How to Run a Good Comedy Show

So, you want to know how to run a comedy show? Not just any show, but a good show? Damn, look at you, overachiever. Well, you came to the right place. Running a good comedy show takes a lot of work. People forget shows don’t just happen, they need people to produce them.

Why Is It Important To Have A High-Quality Show?

If you’re putting on a show, you want it to be good. It’s your name on the lineup. You’re the one booking other comics. If it goes bad, then you’re the person who runs that show. If it goes well, you look like a professional – and other people might book you.

I recently started co-producing two stand-up shows in New York City. I asked some producers for some insight into how to run a good comedy show.

This was a list of things they said I needed to run a good comedy show:

A Strong Concept
A Suitable Venue
A Killer Line-Up
A Confident Host
Lots of Promotion

How Do I Pick A Show Concept?

“Pick something you’ll enjoy watching and believe in 100%,” producer Olivia Scenna says about finding your show’s concept.

“Find something unique, fuck with the basic format. Audiences love being included – to a certain extent.”
Olivia Scenna, Local Darlings Productions

If you’re in a smaller scene, you get to be one of the only games in town. But if you’re in a major city, you have to stand out. Olivia’s show Slides n Tell has comics give a Ted-Talk style presentation. You don’t have to commit to an idea forever though. “Leave room for error or change. Try a few low-impact test runs and don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

How Do I Find A Venue For My Show?

Consider the tone of your show when picking a venue. Is it a more rigid, precise show? That might be better in a traditional club or theater space. A more laid-back, alternative vibe? Find a cool bar or cafe with a stage setup that’s known for running shows, or is looking to have to events. yRegardless, make sure you do your research. Visit the venues and attend a show there.

Here are some questions to consider when looking at venues:

Is there a separate room for the stage? Or is it in the main bar, where people who aren’t there for a comedy show might stumble in?
Is there good lighting where the comics will be?
Do they provide a mic and sound (and does it even work), or will that be on you?
How much does it cost to use the space?
Is the price paid upfront or does it come out of ticket sales (if you’re charging in the first place)?

How Do I Reach Out To A Comedy Venue?

Most comedy venues have a booking email for producers to pitch show ideas. Emails look more professional than DM’s and you always want to make a good first impression. The bookers for each venue will offer days they have available for new shows. Depending on how popular the venue is, you’ll need to reserve your show’s date further and further out.

How Do I Book Comics For A Show?

Post your open spots to Open Comedy and have comics submit tapes directly to you. It’s the easiest way to book comedians. You can post paid or unpaid spots, depending on how you’re running your show.

It might seem fun to book your friends, but if you’re trying to run a lasting comedy show, you’ll need to be more strategic. It’s important to have a diverse set of comics. Gender, race, age, sexuality. These all make for more well-rounded shows and perspectives.

“It’s good to have a mix of known and lesser-known comics who can be uplifted by new recognition.”
Sophie Grace Clark, Bubble Bath Comedy

The comics you book don’t all have to have the same style of comedy. That said, having tones that work well together makes for a smoother, more cohesive show. The topics can be different if the style and voice are similar.

How Many Comedians Should I Book On A Line-Up?

For a local show, 5-7 comics is a strong lineup. For tours, an opener, a feature, and a headliner should be enough. A good standup comedy show should only run an hour and a half. Any longer and the audience gets antsy, no matter how good the comics are.

How To Order Comics On A Line-Up

Put your strongest comics at the start and end. Start off strong, and if there’s a lull in the middle you can leave the audience on a high note. Each comic’s set can be anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour. It depends on the type of show you’re running.

For local shows there are two approaches. 1) All comics do the same amount of time (7-10 minutes). 2) Mix up the set lengths and give stronger comics more time.

This is a typical tour structure:

Openers do 5-10 minute sets
Features do 10-20 minute sets
Headliners do 30-60 minute sets

In the same vein as the last section, have your lineup booked as soon as possible. Give your comics a chance to promote the show to their audience. (Fans, family, friends, and foes – hey a ticket sale’s a ticket sale.)

How Do I Find a Good Host?

You can post a hosting gig for your show on Open Comedy. When running a comedy show, you have the option to book a host or do double duty to host and produce. Depending on the show, that can be a lot – which is why it can be helpful to have a co-producer.

How To Be a Good Comedy Show Host?

The host makes the audience feel welcome and to make the other comics look good. The host’s job between comics is threefold.

Introduce the next comic.
Tell people to support the venue.
Try to bring the energy back up – but that’s only if someone really bombed.

“Some lessons learned the hard way: don’t half-ass the host bit. It’s your one shot to set the tone of the show and turn the crowd from a group of people into an audience.”
Clara Olshansky, Channukah Comedy

Here are a few tips on how to be a good comedy show host:

Your set is your time on stage. Don’t do time between comics. If you don’t do as well as you wanted to, get em next time. If you crushed, amazing. You did your job. Doing extra bits between comics slows down the entire show.
If something goes off the rails, address it concisely and confidently, or you’ll lose the audience’s trust.

How To Promote My Comedy Show?

Word of mouth is the strongest advertising there is. If you’re doing your first show, you have to rely on your reputation to get people in the door. So many incredible lineups turn into terrible shows because no one showed up.

There are a few other ways to get people to your shows. Barking is a classic comedy tradition, and works, but can be high risk for low reward. Making an eye-catching poster for your show is essential to put it in people’s minds. Use tools like Canva, or hire a freelancer if graphic design isn’t your skill set. There’s an old marketing rule, you have to ask people three times before they’ll commit to anything. I don’t know if that’s true, per se. I do know if someone sees your show poster on their feed, they’re way more likely to get a ticket.

How Do I Build An Audience For My Show?

Getting people to one show is hard enough. Friends are only so supportive. Once you get your show up and running, you need to build a following from the ground up.

“Email lists, email lists, email lists, email lists, email lists, email lists.”
Daniel J Parefan, New York Comedy Club

“Instead of having to pay for advertising,” Dan Parefan says about why uses email lists. “You can target people who have already shown their interest and willingness to go to an event. the email list keeps them in your circle of influence”

Using all this advice, me and my co-producer Olivia ran our first show last month at Starr Bar in Brooklyn. It was a free show at a 9:30 PM Sunday spot because they needed proof that we could get people in the door.

Using our networks, the show sold out and the bar asked us to come back for a show every month.

It’s possible to run a good show from scratch you just need to put in a little effort.

Rowan Zeoli