Comedy 101: How to Craft a Set for an Open Mic

Comedians might make coming up with ideas for a stand-up set seem easy, but forming this raw material into funny jokes that make the audience laugh takes a lot of hard work. Practicing your set for a live audience at an open mic is one of the best ways to test out your material and finetune your jokes.

An open mic night is a stand-up comedy show that allows beginner and veteran comics to try out new material. Open mic nights take place in established comedy clubs, bars, coffee shops, and virtually. Depending on the venue, there may be a cover charge at the door or a fee to sign up. An open mic night is designed for comedians of all levels and is a great way to meet fellow performers, polish a set, or try new material out.

Every venue has an individualized method for running an open mic night.

• Online: Some clubs or bars have a sign-up sheet online, which they use to select comedians for participation in the event. Additionally, many open mics require you to sign up for a time slot in advance, which will give you ample time to refine your open mic set.
• In person: Some venues operate on a first-come, first-served basis that allows comedy hopefuls to secure their slot in person by showing up before the event and adding their name to a list.

If you’re an aspiring comedian that wants to try out material in public for the first time, below are a few steps on how to craft a set for your first open mic event:

• Watch an open mic. Attending an open mic is a great way to prepare yourself for performing live comedy. You should observe what makes people laugh at an open mic, noting what you liked and didn't like about each comic's set. You can use these observations to finetune your own material and performance.
• Collect potential material in a notepad. A good comic can turn anything into a decent bit. Throughout your daily life, make an extra effort to observe everything happening around you—both to others and yourself—then write down anything that makes you laugh in a notepad or the notes app on your phone. Some of these observations will become future jokes. When writing ideas for a set, try to think of how you can use your specific perspective to develop your own style. This material will help shape your first open mic set, determine your performance style and your comedy writing style.
• Plan your set. The average set length for an open mic is around five minutes, so pick four or five of your best jokes to include in your set. Choose jokes that share a topic or theme to make it easier to segue from one bit to another. If you have two jokes about food and two about traffic, look for ways to bridge these jokes for a more fluid set. Write the main theme or topic of each joke on a notepad to help you determine a clever way to streamline the jokes into a cohesive set. Avoid cramming too many jokes into your short set—you want to give your jokes time to land to help you hone your comedic timing.
• Practice in the mirror. After you have created a solid set, perform it in its entirety in front of a mirror. Practicing will help you gain comfort with joke delivery and cadence, and help you identify any potential physical gags or movements you can add to elevate the jokes with a layer of physicality.
• Be ready to bomb. Open mics are notoriously tough rooms because the audience is mostly other comedians who are too busy focusing on their upcoming sets to engage with yours. Bombing at your first open mic night is common, so keep that in mind if your set isn’t going to plan. Even established and successful comedians bomb occasionally, so don’t let it discourage you from trying again.

When it comes to open mic nights, there are some best practices that every aspiring comedian should follow, such as:

1. 1. Finish within your time limit. Every performer gets the same length of time to try out their material. Avoid going over your time allotment because it can negatively impact your fellow performers and the host or organizer who created the performing schedule.
2. 2. Be respectful. If you’re not performing, give other performers your undivided attention as a general courtesy. Talking with others, looking at your phone, or constantly moving around can distract the performer on stage. Being respectful during the sets of other performers helps foster an inclusive environment for all performers.
3. 3. Be quiet. Heckling performers or having a boisterous conversation with other audience members is poor comedy etiquette. Even if you’re not a fan of the performing comedian, it’s important to remain respectful of their stage time. Avoid creating any unnecessary distractions during their performance.
4. 4. Thank the host. After the show, thank the host for their time and for the opportunity to perform. This simple acknowledgment can help foster a good relationship with the club or bar, paving the way for you to become a regular performer at the venue down the line.

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