Advice for Performing Your First Open Mic

Bozeman, Montana, is not just known for its stunning landscapes and outdoor activities—it's also a hub for budding comedians. If you’re gearing up for your first comedy open mic in this vibrant town, you’re in for an exhilarating experience. Comedy open mics in Bozeman offer a welcoming platform to showcase your talent. Here are tips to help you make the most out of your first stand up comedy experience.

ARRIVE EARLY >< Comedy open mic nights can get busy, especially in a town as artistically inclined as Bozeman. Arriving early ensures you get settled in the room, allowing you to familiarize yourself with the venue and the audience before dipping your toes into Bozeman stand up comedy.

KEEP YOUR EXPECTATIONS REALISTIC >< Doing stand-up comedy is hard. Really hard. Heck, public speaking is hard. If you have desire to try stand-up, then I suspect you are already drawn to this challenge. Your first time on stage will be particularly nerve-wracking but also very memorable. If you can barely get a few words out and forget most of what you wanted to say, that would be a very common, normal experience. The nervousness of being the sudden center of attention causes most people’s brains to sort of seize up to some degree. Others have described it as a sense that suddenly a wall existed in my brain between me and the thoughts that I had prepared to say, and I became temporarily unable to access those thoughts. This is the fundamental challenge that newcomers face, and overcoming that barrier - usually over the course of your first 5 (or maybe 15) attempts - is the first stage of satisfying progress for any comic to make. Luckily for you the Bozeman Comedy Open Mic scene and the stand-up comedians in the community are very welcoming and supportive, so you’ll be in good company!

EARLY, EARLY GOALS >< The goals on your very first time on stage should be these simple tasks: Say hello to the room. Say something short, and get a few of your funniest jokes out and thank the audience when you leave the stage.

Greet the audience and tell them your name. This will go some distance toward putting your senses into a mode of talking to people. Stand-up comedy is a conversation, albeit a one-sided conversation, so if you can approach the audience as if you’re talking to them as an entity, even talking to them as if they are one single person, that is preferable and will often result in a successful tone. Greeting them and introducing yourself helps set that tone. If you want, you can mention that it is your first time trying stand-up; this usually results in a cheer of positivity from the crowd.

If you’re a storyteller one of the best way to get through your first few minutes of comedy is to focus on one major 2-5 minute story. It would be best if you approach your performance with the mindset that this story you’re going to tell is the only thing you are going up there to do. Nonetheless, there is a small window of opportunity to throw in a short joke right before you launch into your story. Do this next. If it gets a laugh, then smile or nod in appreciation during the laugh, wait a half second after the laugh, and launch straight into your main story (or bit). If your first joke doesn’t get a laugh, say a depressurizing transition sentence like “I’ve come here tonight to tell you a story about [golfing with my friends/or whatever your topic is]” This will refocus you and get you going down the right path.

Now you’re launching into your story (or main bit). Don’t be afraid to focus on mundane details during the story. Whatever aspects you find funny about the story should be described in detail. You are providing all the captions here. If you have any funny side notes while you are telling the story - by all means, throw them in. You’re trying to churn through your time, and it’s okay to go on tangents. The thing that works in your favor during this time is that it doesn’t matter if you get things out of order. The audience might even laugh if you mess up the story. As long as you are smiling and maintaining a fun energy about it, you can’t go wrong.

ACKNOWLEDGE THE CROWD >< As a side challenge on your first stand-up comedy experience try to make eye contact with a few of the audience members during your story. This has several advantages: connecting with people usually makes them like you more, making them more comfortable and more willing to laugh. It also takes a large, scary unknown (the whole audience) and breaks off small, processible pieces. Feel free to choose before you go on stage who you will mainly look at during your set. You’re allowed to “study the audience” be carefully watching them before it’s your time to go on stage.

RESPECT THE TIME LIMIT >< Most open mics have a time limit for each performer. Stick to it. This shows respect for other performers and the organizers. It also helps you leave a strong impression without overstaying your welcome. Most comedy open mics will operate a light system, they can very depending on the venue. Sometimes it might just be someone stood at the back with an iphone light, other times it might be a clock opposite the stage, or a green/red light system, i.e green you are good, red you need to wrap up your jokes and leave the stage. When you sign up for the comedy open mic be sure you know the specific rules of the light for that mic!

NETWORK WITH OTHER PERFORMERS >< Open mics are a great place to meet like-minded people. After your performance, stick around to watch others and mingle. You might find collaborators for future projects or simply make new friends who share your passion. Force yourself to introduce yourself to at least one other comedian. You will enjoy the hobby much, much more if you know at least some of the other comics.

CHOOSE SUBJECT MATTER >< There’s a thing called edge-lording, which basically means when a comedian is trying to be overtly controversial and trying to shock or disgust the audience into laughing. You’re far better off choosing any of a billion topics that are actually funny. Since anyone could get up there and say crazy controversial stuff, it is particularly annoying when beginners lean on this tactic. It burns out the audience. It’s generally considered an impolite way to traverse your sets as a beginner. At the end of the day any topic can be funny, but it has to have a punchline. For you first time, it is probably best to make sure you understand joke structure and that your jokes work before diving into very offensive material.

RESEARCH STAND UP COMEDY >< Many new comics get on stage without doing any research about stand up comedy and this can land you in hot water. To give yourself the best chance of success (and want to continue after your first time at an open mic) you should learn the art of comedy, joke structure and all that good stuff. The fact you have got to the end of this blog shows you’re up for learning about the craft of stand up comedy - woohoo! Learn the rules, then break the rules and be the awesome comedian you are destined to be!

We can wait to see you at an open mic!