{"id":8451,"date":"2026-08-09T21:37:01","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T01:37:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thecomedybook.com\/?p=8451"},"modified":"2026-08-09T22:16:35","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T02:16:35","slug":"scoring-an-mc-spot-at-an-a-list-comedy-club","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thecomedybook.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/09\/scoring-an-mc-spot-at-an-a-list-comedy-club\/","title":{"rendered":"Scoring an MC spot at an \u201cA-List\u201d comedy club"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hey Dave \u2013 My goal is to host a show at one of the top clubs. I have video that I can submit and if nothing else, it will be good to get some feedback and be told what I have to do to get work there. In saying that, do you know how to go about submitting videos to the clubs and what should accompany it, i.e. bio, pics, etc.? If you know who the contacts for the club may be or how to find that info that would be great as well. Thanks for your continued support in the comedy scene and I hope you are well. Talk to you soon \u2013 C.J.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Make sense? I’ll try my best…<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

Hey C.J. \u2013 Thanks for the support and well wishes. In answer to both I can say I\u2019m trying my best\u2026<\/p>\n

And another thanks for your question since it gives me a chance to combine two past articles into a (hopefully) working answer. Make sense? Again, I\u2019ll try my best\u2026<\/p>\n

Usually with the major clubs, the headliners and most features (middle acts) are booked through a corporate office. They have a talent coordinator who books all the clubs in their chain. Opening acts are mostly local or within driving distance and are booked by the club\u2019s in house manager. The opening acts don\u2019t get flown in or put up in five star hotels, if you know what I mean.<\/p>\n

When you\u2019re going for an opening (host \/ MC) spot at an \u201cA-Room\u201d (pick the top club in your area) it\u2019s about the total package<\/strong>. Yeah, of course you have to be a good comic with experience. But you also have to show that in your submission to even be considered. These bookers are not going to hire someone who\u2019s not ready to play their club. The audiences pay for and expect a professional comedy show. And even though the openers won\u2019t have the television and\/or film credits the headliners or some features have, audiences are also not paying big $$\u2019s to watch an amateur night.<\/p>\n

Know what I mean?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Get on stage!<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

You should have experience and a list of credits from playing smaller clubs first, before you approach the \u201cbig guys.\u201d<\/p>\n

I was on a panel at a comedy festival a number of years ago with the manager of a major club and an owner of another. One of them \u2013 in a very polite way \u2013 talked about the smaller clubs being like the minor leagues. He was comparing it to baseball. Get your experience there first to prove you can do it before trying to move up to the major leagues.<\/p>\n

Assuming you\u2019ve done that \u2013 here\u2019s a game plan for your question.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In past articles I\u2019ve talked about doing \u201cface time\u201d (networking) in comedy clubs. Another favorite topic is promotional material. Now it\u2019s time to combine\u2026<\/p>\n

I suggest calling the club and asking the proper way to submit a video for a showcase (audition). The people answering the phones will know \u2013 because this is a question they get all the time from comedians. Follow what they say.<\/p>\n

Based on the two major clubs in my area, there can be two different scenarios. One is doing face time. For instance, one of the clubs has a bringer showcase once a month. Bringer, meaning you must bring x-amount of paying audiences members to get stage time. I won\u2019t discuss the pros and cons of that now, because I\u2019ve also done that in past FAQs And Answers and on my YouTube Channel<\/strong> <\/a>(How To Be A Working Comic #25<\/strong>). Let\u2019s just agree it is what it is \u2013 and the only way you\u2019ll be seen on stage at this particular club.<\/p>\n