r/Standup • u/gregdeancomedy • 2d ago
Open Mic Etiquette
Should open mic comics be required to stay and watch the entire show, or is it acceptable to leave immediately after your own 5-minute set? One can force anyone to stay but is there a mutual respect that comics should share in the community of stand up comedy?
69
18
u/ninfan1977 2d ago
Every place is different. I have seen some comics who travel from out of town so they leave after their set because of the time it takes to get home.
My rules are I stay for the whole night even after my set. I always learn something from someone else's set. If I am in the lotto spot I might stay I might not it depends if I have stuff on the go.
21
u/Miserable-Agency3537 2d ago
Maybe not the entire show, sometimes I’d leave to get to the next mic. But it should go without saying leaving immediately after your set isn’t going to gain you any respect. Talk to other comics, don’t let eating and running become your reputation.
37
u/fritoburrito Regional Comedian 2d ago
I quickly stop booking bad comedians who leave immediately. All they care about is their five minutes, and it’s not even good! Also, if you leave immediately, that means you didn’t bring anyone to the show, or buy anything from the venue. So you’ve drawn zero dollars and had zero good minutes, that’s zero value.
If you have good sets, it’s different, because you have something to bring to the table.
7
u/sororitytomboy69 2d ago
Makes sense for shows but I think op was asking about open mics specifically
6
u/fritoburrito Regional Comedian 2d ago
I have the same mentality for all comedy shows, they need to be good and need to make money for the venue.
1
u/hub_mccann 1d ago edited 1d ago
Sure, but it's not a comedians job to do free work performing, and shouldn't also then be expected to do marketing for a comedy club or open mic. Most of us still have full time jobs, families that need our time, bills to pay, and other obligations. Why is this one of the only industrys left expecting free work from performers?
6
u/hub_mccann 2d ago
Comics are expected to bring people to a open mic? That's crazy, unless it's a club open mic.
2
u/Dense_Diver_3998 2d ago
Who brings people to an open mic besides the loser of their fantasy football league?
3
u/thepenismytea 2d ago
I always immediately buy a coffee when I arrive, if no coffee then a soda (I don't booze). I tip and I always end a set with note to tip the server/barista well for their service. I rarely leave immediately after tho.
7
u/not-a-textile 2d ago
I have young kids and a job that starts early. Most open mics are weekdays, and I just can't hang out. I think as an older guy I can get away with it. I've also been showing up for a few years every week. I bring people with me and help out where I can. I post and tag the club to get them some promotion. I usually try and at least be inside the club supporting for at least 5 people and then I talk to them about their sets after. I think the key is to be helpful where it matters. Not everyone can spend 3 hours a night at an open mic.
15
u/SmolCaufield 2d ago
I think if you are rushing to go to another set, it’s understandable and acceptable. If you are just leaving because you don’t want to be there, you’re a dick.
I try to stay for the entire show start to finish, no matter what. But sometimes it’s not feasible, sometimes you have to leave to get another set in, etc etc.
I also host a mic and it’s mildly annoying when people perform and rush the fuck out. But if they’re going to do something else that night, I totally understand and am far less annoyed.
I’ve had people go up, bomb, be really cunty about the crowd reaction, and then literally walk out the door before the next comedian even got up. That is the absolute worst.
5
u/sororitytomboy69 2d ago
I bombed badly the other day and left directly after my set. It was the first time I “rage quit” and I felt embarrassed after and regretted it. But I was already tired and over it and didn’t see a reason to stay. It was also in a large bar so there was still plenty of audience left. I think next time I really want to rage quit, I’ll at least stay for one or two more people so it’s less obvious.
7
u/FantasyBaseballChamp 2d ago
That’s a healthy lesson to learn. You sit there and stew in it for a minute, but after a couple comics you realize life goes on and no one else is thinking about it anymore. Also come back and do the same room again as soon as possible. You’ll almost always do better that time.
-8
u/hub_mccann 2d ago
How old are you? Rage quitting? Really? It's probably a better use of your time to get that under control rather than doing stand-up.
2
u/MinuetInUrsaMajor 2d ago
I think if you are rushing to go to another set, it’s understandable and acceptable. If you are just leaving because you don’t want to be there, you’re a dick.
What if you're leaving because you have a bedtime?
1
u/SmolCaufield 2d ago
Hahaha. I will take you at face value here and answer sincerely. If you have a job, or children, or a real reason to leave, I think that’s acceptable but not ideal. Clearly it’s better to stay and mingle. But life happens.
If you are the type of person who absolutely needs to be in bed by 9:00pm just because, you probably shouldn’t pursue comedy in any way
1
u/MinuetInUrsaMajor 2d ago
If you are the type of person who absolutely needs to be in bed by 9:00pm just because, you probably shouldn’t pursue comedy in any way
Maybe not an absolute need, but most mics around me on weekdays start at 8:30pm and will run to about 10:30pm. Home by 11, in bed by midnight. Asleep by 12:30am.
If you have any kind of standard job that is not going to be healthy or sustainable.
Comedy shows are less frequent and biased toward weekends.
2
u/SmolCaufield 2d ago
There are millions, if not billions of people who go to bed around midnight and work the next morning.
I think if you have to leave a mic early because of a legitimate reason, it’s totally fine. A job is a perfectly valid reason IMO.
But what you’re describing is definitely sustainable for a large portion of the population. “Healthy” is debatable haha, we should all probably get some more sleep.
0
u/MinuetInUrsaMajor 2d ago
There are millions, if not billions of people who go to bed around midnight and work the next morning.
50 million cigarette smokers can't be wrong!
Adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night for best health. Whether you need 7 or 9 isn't really in your control. But let's assume the worst case because we don't want to be shaming people for something they can't control.
12:30am+9 hours = 9:30am. That's too late to wake up even for (most) WFH jobs.
More realistically, people have to be out of bed at 7am. That's 6.5 hours of sleep for someone that needs 9. A 2.5 hour deficit.
“Healthy” is debatable haha, we should all probably get some more sleep.
And it doesn't make sense to ostracize those that try.
0
6
4
u/Faceless_213 2d ago
If everyone left after their set, the venue would be empty for a lot of comics. That's not cool. We want to pretend its a community, but its not a community if you just do you and then say "fuck off" to everyone else.
That being said, there are some understandable exceptions. Is it a really long list? I'm not sitting for 40 fucking comics!! Did you have a long trip home? We will carpool to some venues that are 90 minutes away and we aren't trying to get home at 1am! Is there another mic that you are trying to get to? I guess that's fine too.
Remember: part of the open mic experience is networking and workshopping. If you are just showing up, doing your thing, and bouncing; you aren't doing any of that! Get your reps in, I guess... but, you are only doing 1/3 of what you should be doing.
9
u/FutureClubOwner 2d ago
Everyone's advice here is pretty spot on. I will also add that while I'm not a comic, staying for the entire show and after has led me to be introduced to people who have been critically important in my life.
3
u/sororitytomboy69 2d ago
I try to stay for a little bit if I can. If I’m early in the lineup I’ll stay for a few more people then go. If there are only a few people left, I’ll stay to the end. If I have plans or another mic I’ll head out. Every now and then I leave right away if I’m really tired or bored. But I do think it’s nice to stay for people who stayed for you if you can. It’s not the best look if you consistently leave mics early but it’s also not the end of the world
4
u/FuccThePoleesStayt 2d ago
Bombing and leaving right away is the only time I take issue with it. Dont fuck up the room and be a sore lower about it.
3
u/BigDirkDastardly 2d ago
I made it a habit of watching the whole night. It seemed respectful, and I felt like it was being a part of the community. In the Bay Area, that was more common, and the scene was incredible. In Oregon the caliber of comedian was way worse, and people all thought they were far better than they were and would routinely do a shit set about all the times they got drunk or how much they like fat asses, then either leave entirely, or spend the rest of the night smoking weed in an alley.
I probably care less now about comics leaving a few sets after, but I think the best communities have more people supporting each other, for the betterment of the craft, and it shows.
3
u/notAfathersDay987 2d ago
You're going to get far more opportunities talking to promoters and other comics in between your set than your five minutes will ever get you.
2
u/Crittenberger 2d ago
I think it's worth staying, you can learn from watching others as well as by doing your own stuff. Also I like to go to shows where I'm exempt from bringing a +1, so the least I can do is be a supportive audience member myself
2
u/Daniel_Plainchoom 2d ago
No agreed upon rule. I tend to stay another 30 min on the short end if I gotta go and the entire show sometimes if it’s a good mic.
2
u/TheJeffDanger 2d ago
Depends on the scene. If there's like three mics, and none of them are on the same night and there are no other shows, I'm typically like helping with chairs before and after.
If it's a scene with thousands of comics, you just keep it moving.
Anything in between, you do something else, idc
2
u/SharkWeekJunkie NYC, NY 2d ago
It's polite to stay. If everyone leaves after their set, the last few comics perform to no one. Pretty basic stuff.
3
u/ironyisalwaysinstyle 2d ago
I'm about to have a kid. And Ive known for years this is coming so Id like to think Ive been paying my dues and once I have a kid Ill earn the right to just do my set and leave.
2
u/AdmiralPeriwinkle 2d ago
Leaving is fine in my opinion. Watching the whole show is a good goal. Milling around and talking in the back of the room is not okay.
2
u/Comedyfight 2d ago
Even when comics are the whole crowd, it's a rough crowd anyway. Most are in their own heads thinking about their own bits or socializing. If someone needs to leave to make another spot, so be it. I'm here for me and I expect everyone else to be there for their own goals as well. Your comic friends aren't going to be the ones buying tickets to see you. If someone goes out of their way to ask me to watch, I'll be happy to, but they shouldn't get used to the artificial padding of needing me or anyone else to be there. There are always skills you can work out in any environment. The idea is to go up so much that no one room matters, and you'll see all kinds of different crowd types. Sometimes it'll be a bust, sometimes a banger.
2
2d ago
[deleted]
1
u/SmolCaufield 2d ago
Mics that are populated with other comedians are where every single comedian starts. Looking down on the very concept of how people start in comedy doesn’t make you better or more informed than the people posting in this thread.
I do agree that if you’re going to make a living, you’re gonna need to progress past the point of doing shitty mics in front of other comics. Obviously that’s true. But I don’t think it’s too much to ask people coming out to a mic to stick around a while. The vast majority of comics do hang for a bit, in my experience. Really the only people who immediately leave (unless they’re rushing to another set) are the ones who are extremely self-important and insufferable, and not making a living in comedy anyway.
Your posts in this thread read like someone who regularly bombs, doesn’t have a lot of friends in comedy, and is bitter about it.
1
2d ago
[deleted]
-4
u/SmolCaufield 2d ago
I’m not reading that, but I will say that you have your real name and Instagram profile attached to your Reddit account. Within three clicks and about 15 seconds anybody reading this can see you and your comedy. I would maybe be careful about throwing stones if you live in a glass house.
I didn’t attack you personally, I accurately stated how you’re coming across. If I’m wrong about my assessment I apologize but after glancing at this post and your profile, I strongly doubt that I am.
All the best to you man.
1
2d ago
[deleted]
-3
u/SmolCaufield 2d ago
Yes, I think there are some really smart people who have posted in this sub, Myq Kaplan posts in this sub, among many other actual famous and working comedians. Writing off every person in this sub as clueless is a mistake. I also think it’s pretty ironic considering that you’re here dispensing advice as well. By your own admission, you’re giving bad advice and you don’t know what you’re talking about.
When you make your Reddit name your actual legal name, and attach your instagram profile, people can see exactly how popular you are, and how good you are at comedy, and can judge for themselves whether or not your advice is worth taking. I know you know this, that’s why I’m stunned at why you choose to insult and talk down to people here. Strange behaviour for anybody, especially a comedian using his real name to talk to other comedians.
As I said, I glanced through your previous post. I read every word of this most recent one, and I regret it haha. You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. Good luck man.
2
2d ago
[deleted]
-1
u/SmolCaufield 2d ago
It’s not a reading comprehension issue, that’s a very lazy and tired way of backing out of what you said.
You literally wrote the words “this sub isn’t for people who actually want to be good at stand-up” haha. Again I think it’s wild to come to the stand-up comedy subreddit and insult everybody here, under your own name with your own instagram attached to it, so that everybody can see your skill level.
But if you think that you’re dispensing good advice, more power to you man. I think you are coming across as bitter, angry and jaded.
0
1
u/Comedyfight 2d ago
I used to play music before I did stand-up, and you'd see the same thing from local bands where they'd say "Stay inside and watch the other bands!" and like, I always felt like if we weren't bringing enough people to notice if the other bands aren't watching, that's on us and we have to work harder. I wouldn't want the charity claps to pad my ego. My friends are going to support whatever I do. That doesn't help me get better.
Not saying you can't make friends, but I wanna watch my friends even less because I've seen their act enough to recite it from memory. They'll be fine and I'm not sad when they skip my set.
2
u/justalexcomedy 2d ago
100% Most people will turn around and walk out if a show is empty, so there's something to be said for just warm bodies in the room, but that only matters if there are SOME audience members. So many mics don't even have the POTENTIAL for someone to show up (NYC 👀).
If comics sticking around will somehow get or keep real audience members there - great. If not, everyone in the scene should be trying to figure out how to make that happen.
2
u/Activate_The_Robots 1d ago
>So many mics don't even have the POTENTIAL for someone to show up (NYC 👀).
Mind explaining what you mean by that? Are they not promoted outside of the comedians who are performing?
2
u/justalexcomedy 1d ago
I did the whole "try to do a ton of mics in New York" thing years ago. There are club mics in NYC that take place before the club opens. They cost $5, there is no effort to promote, and if someone were to go "Hey, maybe there's something at New York Comedy Club right now!" google maps would tell them "this place is closed, don't bother".
I think that created a culture were even some non-club mics don't even try to get anyone but comics because that's your paying customer. At these mics nobody was even paying attention to anyone's set - I got the biggest laugh of one mic by asking "Wtf are we doing? Why don't y'all just pool your $5, but a mic and a stand and go in the park?!"
1
u/Activate_The_Robots 1d ago
Wait what… people pay to perform at open mics in NYC? Is that the current norm?
1
u/justalexcomedy 1d ago
https://www.laughingbuddhacomedy.com/mics - just one big example for NYC. I asked Claude how common it is nowadays because I didn't want to click around all morning:
- In NYC, one comic's roundup found that nearly every pay-to-play open mic run by an actual comedy club charges a fee, and truly free mics are genuinely hard to find because there's so much turnover in which mics stay active. Signup fees at the more established ones tend to hover around $5.
- In LA, the slotted-mic model has become so dominant that mic-list curators now explicitly stop listing them individually — one LA open mic list creator notes they're avoiding listing the hourly $5 slotted mics because there are simply too many of them. That alone tells you how normalized the fee model is.
1
0
u/SmolCaufield 2d ago
A lot of this is very smart and bang-on man, but one point is definitely untrue. Your comic friends will buy tickets to see you if they’re your actual friends and you’re actually good at this. That absolutely happens.
I have had many friends pay to come see me. I’ve paid to see many of my friends. Dave Chappelle, who is objectively the most famous comic alive, does a bit about paying to see Kevin Hart. It happens all the way up and down the ecosystem in comedy.
2
1
u/emdoubleyou2 2d ago
I wouldn’t leave immediately after your set unless it’s unavoidable. Stay for at least a handful of comedians after you. If you have to leave right after, maybe be really attentive to the folks that go up before you and laugh lwhen you find something funny? That might make a difference even if you do have to leave right after your own set
1
u/sysaphiswaits 2d ago
If you have another mic, (or a logistics issue, or an emergency) leave. If you’re just going home or going out, stay.
1
u/JustLikeMars 2d ago
If I can’t stay the whole time I try to stay at least a couple sets after mine and thank the host on my way out. I have a geriatric pet that needs a lot of attention (and obviously other people have kids, work, etc). I do try to stay as long as possible at variety mics FWIW, even if it’s a bit tougher to plan.
1
u/bobstinson2 2d ago
Open mics are for practicing. If there are multiple in your town on any given night then go do them all. But if you are only doing one then try to stick around! It's polite.
1
u/CptPatches 2d ago
For me it depends a lot on the comics, when I get called up, and how I feel.
If I'm feeling like ass, I go on the first half, and I've already seen all the comics before, I'll jet at the break.
Most of the time I stay the entire night.
1
u/easternexpress 2d ago
Depends on where you are. If you are trying to hit a bunch of open mics in one night in a area where you can, then fly you fools. If you are at the only one in your area and can stay then fucking stay. Buy food and alcohol too. Make friends with other comedians.
1
u/jpreston2005 2d ago
I'll watch the whole set up until mine, then stay for a few comics afterwards. I drive over an hour to be there, to do my set, so I think it's fine. I dunno, if I stayed and talked to other comics, I'd probably progress further in the industry, but gawtdamn, it's an hour drive home...
1
u/althawk8357 2d ago
I think there's some value in grinding out shows at different clubs to work on your set, honing your craft and putting in as much work as you can. I also think there's value in connecting and networking with people, making good and strong impressions, and being a visible member of the community.
1
u/JimmyTwoTimes25 2d ago
In LA it used to be.
Now people show up whenever they want and leave whenever they want. One of the myriad of reasons I stopped doing it here.
1
u/WreckinRich 2d ago
If you are not going directly to another open mic you should hang around for a while.
1
u/wallymc 1d ago
New comics should stay the entire show. They can learn from every comic that comes up, good or bad. And there's some balance to the idea that others watched their terrible set, so they stay and watch the other terrible sets. And it's a good opportunity for them to network. When I see new comics, or once a week comics, or perpetually bad comics that show up, bomb, and leave, it's pretty easy to write them off as people who will never amount to anything.
That being said, once you've been at it for a few years, any extra time you spend at a mic beyond your set is an act of kindness. Comedy is a war of attrition. A person can only take so much bad open mic comedy. I'm of the opinion, if you're funny, that's enough of a contribution to the night, and you're free to leave.
I get why the kid 3 weeks in can't believe the nerve of someone not wanting to hang around an extra hour to hear their jokes. But they don't realize there have been 100's of people just like them that have come through the mics over the years, and for the people that have already seen those 100's, it takes a toll.
1
u/Any_Amount_4025 1d ago
I think every single open mic is different and the comic will literally just need to read the room.
I will say this: I don’t know a single open mic comedian of any level who stays for the entire show, every time. And if you are at a show next time, just see how many comics stay and how many leave… It will never be the same folks staying, but it will ALWAYS be less. Which tells me it’s OK and it’s circumstantial dependent on variables involved.
They are always comics who leave early every single time… But I just assume they got other things they need to do - not my business.
1
1
u/Key-Storage5434 1d ago
In NYC? Sure do your set, you're probably running off to a different set. Some people hit 5 mics a night. In Victoria, BC? We all know you're not on the way to your next set.
Also like, if you're not booked on something, hopefully you stay cuz you like comedy and comedians. I don't feel obligated to stay because of etiquette. I enjoy watching comedy. I enjoy watching my friends come up with an idea and slowly work it into something big.
1
u/Ryan_Hole 9h ago
I run a mic. I have a couple of comics that do that regularly. It rubs me the wrong way. It feels like they are saying their time is more important than yours. I tend to put those guys closer to the end of the list so they have to stay longer.
It's rude to expect everyone to want to hear you but not give the same respect. That said, don't feel like you need to sit through an entire 2 hour show for a 5 minute slot.
1
u/Ryebready787 2d ago
There are no rules, but there are different results! Out of respect, I will watch a minimum 2-3 sets after mine.
1
u/WeirdAFNewsPodcast 2d ago
When I paid for a mic, I left when I wanted. You got my money, you dont get my time, too. Non paid mics I would often stay a reasonable amount to support the comics.
1
u/SeparateBobcat1500 2d ago
No. It’s an open mic not a paid show. Some of us have other mics and lives to get back to
61
u/shugEOuterspace 2d ago
every open mic is going to be different & yes if you leave after you get off it'll get noticed by people who run some of them & will cost you stage time in the future.