What city should I start stand-up in?

[Dr. Feelgood]

I've accrued scattered advice on this from comics in person, through podcasts, and on this board. The one consistent tip has been not to start in LA, but I feel like I've heard conflicting opinions about starting in most other cities, including New York. My naive fantasy trajectory is to at some point live in New York, and then eventually LA, but I've heard from some that it is good to do comedy in a "second-tier" city for a bit, so you're not terrible when you move to New York or LA. True? If so, there are a bunch of these. It would just be really nice to go from college right into a scene that's good for starting comedy, and sad to fuck that up. Humor me and assume I can afford to live anywhere and move easily.

[Toddler]

I am predicting the following from this thread: an array of different cities will be suggested, but overall, you will be encouraged to just get up in front of a microphone as much as possible. (Which you should)

[Dr. Feelgood]

I am predicting the following from this thread: an array of different cities will be suggested, but overall, you will be encouraged to just get up in front of a microphone as much as possible. (Which you should)

This I know and am eager to do, but there may be more and better-for-beginners microphones in some places than others, for instance. It's fine if a lot of cities are mentioned, since certain experiences with cities will speak more to me than others and give me a more precise compass than "not LA." I don't think this is one of those questions which, to paraphrase Doug Benson, you shouldn't do comedy if you have to ask.

[Kentock]

Chicago, San Fran, Philadelphia, Austin, Portland, Boston.

[Toddler]

Chicago, San Fran, Philadelphia, Austin, Portland, Boston.

Also, Denver.

[MJEH]

I'm thinking Detroit or Las Vegas. Those people need as many laughs as they can get.

[Phil]

You live in DC? Start there.

[hannah bee]

Haven't heard the "not LA" thing before, although I'll admit that I hadn't been seeking advice until pretty recently. Does anyone know of any good places to start out in Southern California? I have plans to check out the couple of open mic nights in town over the next few weeks, but I think they're primarily for music so I'm not sure how doing comedy would go over.

[Alex Mac]

Any. Provided they have microphones. Or even just phones.

[dan telfer]

It truly, truly doesn't matter. Get onstage.

[Toddler]

Haven't heard the "not LA" thing before, although I'll admit that I hadn't been seeking advice until pretty recently. Does anyone know of any good places to start out in Southern California? I have plans to check out the couple of open mic nights in town over the next few weeks, but I think they're primarily for music so I'm not sure how doing comedy would go over.

Let Jake Kroeger, aka the Comedy Bureau, lead you to the open mic promised land(in Los Angeles): http://thecomedybureau.tumblr.com/

[hannah bee]

Let Jake Kroeger, aka the Comedy Bureau, lead you to the open mic promised land(in Los Angeles): http://thecomedybureau.tumblr.com/

This is everything I could have hoped for (and more!) Thank you so much!

I'm definitely still going to feel out the open mic nights in my town, but I'd much rather bomb in front of strangers who appreciate comedy/can give me advice than awkwardly flail in front of people who I actually see in my day-to-day life.

[funkyrhino]

Doesn't matter where you start to be honest. I doubt you'll be performing in front of industry insiders or scouts so Idaho or Chicago, your choice.

[Unholy PCP]

tampa is awesome this time of year...beach volleyball all year round

[nixonjames]

While yes, ultimately, this 'debacle' of uncertainty shouldn't keep you from getting on stage I certainly agree that it can be perceived as you're describing.

I mean I definitely think that there are cities which are better than others in terms of developing your skills without running the risk of ruining your future career. As I eek my way around town here I pick up on stories of several younger comics with a bright streak really turning some important people the wrong way and a lot of folks think some of these guys would have to move to get out from under this shadow.

If you're serious about honing your craft to the point of working as a comedic professional (writer, sketch artist, stand up, whatever) then you'll find that some cities seem better suited for avoiding the 'industry' until you're ready. Where as NYC and LA seem so clogged with desperation I don't think I'd want to do comedy the way I do it here in either of those places for the sheer glut of people.

To your question.
I know a few of these were mentioned and apologize for repeats.
San Fransisco, Portland, Seattle, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Chicago. I'm sure there are more I just haven't caught wind of them.

To my earlier point, maybe I'm just biased because that is kind of the 'path' for most comics from Boston. You develop in your 'second tier' scene and 'graduate' to professional standup/tv writing (NYC) or acting/screenwriting (LA). But there are also folks just movin around cuz it's what they wanna do. I know one guy just moved to Austin. So... it all depends on what you want I think.

There seems to be pretty divergent paths in front of beginning comics. Maybe it's just New England but I definitely get a feel for folks that are kind of just hopin to get to do shows around the area but never care to write comedically in other mediums (sketch, sitcom, etc) and there are some clearly gunning for letterman, and then there are others who've said fuck off! to all of that, and still others who seem like quasi-poseurs who all go to their own shows and are this weird self propetuating crappy comedy ball. Which being crappy isn't inherently bad, it's sorta how it is starting off, but I do take issue with people that are blatantly atrocious and completely oblivious externally.

[pg13]

I think this is a major "Cart Then Horse" concern.

If you're worried about the industry paying attention to you before you're ready, trust that the industry is very good at ignoring anyone who isn't demanding to be seen.

Wherever you are, comedy will always let you be the ultimate arbiter of your fate... Destiny will be in your hands wherever you choose to live--how hard will you work, how good can you get, what can you do.

How far along in your comedy development are you? Are you an absolute beginner? Have you done some stuff but aren't yet able to work professionally yet? Are you getting some paid gigs and are looking for more?

Most importantly, if comedy is not going to be your sole means of earning a living--what will you do for a job, and where can you afford to live...while pursuing comedy as a hobby?

Scenes with buzz are fleeting and ever-changing. The minute you move to Seattle, that scene fades and now everyone is talking about how good things are in Austin...move there and everyone wants to be from Minneapolis...move there and now the game has switched to Asheville...or Portland...or Indianapolis...or somewhere else that you're not. It's silly to try to chase the buzz.

Much better just to take advantage of whatever is available to you wherever you are... (And remember, the world is totally connected--when you're ready to be seen, you can make yourself seen.)

Now, it IS true that certain opportunities only exist in certain places--but they're opportunities that you don't need to worry about accidentally being considered for if you're where they are...nor are you missing out on them while you're not ready for them if you're not where they are...

And it is also true that certain scenes seem to have certain advantages and disadvantages than others.

Seattle, for example, has tons of available stage time but not a lot of paid work...which could make it good for someone working on their act. On the other hand, it also means there are a LOT of people of the beginning/hobbyist-level clogging up that stage time. Los Angeles, from what my friends who have made the move have told me, tends to be rather poor in offering stage time meant for working on new material--either the shows are showcase oriented, where you'd want to do your best short set, or they're inconsequential and you don't get much of an honest audience reaction. New York is so large an entire industry exists to keep the beginners/hobbyists distracted (w/bringers and barking) while the actual players do work. (Etc. Etc. Yul Brynner.)

But I'd put more importance on your ability to have a life...a life that will feed your comedy, rather than expecting comedy to feed your life. Live (or move) somewhere you'll have friends, you'll have things you like to do, places you like to go... Live somewhere you can find work and a place to live. If they have a great comedy scene, awesome! If they have an ok comedy scene, that's ok, too...do what you can. If they don't have any comedy at all, there's probably comedy within a drivable distance or there could be a chance for you to help them bring comedy home...OR, you'll continue living a life that will one day influence your comedy in ways you can't imagine.

Do whatever is available to you at the pace that works best for you and your life in that place at this time.

pg--Cities with colleges (not college towns) are usually the best places for comedy...you have both youth and smart people, both good things for comedy audiences. Given absolute resources, I'd pick something like Minneapolis, Madison, Austin or Portland...as not only are they great comedy cities, they're just awesome places to live a great life.--seattle

[nixonjames]

Ok I knew i would want to slightly amend.

I'll put it this way.

I wouldn't MOVE to a city just to do comedy. But I feel like I wouldn't have tried to do comedy if I hadn't lived in a city where it's an option. I mean I realistically wasn't going to be able to keep up the momentum in a place like San Antonio, or Rural TX but after a while and seein that it was possible it got me goin.

[Vercetti]

Whereever you're at just look up the open mics and hit it up. Nail your act down and THEN consider moving.

This advice has already been said, hasn't it? I missed my moment again. Next time, man. Next time.

[Dr. Feelgood]

Ah, this thread has become exactly what I was looking for. Thanks pg and tex! I don't intend on (/can't imagine) comedy being my sole source of income yet, though that is the eventual hope. I'm applying to programming jobs in a bunch of the cities that have been named. I just don't know a ton about any of them and haven't gotten opportunities to visit a lot of them. But what you (pg) say about buzz is something I hadn't considered and is surely wise. In fact, I was prompted to start this thread after my initial enthusiasm for moving to Seattle, a scene once talked up to me by Hari Kondabolu, was dampened by some lamenting posts in the Pacific Northwest sub-forum (by you actually). But it looks like I still have a shot at getting a job there, and I'll know people there, so I guess why the fuck not.

Given how many cities I've never been to, the decision to move to one and not another seems arbitrary, and I was hoping there would be some way to narrow down the places to move based on comedy, but if that doesn't narrow things past a list of about 10 cities, I guess it's indeed time to consider other things like quality of life, job prospects, friends, weather, etc.

[Osquip]

I started in Los Angeles and I couldn't imagine being anywhere else in the world. I feel like if
I lived somewhere less competitive, I would be a lot lazier.

As far as starting in L.A., certain open mics (Ha Ha Cafe) are way worse than others. I figured out which ones had the good comics and avoided those until I was ready to perform in front of people whose opinions I cared about.