Skip to main content

Your first open mic

Five minutes. You are ready.

Write the set order

Opening line, three chunks, closing line.

Time it out loud

Leave room for laughs and finish before the light.

Arrive before sign-up

Meet the MC and learn how the running order works.

Watch the room

Support the acts before you and learn the audience.

The short answer

For your first open mic, know your material cold, bring a notebook and pen, and have cash for a drink - most rooms run on bar sales. Arrive early to sign up, watch the acts before you, and expect three to five minutes on stage. Bring a friend or come alone; either is normal.

Before you leave the house

Know your material cold

Run the set out loud three times before leaving. Nerves erase short-term memory - practise until the words arrive without you thinking about them.

Bring a notebook and a pen

Write down what got a laugh, what died, and anything you improvised. Two minutes of notes after the set is worth an hour of guessing the next day.

Cash for a drink

Bar-based mics survive on drink sales. Buy at least one. It also stops you feeling like you owe the room anything.

A friend, or no one

One supportive friend is fine. A group that only laughs at you distorts your read of the room.

At the venue

Sign up as soon as you arrive. Most mics run a sheet or a random draw - miss the deadline and you do not get on.

Watch the earlier acts. Respect the room. Also: you learn what works with this specific crowd, which is useful intel for your set.

Take the mic out of the stand. Do it once at the start, hand it back at the end. Do not fumble - practise at home.

Stick to your time. If the light flashes, wrap up. Going over your time is the fastest way to not get booked again.

Thank the MC. "Thanks, goodnight" is enough. Do not explain, do not apologise, walk off.

Frequently asked questions

How early should I arrive at an open mic?

Arrive 20-30 minutes before sign-up closes. Most open mics run on a sign-up sheet or ballot - turn up late and you do not get on. Check the listing for sign-up time, which is usually 30-60 minutes before the first act.

Do I need to buy a drink?

At bar-based mics, yes - buy at least one drink. The room runs because the bar makes money. A £5 pint is the price of stage time.

Should I use notes on stage?

For your first five gigs, a small card on the mic stand is fine. Audiences do not care. What matters is not reading full paragraphs - glance at a bullet list to stay on track.

What if I bomb?

You will, several times. Every comedian has. Walk off, thank the MC, order a drink, stay to watch the other acts. Coming back next week is what separates comedians from people who tried comedy once.

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

Yes - once you have a profile, Open Comedy generates a free Book Me widget you can paste onto any personal site (Squarespace, Wix, WordPress, plain HTML). It is a one-click booking button that sends enquiries to your Open Comedy inbox with your clips and profile already attached. Not urgent for your first open mic, but bookmark Widgets in your account menu for when you start pitching yourself for paid work.

Can I record my set?

Ask the MC first. Most rooms allow audio recording from your phone on the table. Do not prop up cameras or cause a scene - if the room says no, respect it. Listening back is the fastest way to improve.

Find your first open mic

Browse open mic comedy nights near you on Open Comedy.

Find open micsHow to run an open mic