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My Strategy for Getting Booked on Comedy Shows
I’m sure many people would argue I’m not the right person to give this advice, because while I’m booked pretty consistently, I’m not constantly booked.
Comedy is not yet my full time career, though I hope it will be eventually. I make a few hundred dollars a month.
I’m in a medium sized city; not a gigantic comedy city. There are mics and shows every night, which is better than a lot of places. But I imagine in New York or LA you may have to be more assertive than I am.
Except in certain circumstances, I don’t ask to get booked on comedy shows.
Instead I go out to as many mics and shows that I can. I keep pushing myself to be better. I’m always trying to improve and build up new material.
I love the Steve Martin quote: “Be so good they can’t ignore you.”
I also post clips on instagram and youtube. I promote the shows I’m on and work to have a social media presence. That is a major part of comedy nowadays. Unfortunately I’m a bit of a luddite, but I do my best.
I love watching documentaries about comedy. I’ve been watching Jerry Seinfeld Comedian. That’s not how comedy works anymore. (This was filmed just after his sitcom ended.)
