Good Place to become a Comedian

[Brian J.]

Hi,
I would like to know what would be a good place (city) to develop as a comedian. I figure New York and L.A. are too big when you're just getting started, but I may be wrong. I'm thinking Boston and Chicago.

Can anybody give me any information as to what these cities or other cities are like as far as the comedy scene goes. Where I live currently I can only perform once or twice a month tops. And a lot of times they are bringer shows.

Thanks for any help.

[scamboogah]

Let's see if I can save you ten pages of reading...

That (guy,girl,person of indeterminate sex) is totally (wrong/right)!! (Austin, Portland, Seattle, DC, San Francisco, Branson) has a (ton of/ a few choice) open mikes that are super (supportive/ empty/ crammed with drunks who will laugh at anything).

I've been (doing/ watching/ listening to 20 year old cassette tapes of) comedy here for years and this is one of the best places in the (country/ Canada/ Scandanavian wasteland) to (get your feet wet/ get your foot in the door of morning zoo radio/ develop a liver disease).

Rent is (affordable/ scary/ trust fund depleting), but the great part is if you want to see major comics, it's really close to (CDR/ Rooster T. Feathers/ Most of the pot dealers in town).

(Good/ Bad) Luck.

[J vs W]

Man it just aint worth it! i'm givin it all up man! THIS IS IT

[KevinLee]

IWLNIT
Scammy Davis Boogah Jr is hilarious. Listen to everything he says.

And Brian, Wherever you decide to get your start, you're going to need a reliable message board to keep you informed, and in touch with the local comedy scene. This is paramount in your quest to become "King of Clown College." A dependable board is an essential resource. Absolutely imperitive.
So Brian, have you heard about "Blow Up the Moon?"

zzzZZZZIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNGGGGGGgggg

[punkdc]

Let's see if I can save you ten pages of reading...

That (guy,girl,person of indeterminate sex) is totally (wrong/right)!! (Austin, Portland, Seattle, DC, San Francisco, Branson) has a (ton of/ a few choice) open mikes that are super (supportive/ empty/ crammed with drunks who will laugh at anything).

I've been (doing/ watching/ listening to 20 year old cassette tapes of) comedy here for years and this is one of the best places in the (country/ Canada/ Scandanavian wasteland) to (get your feet wet/ get your foot in the door of morning zoo radio/ develop a liver disease).

Rent is (affordable/ scary/ trust fund depleting), but the great part is if you want to see major comics, it's really close to (CDR/ Rooster T. Feathers/ Most of the pot dealers in town).

(Good/ Bad) Luck.

I shall call this "The Beginning Comedians Madlib"

[scottbox]

Boston or Chicago both have thriving alternative comedy scenes. They're also relatively isolated from the entertainment industry, and are great places to develop your voice. Obviously, a lot of great comics started in both cities and ultimately moved to NY and LA. I wish I could say more, but there are several very good comics from Boston and Chicago who post on AST. They can tell you more.

NYC- obviously expensive, and it has tons and tons of comics- but also lots of places to go up. Very competitive, as many of the comics are there purely to do standup (as opposed to LA, where lots of comics come to write or do TV/film). NYC will push you and make you a better comic, if you can deal with a tough, often judgmental scene. Unlike LA, ass-kissing doesn't get you very far, and you're judged largely by the merits of your material. Also know that in NY, there are so-called "club comics" and "downtown alternative" comics- two distinct scenes that don't cross over that much. You can break into the club scene (Comix especially) if you're a downtown comic, but it takes a while to get established.

LA? Obviously, tons of comics. There are lots of open mics, but less booked shows, resulting in a lot of competition for stage time here. The audiences at the booked shows aren't as good as in NYC (the driving issue has a lot to do with that. It's just easier for people to see booked shows in NYC, since everything is so close). In terms of getting booked, schmoozing and people-skills go a long way here- which means that comics don't always get booked purely on the merits of their material. Whatever, tough titty. IMHO, it's a tougher town than the others to develop your voice. But it can be done if you keep your head down and work hard on your craft.

[dan telfer]

I have answered this so many times that I am going to try a new kind of answer than I usually give.

Chicago is nice. However, just go on the road. Fuck moving. Buy a cheap reliable car and start performing all over. Maybe move if you can find a town with a lot of alternative stages and open mics, but that is as much of a ladder-scheme as NYC or LA's massive entertainment business. You will have to start all over, in a sense, every time you move. Whereas on the road you are constantly gifted with a huge variety of audience types who have likely never heard your material before. Stay in a town and never leave it and people will just get sick of your jokes.

There, enjoy my first attempt at plugging "the road" as a solution to this age old question.

[Brian J.]

Thanks for the help guys.

How would I get on the road?
Do I film a clip of me on stage and then send it to different comedy clubs?
I figure they'd probably ignore me seeing as I haven't developed as a comedian yet.

[dan telfer]

Well where are you know?

Move to the closest major city if you're in the middle of nowhere, and yes, hone your material enough to get a clip you can send clubs, bars, cafes, anywhere. Find out who has a mic and an amp. Buy your own if you want to perform at even more places. And just start driving.

[J vs W]

Also remember that driving can be dangerous.

[Ritter]

Where do you live now? Do they not have bars in this place?

[Big Box Of Money]

How would I get on the road?

Do I film a clip of me on stage and then send it to different comedy clubs?

I figure they'd probably ignore me seeing as I haven't developed as a comedian yet.

I would worry about rectifying the the third thing before concerning yourself with the first two issues. As soon as the third thing is taken care of you'll get famous and will be able to fuck underage piles of cocaine in any city in the country.

[pg13]

Brian J...the wonderful thing about comedy is...when you're ready to move up or move on, someone lets you know.

Until then, just keep plugging away doing whatever you can do. When you're ready to start hitting the road--someone takes you on the road or someone says "Hey, I've got a room in Shitgigsburgh...I'll pay you peanuts to open for Hacky McHackerton...as long as you drive his bloated corpse to and from the gig."

And, when you've had your soul crushed and your dreams have all died--you'll have heard the golden stories by comedians who haven't lost their smile about the comedy clubs where the line to the "comedians drink free" bar is paved with gold, where the audiences give you toppers to the jokes you're just working out on stage instead of heckling you with the painful truth, and where the hottest waitresses know that comedians should never sleep with the staff so they quit their jobs in order to provide you with top-quality lovin'...because you're that talented.

And that's when you move to where they said all that shit happens...and then you find out that every town is just like every other town.

pg--Of course, I really like it here in Seattle...but I wouldn't suggest that you move here just for the comedy. Move here for the weather--you're going to get more of it.--seattle

PS--"underage piles of cocaine"--BBOM... Awesome.

[Brian J.]

Thanks for the laughs and the information. I'll get right on it!

[punkdc]

"Hey, I've got a room in Shitgigsburgh...I'll pay you peanuts to open for Hacky McHackerton...as long as you drive his bloated corpse to and from the gig."

I would go to this show for the name alone.

[dan telfer]

Ugh. I hate Hacky McHackerton. All he does is "Blanky McBlankenton" jokes.