Help Me Start a Room!!!

[KevinLee]

Okay. I'm in the early stages producing a small room in Los Angeles. I mean very early. I have some venues in mind but nothing pinned down. Possibly a open mic at a record store or a trivia night followed by comedy. I could of course use everyone on here's suggestion as to choice of venue, day of the week, things to avoid, etc. I'd love to hear what you think would work. if anyone on here wanted to help me promote the show in the street by handing out fliers that would be great. Now I'm serious:

Kevin Lee
317 250 8365
kemlee@gmail.com

[KevinLee]

Oh also a suggestions for names would be sweet!

[Americas Team]

I am sure there are tons of opinions about this but here are mine. Most of my thoughts have to do with the venue. You may know some of this stuff or you may disagree with me. It is long list but it makes me happy when shows are good. The more good shows in LA the better.

1) Going to things in LA is a pain in the ass. Keeping track of line ups is also a pain in the ass. I think most people in LA go to venues as much as they go to a specific show for a specific comic. Make sure you don't cancel shows. Make sure they start on time. Make sure the shows are not too long.

2) The manager should be cool, should understand this is a long term project and want to promote everything along with you.

3) The performance space should be quite. It should be separate from what the bar, kitchen, drum circle or whatever else is going on.

4) Make sure you are not high jacking people's nights. You want people to be able to opt in or out of being at the show. Robert Yasumura has a great joke about LA shows "If you find yourself at a comedy show in LA that generally means you are at the wrong place at the wrong time."

It maybe alluring to start a show in a place with a "Built in audience" that just happen to be drinking where your show is but those people will not be cooperative. They may even get angry. They will talk and/or yell during your show. It is far better to build an audience with 5 willing members than to force 50 people to be in the audience.

5) Invest in a nice PA if the venue does not have good sound. Avoid using a mic and guitar amp. LA has tons of used sound stuff on Craigslist. Spend the money it will make a huge difference.

6) If the venue does not have good lighting get a couple of clip lights with directional bulbs. Also make sure to make the rest of the venue as dark as possible.

7) Build a stage. It helps if the performer is raised up.

8) Sit the audience as close to the performer as you can. The first row should be about the length of your legs away from the stage. Avoid putting seats in the back until the front is filled. Encourage people to sit in the front. It sucks doing a show when the laughs feel like they are time delayed because the audience is all the way in the back.

9) Don't rely on comics as an audience. Get out there and promote the show yourself and not just to people who are doing other shows.

10) Let other people help you. I find that it takes about 4 people to run a weekly show. Yes you have to share all the sweet glory and blow jobs but it will make your life less of a hell. Make sure to define the rules for everyone before the first show. Are you rotating hosting duties, co hosting, doing sets once a month, who books what etc. You don't want to wait till the show starts doing well to deal with this stuff.

11) Keep the line up short. (4 or 5 comics) Book the show for no longer than an hour and fifteen minutes. If it goes long, and it almost always will, people won't be upset. No one ever complains about shows being short really. So even if the show ends up only being and hour, and it never will, the audience will be happy.

Comics in LA get plenty of 5 to 10 minute sets so setting up a show with longer sets is a good draw for booking.

Plan for people bailing day of the show and dropping in to do a set on the show. Just know both things will happen in LA a lot. It generally balances out but it is another good reason to keep in mind that short is better than long. (Except when fucking. Am I right??? Extenenze!)

12) I generally like the idea of a show with a simple direct name. Putting "Comedy" in the title is not a bad idea. It makes life easier if people can tell what it is just by the name. There are plenty of shows that are successful that don't follow this rule. It is just my personal preference.

13) The show should not be about the host. If you are hosting don't do too much or little time. 5 to 10 at the top. Only do more between comics as a pallet cleanser, bathroom break or to pick them up if someone bombed. Try not to run the show just for extra stage time.

14) Be careful about appearing to trade spots for other shows. That will get around the knitting circles of LA comics quickly. It annoys people and you don't get invited to the super secret comedy orgies that happen. (Plus it just makes people not like you.) You are here for life so the people you are putting on the show are going to be in your circle of friends for a long time.

15) Day and time only kind of matter. There are so many shows that you are going to conflict with one or the other. Just don't start one close to another show. There is plenty of real estate for more than one show in on certain night in LA.

If you are still thinking of venues I have one that I am using in Los Feliz. They are always looking for more shows there. Let me know if you want to swing by and meet the owner next Thursday.

Good luck!

[mnarrance]

Thanks Americas Team - I think even those of us considering doing shows in other parts of the country could use these suggestions.

[Naughty Scotty]

Listen to Salazar. Smart man. I wish I knew all that when I started.

[rob]

I've learned a lot from America's Team. Everything he said above is gold. An hour and 15 minutes seems perfect. An audience can burn out after awhile. Also think about the flow of the sets; put a low energy comic after a high energy type and vice versa.

[KevinLee]

Thanks, ya doinks!

[pixel revolt]

The more linear the show (all standup, all improv, all sketch, etc) the shorter the show should be/the faster an audience can burn out, IMO. There are variety shows that mix formats, set times, and comedy styles, and that lack of predictability can keep the audience fresh and engaged for that extra 30-45 minutes.

Just please never create a standup show that is longer than an hour and a half unless you are visited by an apparition in the night who gives you the secret technique that makes you the exception to the rule.