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Comedy 4 Life is a series of books, workshops and new a podcast by Walt Frasier, artistic Director at the New York Improv Theater
Show Notes Ways to Get Stage Time
Open Mics:
Open mics are shows performed by and for performers. The audience is often other comics.
Go to an open mic within the next 48 to 72 hours and get on stage for five minutes and just talk.
Find a good open mic, and go back. Avoid the bad ones.
Barker and Bringer Shows:
These are ways to create stage time with an audience.
Bringer shows are where comics bring their friends, creating a small audience.
Barker shows involve handing out flyers on the street to attract an audience.
Barking is a way to develop audience, and get stage time.
Barking also allows you to interact with people before the show, and create a relationship with your audiance.
Producing Your Own Show:
This gives you control over everything.
It's a way to create consistent stage time.
Finding talent is easy, building an audience is the hard part.
Paid Gigs:
Eventually, you may get paid to perform at clubs, colleges, or corporate events.
Even when getting paid, you need to keep working on new material, and getting stage time at open mics.
The Comedy University
Don't complain about paying five bucks for stage time or spending an hour on the street. Think of it as your comedy university. You're learning what works and what doesn't. Remember, as my friend Milinth Fowler says, "There's no wrong, no bad, no good. Is it working, or is it not working?"
The Process
Every time you get on stage:
Prepare: Brainstorm or outline your material.
Have Fun: Focus on enjoying yourself without being a jerk.
Analyze: Objectively evaluate what worked and what could have been better.
Repeat this process throughout your career. You're never fully "ready," but you'll figure it out.
Creating Opportunities
If you can't find work, create it. If you're not getting stage time, create opportunities. Find other people who need stage time and organize shows. This could be at school, a bar, or anywhere.
Call to Action
Get on stage within the next week. If you need guidance, wait for my next episode. But if you're ready, just get on stage and talk. If it works, do it again. If not, try something different.
The next four or five episodes will cover how to create your first five-minute stand-up routine.
