Congratulations! You have a comedy show coming up that you’re on or maybe producing and want to help promote it.
Here are some quick tips to make the most of your social media posts:
Use an image
If you have a flyer, use it to make a post letting people know about the show. I sometimes see people post just a sentence or two of text on Facebook about the show. Nothing else.
If you can’t even bother to slap together a flyer, what makes you think people are going to come to the show?
Include a ticket link
You made a post. You included a flyer and have people’s attention. Include a ticket link in the post or in comments or in linktree or somewhere handy. A QR code on the flyer is nice, but you want to make it as easy as possible for potential audience members to grab tickets.
Promote one show at a time
You may have 4 shows this week at four different venues. Good for you. You can promote them all at once to show off a bit, but you need to promote each separately as well. You give people that many options and they are going to pick none.
When you get to be a headliner touring the country, you can do a post with links to all the cities you’ll be in. For now, take it one at a time.
Don’t just share someone else’s post
If the booker or another comic on the show posts about the show, grab the flyer and create your own posts. Don’t just share or like theirs.
But absolutely do also like theirs. You should engage as much as possible with any post, stories or reels about the show you’re on.
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.
A list of the upcoming comedy shows and open mics in the Louisville area and information to sign up or order tickets.
ENTER TO WINBILL ENGVALL TICKETS
Enter to win a pair of tickets to see Bill Engvall on his “Here’s Your Sign, It Wasn’t My Time” tour on Friday, June 26 at 7:30 at the Louisville Palace. SIGN UP HERE
Sign up to perform at Louisville Laughs open mics HERE
Sign up to be considered for Louisville Laughs shows or showcasesHERE
CHECK OUT UPCOMING SHOWS AND OPEN MICS
Wednesday, June 17
7 p.m. — Louisville Laughs presents: Wednesday Open Mic at TEN20 with host Creig Ewing and special guest Ben Scobee, TEN20 Craft Brewery. Free tickets.Sign up to perform HERE
To sign up for weekly Wednesday open mics with Louisville Laughs plus other monthly mics, fill out this form
Sundays — The Sunday Sh!t Show, all-entertainment showcase with Uncool Randy, Planet of the Tapes. Message @UncoolRandy on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Starting Nov. 10, signups will start at 5 p.m. and show at 5:30
Sundays — Comedy Attack! open mic, Kaiju. First Sunday of the month. Show up and sign upstarting at 9:30 p.m.
Mondays — The Planet of the Tapes Monday Mic, Planet of the Tapes. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. To sign up, email planetofthetapesopenmic@gmail.com
A list of the upcoming comedy shows and open mics in the Louisville area and information to sign up or order tickets.
ENTER TO WIN
Enter to win a pair of tickets to see Bill Engvall on his “Here’s Your Sign, It Wasn’t My Time” tour on Friday, June 26 at 7:30 at the Louisville Palace. SIGN UP HERE
To sign up for weekly Wednesday open mics with Louisville Laughs plus other monthly mics, fill out this form
Sundays — The Sunday Sh!t Show, all-entertainment showcase with Uncool Randy, Planet of the Tapes. Message @UncoolRandy on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Starting Nov. 10, signups will start at 5 p.m. and show at 5:30
Sundays — Comedy Attack! open mic, Kaiju. First Sunday of the month. Show up and sign upstarting at 9:30 p.m.
Mondays — The Planet of the Tapes Monday Mic, Planet of the Tapes. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. To sign up, email planetofthetapesopenmic@gmail.com
9 p.m. — Dive Bar mic, dive Bar on Frankfort, 2235 Frankfort Ave, Louisville. Free. To sign up message Brandy K Norton Productions @bkncomedy on Facebook
To sign up for weekly Wednesday open mics with Louisville Laughs plus other monthly mics, fill out this form
Sundays — The Sunday Sh!t Show, all-entertainment showcase with Uncool Randy, Planet of the Tapes. Message @UncoolRandy on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Starting Nov. 10, signups will start at 5 p.m. and show at 5:30
Sundays — Comedy Attack! open mic, Kaiju. First Sunday of the month. Show up and sign upstarting at 9:30 p.m.
Mondays — The Planet of the Tapes Monday Mic, Planet of the Tapes. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. To sign up, email planetofthetapesopenmic@gmail.com
When you are competing in a contest, like the Funniest Person In Louisville contest, you want to get the audience on your side. Here are some things you can do to win the audience over:
Be confident and energetic on stage
Audience members feed off your energy. If you appear comfortable, confident and happy, they will go on the ride with you. Keep your head up, look at the crowd and do your thing.
Avoid body language that makes you look nervous or bored on stage, like looking at the floor with your hands in your pockets or rubbing the back of your neck.
If you look tired of your own material, how do you think the audience feels?
Act like this is the first time you’ve ever told these jokes
Standup is a performance. Your goal is to deliver your set as if you’ve never said these jokes about your mother-in-law before.
I recently saw a comic do crowd work and prepared jokes back and forth. He raced through the prepared jokes at twice the speed like he couldn’t wait to get through them.
If that’s how you feel about your material, how do you think the audience feels?
Skip the controversial stuff
A good comic can do jokes about anything, but certain topics are particularly dangerous.
If you do jokes about politics, you may lose half the room. If you do jokes that are homophobic, transphobic or racist, you will turn off audience members and some judges.
Over the years, we’ve had plenty of audience members rip comics they felt crossed the line on their ballots.
Also, you don’t have to be clean, but if your material is too dirty, you are going to lose votes.
Keep it tight
You can win the audience to your side with a laugh in the first 30 seconds. So go up planning to get that quick laugh. Don’t waste that time asking everyone how they are doing or rambling before you start telling a joke.
Take your time and sell your jokes
You should know what your punchlines are and where you expect/hope the audience to laugh. Emphasize them.
Often, comics will go through their set at the same speed and tone. Help clue the audience in when you expect them to laugh. Pause or speak up. If the audience doesn’t clearly hear the punchline, they aren’t going to laugh.
Also, you should have some feeling about your material and show it. You aren’t an AI joke generator yet. Let people know that you are angry about this thing or confused by that thing or frustrated or happy. Show some emotion.
Look for opportunities
One way to help win over an audience is to include them. For example, you could do a callback to something the host or another comic said or something that happened in the room.
Remember to move the mic stand and don’t run the light.
8 p.m. — The LRS Laugh Lounge open mic comedy, Mr. G’s Bar & Grill, Middletown. Free. Show up and sign up.
9 p.m. — Dive Bar mic, dive Bar on Frankfort, 2235 Frankfort Ave, Louisville. Free. To sign up message Brandy K Norton Productions @bkncomedy on Facebook
8 p.m. — The LRS Laugh Lounge open mic comedy, Mr. G’s Bar & Grill, Middletown. Free. Show up and sign up.
9 p.m. — Dive Bar mic, dive Bar on Frankfort, 2235 Frankfort Ave, Louisville. Free. To sign up message Brandy K Norton Productions @bkncomedy on Facebook
8 p.m. — The LRS Laugh Lounge open mic comedy, Mr. G’s Bar & Grill, Middletown. Free. Show up and sign up.
9 p.m. — Dive Bar mic, dive Bar on Frankfort, 2235 Frankfort Ave, Louisville. Free. To sign up message Brandy K Norton Productions @bkncomedy on Facebook
8 p.m. — The LRS Laugh Lounge open mic comedy, Mr. G’s Bar & Grill, Middletown. Free. Show up and sign up.
9 p.m. — Dive Bar mic, dive Bar on Frankfort, 2235 Frankfort Ave, Louisville. Free. To sign up message Brandy K Norton Productions @bkncomedy on Facebook
8 p.m. — The LRS Laugh Lounge open mic comedy, Mr. G’s Bar & Grill, Middletown. Free. Show up and sign up.
9 p.m. — Dive Bar mic, dive Bar on Frankfort, 2235 Frankfort Ave, Louisville. Free. To sign up message Brandy K Norton Productions @bkncomedy on Facebook
5:30 p.m. — The Sunday Sh!t Show, all-entertainment showcase with Uncool Randy, Planet of the Tapes. Signups starting at 5 p.m.
7 p.m. — Louisville Laughs presents: Funniest Person In Louisville qualifier #8 with special guest Keith McGill, TEN20 Craft Brewery.Tickets
TO SIGN UP FOR OPEN MICS
To sign up for weekly Wednesday open mics with Louisville Laughs plus other monthly mics, fill out this form
Sundays — The Sunday Sh!t Show, all-entertainment showcase with Uncool Randy, Planet of the Tapes. Message @UncoolRandy on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Starting Nov. 10, signups will start at 5 p.m. and show at 5:30
Sundays — Comedy Attack! open mic, Kaiju. First Sunday of the month. Show up and sign upstarting at 9:30 p.m.
Mondays — The Planet of the Tapes Monday Mic, Planet of the Tapes. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. To sign up, email planetofthetapesopenmic@gmail.com
Thursdays — Dive Bar mic, dive Bar on Frankfort, 2235 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, 9 p.m. To sign up message Brandy K Norton Productions @bkncomedy on Facebook
Thursdays — The LRS Laugh Lounge open mic comedy, Mr. G’s Bar & Grill, Middletown, 8 p.m. Show up and sign up.
A lot of fun is planned for the summer, including the start of the Funniest Person In Louisville contest. Check out what’s on tap and come enjoy some laughs.
Sign up to perform on future Louisville Laughs open mics HERE
Join Louisville Laughs for a comedy open mic with comics from across the region on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at TEN20 Craft Brewery in Butchertown.
The lineup:
Host: Creig Ewing Buelo Jon Bass Joey G Lee Misty Stine Ethan Cash Andreas Ali Mista G’Cue Wes Yunker Rowan Little Johnny Doss Brian Rogers David Kelley Elijah Perkins Hillary Boston Benjamin James Special guest: Nathaniel Potts-Wells
Enjoy a night of laughter, craft beer, pizza, nachos and more.
A list of the upcoming comedy shows and open mics in the Louisville area and information to sign up or order tickets.
Sign up to perform at Louisville Laughs open mics HERE
UPCOMING SHOWS AND OPEN MICS
Wednesday, May 20
7 p.m. — Louisville Laughs presents: Wednesday Open Mic at TEN20 with guest host Hillary Boston and special guest Destiny Jean, TEN20 Craft Brewery. Free. Sign up to perform HERE
8 p.m. — The LRS Laugh Lounge open mic comedy, Mr. G’s Bar & Grill, Middletown. Free. Show up and sign up.
9 p.m. — Dive Bar mic, dive Bar on Frankfort, 2235 Frankfort Ave, Louisville. Free. To sign up message Brandy K Norton Productions @bkncomedy on Facebook
8 p.m. — The LRS Laugh Lounge open mic comedy, Mr. G’s Bar & Grill, Middletown. Free. Show up and sign up.
9 p.m. — Dive Bar mic, dive Bar on Frankfort, 2235 Frankfort Ave, Louisville. Free. To sign up message Brandy K Norton Productions @bkncomedy on Facebook
8 p.m. — The LRS Laugh Lounge open mic comedy, Mr. G’s Bar & Grill, Middletown. Free. Show up and sign up.
9 p.m. — Dive Bar mic, dive Bar on Frankfort, 2235 Frankfort Ave, Louisville. Free. To sign up message Brandy K Norton Productions @bkncomedy on Facebook
8 p.m. — The LRS Laugh Lounge open mic comedy, Mr. G’s Bar & Grill, Middletown. Free. Show up and sign up.
9 p.m. — Dive Bar mic, dive Bar on Frankfort, 2235 Frankfort Ave, Louisville. Free. To sign up message Brandy K Norton Productions @bkncomedy on Facebook
8 p.m. — The LRS Laugh Lounge open mic comedy, Mr. G’s Bar & Grill, Middletown. Free. Show up and sign up.
9 p.m. — Dive Bar mic, dive Bar on Frankfort, 2235 Frankfort Ave, Louisville. Free. To sign up message Brandy K Norton Productions @bkncomedy on Facebook
10 p.m. — Comedy Attack open mic, Kaiju. Free. Signups at 9:30 p.m.
TO SIGN UP FOR OPEN MICS
To sign up for weekly Wednesday open mics with Louisville Laughs plus other monthly mics, fill out this form
Sundays — The Sunday Sh!t Show, all-entertainment showcase with Uncool Randy, Planet of the Tapes. Message @UncoolRandy on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Starting Nov. 10, signups will start at 5 p.m. and show at 5:30
Sundays — Comedy Attack! open mic, Kaiju. First Sunday of the month. Show up and sign upstarting at 9:30 p.m.
Mondays — The Planet of the Tapes Monday Mic, Planet of the Tapes. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. To sign up, email planetofthetapesopenmic@gmail.com
Thursdays — Dive Bar mic, dive Bar on Frankfort, 2235 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, 9 p.m. To sign up message Brandy K Norton Productions @bkncomedy on Facebook
Thursdays — The LRS Laugh Lounge open mic comedy, Mr. G’s Bar & Grill, Middletown, 8 p.m. Show up and sign up.
The Funniest Person In Louisville contest from Louisville Laughs runs from May 29 until July 9. This year is the biggest ever with 14 shows — 8 qualifying rounds, 4 semifinals and separate Semi-Pro and Amateur finals.
Niney-four standup comics are competing for more than $1,600 in prize money and bookings, including a paid spot on a Laughing Dad show with Danny Browning.
In addition, each show has a special guest closing it out while votes are counted.
Lineups, tickets and information below. Use the Promo Code from your favorite comic and save $2 per ticket online in the qualifying-round shows.
The Semi-Pro comics who made it through the qualifying and semifinal rounds compete to be named the Funniest Person In Louisville, and the audience helps decide the winner.
The Amateur comics who made it through the qualifying and semifinal rounds compete to be named the Funniest in Louisville, and the audience helps decide the winner.
Special guest is Ben Stewart.
Questions?
Email Louisville Laughs at LouisvilleLaughs2@gmail.com
8 p.m. — The LRS Laugh Lounge open mic comedy, Mr. G’s Bar & Grill, Middletown. Free. Show up and sign up.
9 p.m. — Dive Bar mic, dive Bar on Frankfort, 2235 Frankfort Ave, Louisville. Free. To sign up message Brandy K Norton Productions @bkncomedy on Facebook
8 p.m. — The LRS Laugh Lounge open mic comedy, Mr. G’s Bar & Grill, Middletown. Free. Show up and sign up.
9 p.m. — Dive Bar mic, dive Bar on Frankfort, 2235 Frankfort Ave, Louisville. Free. To sign up message Brandy K Norton Productions @bkncomedy on Facebook
8 p.m. — The LRS Laugh Lounge open mic comedy, Mr. G’s Bar & Grill, Middletown. Free. Show up and sign up.
9 p.m. — Dive Bar mic, dive Bar on Frankfort, 2235 Frankfort Ave, Louisville. Free. To sign up message Brandy K Norton Productions @bkncomedy on Facebook
8 p.m. — The LRS Laugh Lounge open mic comedy, Mr. G’s Bar & Grill, Middletown. Free. Show up and sign up.
9 p.m. — Dive Bar mic, dive Bar on Frankfort, 2235 Frankfort Ave, Louisville. Free. To sign up message Brandy K Norton Productions @bkncomedy on Facebook
10 p.m. — Comedy Attack open mic, Kaiju. Free. Signups at 9:30 p.m.
TO SIGN UP FOR OPEN MICS
To sign up for weekly Wednesday open mics with Louisville Laughs plus other monthly mics, fill out this form
Sundays — The Sunday Sh!t Show, all-entertainment showcase with Uncool Randy, Planet of the Tapes. Message @UncoolRandy on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Starting Nov. 10, signups will start at 5 p.m. and show at 5:30
Sundays — Comedy Attack! open mic, Kaiju. First Sunday of the month. Show up and sign upstarting at 9:30 p.m.
Mondays — The Planet of the Tapes Monday Mic, Planet of the Tapes. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. To sign up, email planetofthetapesopenmic@gmail.com
Thursdays — Dive Bar mic, dive Bar on Frankfort, 2235 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, 9 p.m. To sign up message Brandy K Norton Productions @bkncomedy on Facebook
Thursdays — The LRS Laugh Lounge open mic comedy, Mr. G’s Bar & Grill, Middletown, 8 p.m. Show up and sign up.
