigs section and you'll see what's coming up near you. Some open mics let you reserve a slot in advance through the platform, while others are walk-up on the night - the listing will tell you which. It's a good idea to check regularly since new mics get added all the time.

Question 13

Do I need experience to join Open Comedy?

Accepted Answer

Not at all. We've got people who haven't done their first open mic yet and we've got full-time pros. A lot of gig listings mention what level of experience they're after, so you can filter for stuff that matches where you're at. Everyone starts somewhere - there are plenty of beginner-friendly nights on the platform.

Question 14

How do I post an event or gig?

Accepted Answer

Go to My Events in your account menu and hit Create Event. Fill in the basics - venue, date, what the night is about. Then add your spots, which are the individual performance slots you need to fill. You can set the spot type (open mic, paid, headline), the set length, and whether there's pay or travel expenses. Bookers typically get their first applications within a day or two of posting.

Question 15

How do I receive applications from comedians?

Accepted Answer

Once your event is live with open spots, comedians apply directly through the platform. You get notified when applications come in, and from your event's Applications page you can watch their clips, read their messages, and accept or pass. It's a lot quicker than chasing people on social media or email.

Question 16

Can I search for specific types of comedians?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Comedians page lets you browse and filter by location and experience level. You can watch clips right from the search results and reach out to anyone who looks like a good fit for your night - whether that's a new act for a friendly open mic or a seasoned headliner for a weekend show.

Question 17

How do I contact a comedian?

Accepted Answer

Visit their profile and click the Contact button to send a direct message. You can talk through the details - date, set length, pay, what the audience is like - all within the platform. It keeps everything in one place instead of scattered across DMs and email threads.

Question 18

Is there a fee for posting events?

Accepted Answer

No fees at all. You can post as many events as you want, and we never take a cut of anything. Whether you're running a weekly open mic in a pub basement or booking a full weekend lineup at a comedy club, it costs you nothing to use the platform.

Question 19

Can I manage multiple venues or events?

Accepted Answer

Yes - there's no limit. If you run nights at three different venues or have a weekly and a monthly show, you manage them all from the same dashboard. Each event can have its own set of spots with different requirements, and your My Events page gives you a clear overview of everything upcoming and past.

Question 20

How do I send a running order to my comedians?

Accepted Answer

Open your event from My Events and click 'Build running order' (the callsheet pill on the event card). Drag your booked spots into time slots, save it, and share the link - or let us include it automatically in the gig-reminder email that goes out to every booked performer the day before the show. No spreadsheets, no group chats, and the running order updates in one place if anything changes on the day.

Question 21

Can I download a comedian's press kit?

Accepted Answer

Yes - once you have a confirmed booking with a performer, the 'Press kit' button on their profile becomes downloadable. Click it to grab a PDF + ZIP press pack containing their bio, headshots, credits, social links and contact details, ready to send to a venue, a PR list, or use directly in your event flyers. Performers can also download and share their own press kit any time.

Question 22

How do I book a comedian for a corporate event?

Accepted Answer

Browse the comedian directory and look for acts who mention corporate gigs or after-dinner speaking in their bio. A lot of experienced comedians offer clean, tailored sets for work events, award nights, and conferences. Once you find someone who looks right, message them directly to discuss your event, the audience, timing, and their fee.

Question 23

Can I put my gigs on my own website?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Open Comedy generates embeddable widgets you can paste into any site - Squarespace, Wix, WordPress, Bandzoogle, plain HTML, anything that accepts a snippet of code. Choose from a comedy lineup widget, an upcoming gigs list, a recurring residency block, or your full schedule. Go to Widgets in your account menu, pick the type, and copy the embed code.

Question 24

Can I add an open mic signup form to my website?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The application form widget puts an open mic signup form (or an application form for any of your gigs) straight onto your own venue or promoter site. Visitors pick a spot from a live spot picker and submit an application without ever leaving your page. Cover one gig, all your regular residencies, or every gig you host. Grab it from Widgets in your account menu.

Question 25

Can I add a Book Me button to my own website?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Book Me widget is a one-click booking button for your personal site - it links straight to your booking request page on Open Comedy, so enquiries land in one place with your clips and profile already attached. Works on Squarespace, Wix, WordPress and anywhere else you can paste HTML. Copy the embed code from Widgets in your account menu.

Question 26

How do I reset my password?

Accepted Answer

Hit Forgot Password on the login page and enter your email. You'll get a reset link within a couple of minutes. If it doesn't show up, check your spam or junk folder - email filters sometimes catch it.

Question 27

Why aren't my videos showing on my profile?

Accepted Answer

This almost always comes down to privacy settings on the video itself. Your YouTube video needs to be set to Public or Unlisted - Private won't work. If you're using a Google Drive link, make sure sharing is set to Anyone with the link. After fixing the settings, refresh your profile page and the video should appear.

Question 28

How do I update my profile information?

Accepted Answer

Go to Edit Profile in your account menu. From there you can change your bio, location, profile photo, social links - everything. Just make sure you save before you leave the page. It's worth updating your profile every few months, especially if you've got new clips or your act has changed.

Question 29

I'm not receiving email notifications. What should I do?

Accepted Answer

Start with your spam or junk folder - that's where our emails end up most often. Adding our email address to your contacts usually fixes it going forward. Also double-check that notifications are actually turned on in your account settings. If you've done all that and still nothing's coming through, reach out via the Contact page and we'll sort it out.

Question 30

How do I delete my account?

Accepted Answer

You can delete your account from the Settings page. If you run into any issues, reach out through the Contact page and we'll handle it. Just know that deletion is permanent - your profile, videos, and application history will all be removed and can't be recovered.

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