The final night of the Funniest Person In Louisville contest from Louisville Laughs is here!
This year more than 80 comics entered in hopes of being named Louisville’s Funniest in Amateur and Semi-Pro categories. The comics who advanced out of qualifiers will be on stage tonight at The Caravan Comedy Club.
The last semifinal isat 7:30 p.m. and the Funniest Person In Louisville final is at 9:30 p.m.
Join Louisville Laughs for our monthly comedy show at Gravely Brewing.
May’s show features Cincinnati comic Chris Weir; Bloomington’s Eric Hook and Wyatt McKinley; Jenny Roberts in from California, Louisville’s Bonita Elery and host Hillary Boston.
Admission is free. Come out for a night of laughter, great craft beer and delicious food from Eliana’s Honduran Cafe.
Join Louisville Laughs for a night of fun at Roselynn Hill Winery, a unique event space and tasting room in Jeffersontown.
The headliner is Kelly Collette, a standup comedian, writer and storyteller from Cincinnati. She has been featured on Sirius XM, NPR and has a DryBar Comedy Special called I made you this.
The show also features Zach Wycuff, who has been named the Funniest Person In Cincinnati and the Funniest Person In Columbus.
The host is Louisville’s Creig Ewing.
Tickets are $25 and that includes $10 toward the purchase of wine or other beverages.
Join Louisville Laughs for a night of laughter and fun on Mother’s Day.
We invited several of our favorite comics that Mom will love — Crystal Phoenix, Cathy Perkins, Lynn Benson, Katy Bevins, Donna Watts and host Lena Beamish.
It’s going to be a night of laughter, great craft beer and cocktails, delicious pizza from Mozza Pi and tacos and more from the new tacqueria.
Join Louisville Laughs for a night of laughter at Roselyn Hill Winery, a unique event space and tasting room in Jeffersontown.
The headliner is Kelly Collette, a standup comedian, writer and storyteller from Cincinnati. She has been featured on Sirius XM, NPR and has a DryBar Comedy Special called I made you this.
In 2022, Kelly became the first standup comedian to be an Artist In Residence at Acadia National Park, making history in the National Parks.
The show also features Zach Wycuff, who has been named the Funniest Person In Cincinnati and the Funniest Person In Columbus.
The host is Louisville’s Creig Ewing.
Tickets are $25 and that includes $10 toward the purchase of wine or other beverages.
February’s Comedy Night at Gravely standup comedy showcase features Cincinnati comic Tabari McCoy.
Also on the show are Funniest Person In Louisville favorite Cory Miller, Louisville’s Katelyn Owens, Johnny Doss and Jazmin Smith and host Hillary Boston.
Tickets are free and ensure seating.
Enjoy great draft beer and delicious food from Eliana’s Cafe.
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 and wing it. Don’t be one of those people. Compile your set of jokes.
Whatever jokes you tell should say something about you. Anyone call 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.
Write your ideas down
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, always look to 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 from joke writers. 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 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 with all your friends and get on stage. Do some research.
Be confident or fake it
Confidence is a big factor in successful comedy. Teachers often do well because they are used to talking to a room full of people. 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 first thing you should do is take the mic out of the stand and 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’s fine, to leave the mic in the stand, and it frees up your hands. But if you take the mic out, you don’t want an empty mic stand in front of you. It’s a distraction for the audience.
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.
Louisville Laughs is starting off 2025 strong with the Caravan Comedy Contest Jan. 2-4. Fifty comics from four states will compete in qualifying rounds, culminating in the final on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 9:30 p.m.
Use Promo Code JAN4 to get $8 off either the finals on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 9:30 p.m. or the qualifying round on Saturday, Jan. 4 at 7:30.
Use Promo Code CARAVAN2025 and get $5 off a ticket for any of the other shows while it lasts.
It’s the new year so it’s time for some new jokes.
We invite comics to share the stage and tell new jokes for 2025.
The best new joke earns a cash prize.
Comics include:
Sandra D Cory Miller Phyllis Keene Joshua Southern Gavin Johnson Aimee Jewell Michael Wermuth Ehrin Dowdle (go up late) Matt Harris Madison Greenwell Holly Kennedy Big Jake Hovis Nathan Puckett Rylan owens Markazie Misty Stine Casper Eleam
Join us Thursday, Jan. 16 at Gravely Brewing Co. for Comedy Night!
January’s show features several of the top up-and-coming comics in the Louisville scene — Big Jake Hovis, Uncool Randy, Lucious Williams and Cory Miller.
Your host is Hillary Boston.
Admission is free. Tickets ensure a seat.
Come out for a night of laughter, great craft beer and delicious food.
Looking for a last-minute gift? Louisville Laughs has you covered. Treat your friends and family to the gift of laughter. The Caravan Comedy Contest is Jan. 2-4 with 50 comics from four states competing in qualifying rounds, culminating in the final on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 9:30 p.m.
Use Promo Code CARAVAN2025 and get $5 off per ticket for any of the shows while it lasts.
Louisville Laughs has some great shows planned for the holiday season, including benefit shows, touring headliners and more. We also have Promo Codes for most shows to save you money.
Join us at TEN20 Craft Brewery in Butchertown for Comedy With A Purpose to benefit Paws-Ability, which provides service dogs to veterans, first responders and corrections officers at no cost.
Shows at 6:30 and 9 p.m.
The show features Louisville favorite Eric Kimbrough, who has worked with some of the biggest stars in comedy, including Katt Williams, Mike Epps and Earthquake.
Also on the show is the hilarious Lucious Williams.
Enjoy a night of laughter, great craft beer and delicious food while supporting a great cause.
Louisville Laughs has a special Comedy Night at Gravely Brewing for you in December with comedian Nat Baimel.
Nat is a touring comic based in Los Angeles, who has two comedy albums under his belt and has been seen and heard on Sirius XM, Amazon Prime and Kevin Hart’s LOL Network.
Joining Nat will be Cincinnati comic Shawn Braley.
Tickets are free and ensure seating. Come for a night of laughter, great craft beer and delicious food.
