The most important ingredient to having a good standup comedy show is having an audience. The more people, the better. The good news is that you can help bring people to the show by promoting it.
Yes, the venue should promote the show. But don’t count on that. If the venue has events every night, they may not put much effort into your show. If they don’t often have shows, it’s probably not in anyone’s job description to promote your show.
Yes, the booker should promote the show and hopefully does. But that doesn’t mean you can’t pitch in. It’s like moving a couch. One person can drag it across the floor, or six people can toss it out the door.
Whether you think it’s your job or not, if you get to be known as a comic who doesn’t promote shows or get people out, bookers and club owners will not want to work with you.
Here are some tips to promote shows you are involved with:
Speak only for yourself
Lots of times comics try to be self-deprecating in their promotional posts and say things like, “I don’t know if I’m funny or if anyone else on the show is.”
Do you think that is likely to attract people to come to the show? (Hint: It’s not.)
Other times comics will try attitude like, “Come out to the show on Friday, we comics are gonna f*ck sh!t up!”
Maybe f*cking sh!t up isn’t the vibe the booker or other comics are going for. So don’t speak for them.
Confidence is a key ingredient in comedy. Project confidence in your posts that the audience will have a good time.
Don’t assume you are just promoting to friends and family
If moving up in comedy is your goal, you will need to be a comic who can get more than just the same friends and family to shows. So promote like you have a following of people who enjoy your comedy. Maybe that will manifest.
Even if you are in the stage of your comedy career where your friends are tired of seeing you and you don’t have a following, you are helping by spreading the word on the Internet.
Don’t wait until the day of the show
Ideally, you start promoting a show 2 weeks out or so. Don’t wait until the day of the show to start. People already have plans.
Use the flyer
If the promoter posts a flyer, grab it and create your own posts or reels on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, wherever, using the flyer.
Don’t just share someone else’s post; create your own.
If the promoter makes a flyer specifically for you with your photo on the flyer, definitely use that flyer.
Add a ticket link
You want to make it easy for people who see your post to get tickets, so include a ticket link. Don’t make them hunt for tickets.
Promote one show at a time
Again, for the interest of making it easy on potential audience members, promote one show at a time.
If you have a post that says you will be on three shows this week, then the potential audience members have to figure out if they want to go to one of them and find the ticket link.
Post your shows separately.
Avoid AI without permission
AI flyers are controversial in the comedy and creative world. If you are on a show, don’t create a flyer using AI without asking the booker or club if they are cool with it.
Be creative
Dress up the show flyer (without AI) or make a video promoting the show if that’s your thing.
Good luck!
