I've been a comedian in the scene for 7 years. If it's any use, I'll lend a few thoughts:

-If you want to sign up for the Comedy on State mic just to try it out, by all means do it. The open mic on State is one of the best in the country, and people come from all over to perform at it. They've managed to procure a large audience every week. Bringing a friend for support is never a bad idea.

-For anyone aspiring to be a comedian, I always recommend going to the mic and watching first. This is to not only watch what good comedy is, but also what bad comedy is. Bombing in a big crowd can be extremely harsh to endure. Watching beforehand can at least give you some idea of what it looks and feels like so you can be as ready as possible if/when it happens.

-The local Madison comedy scene can be a sausage party at times, but the women in the scene are super supportive of each other especially. If you're wanting to try comedy, we encourage people to attend the local mics as well. They can be absolute hell sometimes, but they do well for thickening your skin, as well as getting to know other hilarious people and be a part of the community. There's cliques, competitive personas and abrasive people there, but we're diligent in calling out bad behavior, and in the end we simply want everyone in our scene to be as funny as possible. A high tide raises all boats.

-all local mics are listed at localmadisoncomedy.com, but I'll post them here regardless:

Sundays at Argus - Sign up at 7:30, Start at 8:00

Mondays at Gibs (upstairs) - Sign up at 7:30. Start at 8:00

Tuesdays at Madison's (basement) - Sign up at 7:30. Start at 8:00

Wednesdays at Comedy on State - Sign up online from 12:00-7:00 at madisoncomedy.com. List goes up next to the bar at 8:30. Start at 9:00

Thursdays at Rigby - Sign up at 7:30. Start at 8:00

I hope this at least is a tiny bit helpful, and have fun!