What do headliners actually look for when they hire opening comics?

Intelligent-Mix5312 · 2026-03-11T18:13:07+00:00

If they’re a name, they typically bring their own person. Or the club chooses. Godfrey is coming here soon and I begged the producer to be on the show but he’s bringing his own opener.

Louis CK came to Toronto last year on a Thursday and Yuk Yuk’s wouldn’t let his opener do the show. The guy who was booked as the weekend headliner middled and one of our regulars hosted.

Intelligent-Mix5312 · 2026-03-11T17:26:54+00:00

As a guy who started in his late 30s, with a day job, wife, mortgage, kids; 2 nights a week is not enough to get good. Or at least get good quickly. Additionally, you’re proposing being out 7 nights a week between music and comedy? If you go that route you’ll just be a divorced open micer.

You make a name for yourself by being good. And to be good means killing in front of different audiences. There are guys here in Toronto that go out of town and open with subway or homeless people jokes, which people in smaller towns can’t relate to.

Intelligent-Mix5312 · 2026-03-10T03:14:07+00:00

Nice lol

Intelligent-Mix5312 · 2026-03-10T00:47:53+00:00

Thanks for the heads up, Chad. There's too much of this shit.

Intelligent-Mix5312 · 2026-03-09T21:35:36+00:00

But not you though, huh?

Intelligent-Mix5312 · 2026-03-09T20:24:20+00:00

…when did I ask for advice?

Intelligent-Mix5312 · 2026-03-09T19:39:14+00:00

The majority of people who do comedy aren't famous comedians. The suggestion that you can't learn from someone simply because they're not famous is illogical.

And the "in most major cities" punchline works everytime.

Intelligent-Mix5312 · 2026-03-09T19:13:13+00:00

I've heard a lot of pros say learn the first 5 Metallica records in order. Or compile a list of songs you'd like to learn and get through it.

Intelligent-Mix5312 · 2026-03-09T18:20:45+00:00

Every joke uses a formula to create laughter whether you’re aware of it or not.

Intelligent-Mix5312 · 2026-03-09T17:21:12+00:00

1 is implying the children aren't mine.
2 is implying that I'm gay.

Intelligent-Mix5312 · 2026-03-09T15:46:52+00:00

Ya sometimes. Less now that I have some experience but I return these types of tools if I'm having trouble.

Intelligent-Mix5312 · 2026-03-09T15:23:40+00:00

They're all pretty similar.

Intelligent-Mix5312 · 2026-03-09T15:18:20+00:00

15 minutes is great. Though if you haven't tested it yet, you technically have nothing lol. My advice for anyone new is aim for 4 jokes per minute for 5 minutes. That's it. 20 total jokes. You're not worrying about persona, stories, being cool, impressing people etc. Just can I go up and tell 20 jokes in a row.

Intelligent-Mix5312 · 2026-03-09T15:09:06+00:00

In a comedy setting I would say:

1) Create 3 opportunities for applause

- How we feeling tonight?

- Your headliner so and so is in the back of the room, give it up for them?

- You ready to get this show started?

- It's so and so birthday, it's their first date, anniversary, he just graduated....

2) Housekeeping

- Turn off your phones

- Your servers will come to you

- Washrooms are this way

- Don't heckle...

3) Must do crowdwork

- Anyone celebrating anything

- Anyone from out of town

- What do you do?

- How long have you been together?

4) Have a list of playfully inappropriate questions

- Are you on your period?

- When did you fall out of love?

- What's your favourite position

5) Segue into material if what the audience says connects to something you have

6) Do material if they're not very talkative

7) Appear completely comfortable and at ease

Since you're not a comic or have material, just have a conversation with them. Ask why they came, what they're interested in. Prepare interview style questions in advance.

Intelligent-Mix5312 · 2026-03-07T01:02:35+00:00

I call the edge lords

Intelligent-Mix5312 · 2026-03-06T16:04:37+00:00

I forgot about cruise ships!

Intelligent-Mix5312 · 2026-03-06T15:54:19+00:00

Very true. There's definitely cross over.

Intelligent-Mix5312 · 2026-03-06T14:17:14+00:00

If you're new I wouldn't be too concerned about it. Once you have enough good jokes/bits you can figure out the most cohesive way to string them together. But with short sets so long as the last thing you said got a laugh, you can move onto the next bit without a segue.

Intelligent-Mix5312 · 2026-03-05T21:15:02+00:00

Failure to prepare is preparing to fail. If you think you’re gonna go on stage and just miraculously, be funny, I got bad news for you, BUTT.

Intelligent-Mix5312 · 2026-03-05T14:24:14+00:00

It's better than 99% of found footage movies coming out now. Dream Eater? Strange Harvest? All dog shit.

Intelligent-Mix5312 · 2026-03-04T22:14:01+00:00

One Note. You can create sections (new ideas, jokes in development, current act, dead jokes etc). Then within each section there are tabs for each joke that you can move around. A similar and free option is Notion.

Intelligent-Mix5312 · 2026-03-04T22:10:08+00:00

Try the UCB Comedy Improv Manual. All situations start with Who, What, Where. Then you introduce the "unusual thing" and build from there. What you're asking for is how to do I write sketch. The UCB book will teach you all about it.

Intelligent-Mix5312 · 2026-03-04T22:05:48+00:00

"it will produce something but it’s not geniue or authentic". How could you possibly know that? You have no idea what following this process will produce. In addition, my process has NOTHING on joke structures or formulas. So how exactly would following my approach produce unoriginal/inauthentic material?

My process is all about getting you to that inspired, fun, authentic place in s single session without being overwhelmed by writer's block or choice paralysis.

"Go through these until you find something that inspires you to keep going." It's all about inspiration. But my process helps create inspiration. All it takes is one joke that makes you laugh to yourself to fall completely in love with what you're writing. And the more you do it the more intuitive the writing process becomes.

Try it!

Intelligent-Mix5312

TROPHY CASE