Louisville Laughs has several opportunities for stage time open to any comics in March and beyond, including the Funniest Person In Louisville contest, open mics and an open mic/headshot session.
Check them out and sign up below.
Funniest Person In Louisville contest
Various venues
Rounds begin in May, semifinals and finals July 9-11
Registration is open for the Funniest Person In Louisville contest from Louisville Laughs. Compete as an Amateur or Semi-Pro.
Semifinals and finals are July 9-22
Entry fee is $25. Each comic gets their own Promo Code that pays them $5 for each ticket purchased in advance using their code.
A list of the upcoming comedy shows and open mics in the Louisville area. Plus, a chance to win tickets.
FUNNIEST PERSON IN LOUISVILLE REGISTRATION OPEN
Registration is now open for the Funnest Person In Louisville contest. Semifinals and finals scheduled for July 9-11. Opening rounds to begin in May. Entry fee $20 by Feb. 13 and $25 after. Amateur and Semi-Pro categories. Comics earn $5 for every ticket bought using their unique promo code.
7:30 p.m. — Wednesday Night Open Mic with guest host Caroline Houchins and special guest Aimee Jewell, The Caravan Comedy Club. TicketsTo sign up to perform, email CaravanOpenMic@gmail.com
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.
TO SIGN UP FOR OPEN MICS
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. Plus, a chance to win tickets.
UPCOMING SHOWS AND OPEN MICS
FUNNIEST PERSON IN LOUISVILLE REGISTRATION OPEN
Registration is now open for the Funnest Person In Louisville contest. Semifinals and finals scheduled for July 9-11. Opening rounds to begin in May. Entry fee $20 by Feb. 13 and $25 after. Amateur and Semi-Pro categories. Comics earn $5 for every ticket bought using their unique promo code.
7:30 p.m. — Wednesday Night Open Mic with host Creig Ewing and special guest Big Jake Hovis, The Caravan Comedy Club. TicketsTo sign up to perform, email CaravanOpenMic@gmail.com
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
Afrolachia is a pioneering collective of headlining comedians from the heart of Appalachia, embodying the diverse, vibrant voices and narratives of Black excellence in comedy.
Comics include some of the most successful comics in Kentucky who often headline and travel across the country: Holly Lynnea, Joe Deuce, Will McKenzie, Keith McGill, Larry Starks, Goo McIntyre, Sean Smith and Eric Kimbrough.
Afrolachia member Sean Smith of Louisville answered some questions from Louisville Laughs.
What is Afrolachia?
Afrolachia is an entertainment community providing an outlet for great entertainers of color in the Appalachian Region, using comedy in the way our people use music, storytelling and other art to tell the truth about our experiences.
Inspired by artistic movements by creatives banding together to make away for themselves and others, we aspire to craft a similar path.
How does Afrolachia differ from a traditional standup comedy show?
Most comedy shows are set up to showcase the headliner. Our show is set up to showcase the performers. We are trying to create a unique experience that you won’t be able to find anywhere else.
At the end of every show, we end with a Question and Answer session that brings authenticity to the performance.
What can people expect to see at the show on Feb. 15 at Actors Theatre of Louisville?
People can expect to see a celebration of black comedy with 8 different performers having their own styles and original material. The heart of this show is our belief in stand-up comedy as an artform that can reach anyone.
It is a way that is truly different from any other performance style. Our expansion of the art form with music and filmed sketches is a way to add different elements to our show and set it apart from others.
Sean Smith
Do you find that comics from Black Appalachia have experiences that people haven’t heard or that many people aren’t even aware of a Black Appalachia?
I believe what you’re asking is if Black comedians have experiences that people haven’t heard or that many people aren’t aware of. I’ll answer that two different ways:
All of us have stories of getting on stage and saying proudly “I’m from Kentucky…” and getting off stage and hearing “They have black people there?”
Black people who don’t live in New York, L.A., or Atlanta often get grouped into one big, imaginary voice. But our experiences aren’t monolithic. We come from country roads, city blocks, small towns, and everywhere in between.
When we travel, sometimes we have to adjust to what the crowd thinks our voice should sound like. Afrolachia is about not adjusting. It’s about being fully ourselves and letting that resonate with whoever’s listening.
Turns out, authenticity travels well.
What is the goal for this Afrolachia?
Kentucky and surrounding areas are filled with incredible talent. Our problem is that our aspirations are too low. Everyone is fighting over the same stages and being recognized on local Top Ten lists. But what else can you aspire to if you’ve never seen anyone get more attention than that?
People tell us constantly that we have to leave whatever city we’re from to be “successful” in the art form. When they leave, those people are mysteriously no longer from your city. Now they’re being introduced as “From Chicago” or “From Atlanta.”
We will transcend traditional pathways to comedy stardom while shining a light on the voices within Black communities that have yet to be heard.
Check out the Afrolachia website here and join the movement.
Get your tickets to the Feb. 15 Actor’s Theatre show here.
A list of the upcoming comedy shows and open mics in the Louisville area. Plus, a chance to win tickets.
DAVIN ROSENBLATT TICKET GIVEAWAY
Louisville Laughs is offering tickets to see comedian and nationally syndicated radio host Davin Rosenblatt at The Caravan Comedy Club this week — Feb. 5-7. Sign up for tickets here
7:30 p.m. — Don’t Tell Comedy presents: Secret show in Germantown. Tickets
7:30 p.m. — Romantics vs. Rebels: Choose a queendom and fight for honor, glory and hilarity! This audience interactive theatrical farce is a mix of burlesque, music, comedy and game show. Planet of the Tapes. Tickets
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
Louisville Laughs has lots of laughs planned for February, including comedy classes and special shows for Valentine’s Day. Check them out and save money with Promo Codes.
Celebrate Galentine’s Day with comedian Mandee McKelvey at the TEN20 Taproom in Clarksville, IN.
As one of the Midwest’s most acclaimed stand-up comedians, Mandee’s candor, touch of vulgarity, and infectious sense of humor reveal an earnestness and vulnerability that invites us to find the humor in tragedy.
Her one-woman show, “My Left Boob,” received the Underdog Award for its sold-out debut at the 2019 IndyFringe and Kansas City’s Best of Fringe award in 2022. In 2023, she received a grant from the Kentucky Foundation for Women to film her first comedy special.
Also on the show are comics Lena Beamish and Hillary Boston.
TEN20 Clarksville will have beer, drinks and pizza available for purchase.
Use Promo Code MANDEE and save $5 on tickets while they last.
Spend your Valentine’s Day with laughs, beer and pizza at the TEN20 Taproom in Clarksville, IN.
It will be a great time with comics from across the region: Indianapolis comic Laura Cord, Cincinnati comic Katie Gayer and Louisville favorites Bonita Elery, Lynn Benson and host Hillary Boston.
Use Promo Code VALENTINE and save $10 per ticket, while they last.
Louisville Laughs is offering another round of comedy classes geared for new comics of comics looking to take a step up.
Comedy Writing is Feb. 21 and focuses on finding and tightening material.
Comedy performing is Feb. 22 and works on presenting material and finding stage time.
Instructors include Keith McGill, Bret Sohl and Creig Ewing, who have decades of experience performing comedy, putting on shows, booking shows and lifting up talent.
Join Creig Ewing and friends on Thursday, Feb. 26, at The Caravan Comedy Club for a night of laughter.
The lineup includes:
Cincinnati comic Ossia Dwyer, Nashville’s Katie Stewart and Louisville favorites Danny Hucks and Vish Bysani, in his last performance in Louisville before heading to California.
Join us on March 1 for Sunday Laughs at TEN20 for a show featuring two nationally touring comics.
Geneva Rust-Orta is a Brooklyn-based from Oakland, CA. Her debut comedy special, “Normal Father,” is available on You Tube and the album will be released in February. She was a finalist in the 2025 Don’t Tell Comedy Competition.
Dale Dymkoski is an actor and comic based in LA and claims to be the world’s deafest, fittest stroke survivor.
Come out for a night of laughs, craft beer, pizza, tacos and more.
Our show on March 15 features Nashville comic John Dollar, the 2025 Funniest Person In Louisville contest winner, plus fellow Nashville comic Sean Griffin.
Also on the show are Cincinnati’s Allison Stapp; James Tanford in from New York; and Louisville favorites Ty Leach and host Hillary Boston.
In addition to laughs, TEN20 also serves delicious craft beer pizza, tacos and more.
A list of the upcoming comedy shows and open mics in the Louisville area. Plus, a chance to win tickets.
WEIRD AL TICKET GIVEAWAY
Louisville Laughs and Live Nation are offering a pair of tickets to see Weird Al Yankovic on his Bigger & Weirder 2026 Tour at the KFC Yum! Center on Sunday, June 14, at 7:30 p.m. Register here
7:30 p.m. — Wednesday Night Open Mic with host Creig Ewing and special guest Sean Hughes, The Caravan Comedy Club. TicketsTo sign up to perform, email CaravanOpenMic@gmail.com
7:30 p.m. — Don’t Tell Comedy presents: Secret show in Germantown. Tickets
7:30 p.m. — Romantics vs. Rebels: Choose a queendom and fight for honor, glory and hilarity! This audience interactive theatrical farce is a mix of burlesque, music, comedy and game show. Planet of the Tapes. Tickets
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
You decided you want to try stand-up comedy. Congratulations. Whether it’s a bucket-list goal or you believe you’re the next Nate Bargatze, here are some tips to make your first (or next) time on stage a success.
Gather your jokes
Some people try to go onstage with a vague idea of what they plan to say or plan to just wing it. Don’t be one of those people. Compile your jokes.
Ideally, whatever jokes you tell should say something about you. Anyone can tell a joke about body parts we all have, the latest thing in the news or Donald Trump — and they do.
Stand out. Be yourself. You are the expert on your family, your friends, your life.
Record your joke ideas right away
At first, I wrote down every joke by hand. Now I do a lot of the editing in my head, but I always carry a notebook or something to write down joke ideas.
If writing by hand isn’t your thing, type or dictate them into a phone. Ideas may come to you at any time. A cashier says something funny. You’re helping a friend move. If you have an idea, write it down or record it. If you are certain you’ll remember it later, you will be sorry.
A pretty good way to spot a comic is to find someone scribbling in a well-worn notebook.
Practice your routine
Go over your material. You can do it in front of a mirror, before other comics or in your head. I often go over what I am going to say in my head while I’m taking a walk. It helps to keep you free from distractions.
While reviewing your jokes, get rid of words that aren’t needed to get to the laughs.
Time yourself
As a new comic, you probably will get 3 to 5 minutes on stage. Comedy clubs are serious about the time allowed. At most places you will get a light alerting you there is a minute left. If you go over your time that is called “running the light” and is frowned upon.
As you continue in your comedy journey, you will get more time on stage but you still will need to be able to end when you are supposed to.
It’s no sin to leave the stage with some time left. It is a sin to go over your time. When timing yourself, leave some room for laughs.
Cut out wasted words
Your job is to get laughs. Keep the words that are needed to get to the funny and cut the rest.
You may have a funny story about the time you found your dog in the dryer. Don’t start with when you picked out the dog as a puppy.
Figure out what is needed to make sense and make the story flow and leave out what is not adding laughs.
Use original material
It is understood in stand-up comedy that the jokes you are telling on stage are jokes that you’ve written. Sometimes you will hear new comics tell jokes that have been told around the water cooler forever. Those are called “street jokes.” You don’t want to tell them on stage.
If you get successful enough, you can buy jokes others have written. For now, concentrate on writing your own material.
Sometimes you hear comics tell jokes that other comics have told. That is called joke theft, and you also don’t want to be known for that.
It’s not unusual for comics to arrive at the same basic joke at the same time. This especially happens if you are writing jokes about current events or common joke topics like online dating. The more you original you are, the fewer problems you’ll have telling jokes similar to others.
I would encourage new comics to try clean or PG 13 material to start. If you can work clean, you will have more opportunities to perform in more places than if you are throwing F-bombs around on stage.
See live shows beforehand
If you’re going on stage and you’ve never seen a comedy show outside of Netflix, see some in person. If possible, go to the club or venue where you are going to go up for the first time.
It will help to get more comfortable. You can see where the comics sit, where the list for the order of the performance is kept, who is in charge, what the audience reacts to and what doesn’t work. It will put you way ahead for your big night.
The more shows or open mics you see, the better grasp you will have of what works and what doesn’t. Be aware that all open mics are not equal.
Schedule your open mic
Not all open mics work the same. For a comedy club, you may need to email for a date that could be weeks away. If you email a club about an open mic, tell them your name, where you are from and you can tell them it’s your first time. Clubs like first-timers because they tend to bring audience members.
You don’t have to explain that your friends think you are funny or that you were in your middle-school play. It’s an open mic, so everyone gets the chance on stage.
A Thursday night open mic at a bar may be “show up and sign up” meaning you go and put your name on the list for a spot that night. Some of these types of mics are popular and the list fills up early.
Don’t assume that an open mic means you can show up with no warning and get on stage. Do some research.
Be confident or fake it
Confidence is a big factor in comedy. Teachers often do well because they are used to talking to a room full of people who may not even be listening. You’ve practiced your jokes, you know them by heart, your friends laughed, so get up there confident that the audience will love you.
You’re still going to be scared, but trust yourself. You got this. If you appear overly nervous, people may not laugh because they are worried for you.
Stay sober
It’s tempting to have a few shots of liquid courage before you go onstage. Save it for after your set when you are celebrating.
Remember when you went to the open mic and saw the guy say, “I’m so toasted I can’t remember what I was going to say?” Don’t be that comic.
Tell people it’s your first time
If it’s your first time on stage doing standup, let the host know and let the audience know. If it’s an open mic with mostly comedians, you will have their attention. And audience members are supportive of new comics. You’re doing something most of them couldn’t imagine doing.
Move the mic stand behind you
You’re introduced, and now you’re on stage. The microphone will probably be in a stand. You can leave the mic in the stand and do your set that way. If you take the mic out, move the mic stand behind or beside you. You don’t want it to be in front of you blocking you.
My first time I was afraid I would drop the mic, so I left it in the stand. It frees up your hands, and some comics prefer it
Look at the audience
You are telling your jokes, but where do you look? Look at the audience. Move and turn to address the whole room. Ideally, you look straight at certain audience members if a joke seems to relate to them (you’re telling a joke about dating and a couple is in the front row).
But if this is too much the first time, look slightly over their heads. Don’t put your head down and talk to the floor or just stare at one side of the room. The sooner you are able to look at the audience the easier it will be.
Hold the mic below your chin
You’re doing great and have moved the mic stand behind you. Make sure to keep the microphone close to and below your chin. Sometimes comics wave their arms around and forget they are holding the mic. We can’t hear you if the mic is near your belly button.
But don’t put the mic right in front of your face. Then we can’t see you. And don’t cup the mic like a rapper. That distorts the sound.
Also, don’t scream into the mic. You want everyone to hear you but not bust any eardrums. If you have a bit where you yell, move the mic away.
Don’t fiddle with the stand. And definitely don’t drop the mic. It’s not funny and good mics are expensive.
Look for the light
You’re almost done. Keep an eye for the light signaling your time is almost up. It may be a small light from a phone. New comics often are so into the moment they don’t see the light.
You will have no sense of time on stage. Trust me. Your 3 minutes can seem to go by in 3 seconds or 3 hours. But you have practiced and timed yourself so you know that your time is wrapping up just by where you are in your jokes.
The light signaling your time is almost up should not be confused with the spotlights. Don’t stare into them. They may be really bright.
You did it
You’re wrapping up. Put the mic back into the stand and put the stand back in front. It’s a signal that you are done. Thank the crowd and wait for the host to come up on the stage.
Congratulations!
Stay for the rest of the show
Unless you were the last comic, don’t leave the show with all the friends and family you brought till it’s over. Nothing kills the vibe of a show like a first-time comic who brought 30 people and who all leave as soon as their friend performs.
Stay till the end. Talk to some other comics afterward. That’s your first step to getting on your next show.
Get on stage again as much as possible
If being a comedian is your goal, and not a one-time bucket list thing, you need to get on stage as much as possible to get better.
The comics that get good fast get on stage a lot. Not jusrt once a month or so.
Being on stage helps you get rid of the nerves, fine-tune material, ditch parts that don’t work and just get more comfortable facing an audience.
You’ll notice that comics that headline shows or sell out arenas are unfazed if things go wrong or people don’t laugh at a joke because they know they are good and this material works and can handle anything because they’ve seen it all.
Good luck!
About the authors
Creig Ewing is a comedian, show producer and the person behind Louisville Laughs. He has helped to put on hundreds of open mics, showcases and comedy shows in the Louisville area. He has hosted numerous shows and has featured at The Caravan Comedy Club and Planet of the Tapes in Louisville.
Keith McGill is a comedian who toured internationally working cruise ships and is a much sought-after entertaining for corporate events.
A list of the upcoming comedy shows and open mics in the Louisville area. Plus, a chance to win tickets.
WEIRD AL TICKET GIVEAWAY
Louisville Laughs and Live Nation are offering a pair of tickets to see Weird Al Yankovic on his Bigger & Weirder 2026 Tour at the KFC Yum! Center on Sunday, June 14, at 7:30 p.m. Register here
7:30 p.m. — Don’t Tell Comedy presents: Secret show in Germantown. Tickets
7:30 p.m. — Romantics vs. Rebels: Choose a queendom and fight for honor, glory and hilarity! This audience interactive theatrical farce is a mix of burlesque, music, comedy and game show. Planet of the Tapes. Tickets
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.
TO SIGN UP FOR OPEN MICS
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
Joke-Off is back for 2026! Twenty-four comics are put in brackets.
They compete head-to-head telling their best joke. Judges Mandee McKelvey, Keith McGill and Sean Smith, with help from the audience, decide which joke is funnier.
We keep going until only the Joke-Off champion is left.
Come out for a night of laughs, craft beer, pizza, nachos and more.
Celebrate Galentine’s Day with comedian Mandee McKelvey at the TEN20 Taproom in Clarksville, IN.
As one of the Midwest’s most acclaimed stand-up comedians, Mandee’s candor, touch of vulgarity, and infectious sense of humor reveal an earnestness and vulnerability that invites us to find the humor in tragedy.
Her one-woman show, “My Left Boob,” received the Underdog Award for it’s sold-out debut at the 2019 IndyFringe and Kansas City’s Best of Fringe award in 2022. In 2023, she received a grant from the Kentucky Foundation for Women to film her first comedy special.
Also on the show are comics Lena Beamish and Hillary Boston.
TEN20 Clarksville will have beer, drinks and pizza available for purchase.
Use Promo Code MANDEE and save $5 on tickets while they last.
Spend your Valentine’s Day with laughs, beer and pizza at the TEN20 Taproom in Clarksville, IN.
It will be a great time with comics from across the region: Indianapolis comic Laura Cord, Cincinnati comic Katie Gayer and Louisville favorites Bonita Elery, Cali Botkin and host Hillary Boston.
Use Promo Code VALENTINE and save $10 per ticket, while they last.
