{"id":8461,"date":"2026-08-22T15:17:27","date_gmt":"2026-08-22T19:17:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thecomedybook.com\/?p=8461"},"modified":"2026-08-22T15:17:27","modified_gmt":"2026-08-22T19:17:27","slug":"doing-face-time-in-comedy-clubs-for-bookings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thecomedybook.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/22\/doing-face-time-in-comedy-clubs-for-bookings\/","title":{"rendered":"Doing Face Time In Comedy Clubs For Bookings"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hey Dave \u2013 Isn\u2019t \u201cface-time\u201d (not the kind associated with online networking) one of the most important parts of getting work hosting in comedy clubs? What I mean is, doesn\u2019t it make a big difference in someone\u2019s chances of being MC for a weekend (or more) when they frequent the club, chat up the staff and tip well, and demonstrate a willingness to do grunt work? I think that is universal. Didn\u2019t you have a story about the guy who showed up outside a club and swept the sidewalk every day until they hired him inside and he then moved up the ranks? \u2013 DM<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Make it a clean sweep!<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

Hey DM \u2013 This is not an easy question because there are a lot of buts, maybes and depends that will go into any answer \u2013 from anyone. I know from experience there are some comics and club owners who will agree with what I\u2019m going to say, and others who will grab a broom and tell me to get out of the way.<\/p>\n

But you know what? This is showbiz, which is an industry full of gimmicks. If you don\u2019t believe me turn on the TV and the highest rated reality shows. You may not want to hang out in real life with bachelors, housewives and Kaitlin Jenner\u2019s ex-family, but you have to admit they know how to bring attention to themselves.<\/p>\n

So keeping that in mind, it\u2019s not a bad idea to call attention to yourself by being seen around the clubs you want to play. To break into your local comedy scene you need to have the local talent bookers know who you are and that you\u2019re a comic.<\/p>\n

The goal is to score an audition.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve never heard of the guy who swept the sidewalk outside a club everyday and was rewarded with a paid MC (hosting) gig.\u00a0 It\u2019s not a bad way to call attention to yourself, but if you really do end up with an audition it will only pay off if you have the talent and experience to back it up. Otherwise the only winner will be the club owner with a clean sidewalk.<\/p>\n

My first thought is that the time could be better spent getting stage experience somewhere else.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Hanging out for stage time<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

Earn a reputation as a good comic and then do some networking. It\u2019s a lot easier to score a showcase when you have a track record and recommendations from other comics and bookers who\u2019ve seen you on stage. When you have that going for you, there\u2019s no need to bring a broom to the club.<\/p>\n

Showbiz has always been about being different and standing out from the crowd. If you have the experience and truly believe you\u2019re ready to play the club and sweeping the sidewalk gets you noticed by the booker, who am I to put it down?<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why a lot of new comics are willing to hand out flyers for stage time or line up friends and family for bringer shows. Sometimes you must go the extra mile to get ahead in this crazy biz.<\/p>\n

But your real question is about \u201cface time.\u201d That was always (and still is) a major networking opportunity and how a lot of newer comedians got on stage when I worked in New York City and Los Angeles. But I have to emphasize they were already experienced comics and not someone who only thought keeping the sidewalk clean would be their best career move.<\/p>\n

When comics were experienced and funny enough to start performing at a club like The Improv they still had to pass the audition. Working the door, bartending, or even sweeping the sidewalk could open the door, but didn\u2019t guarantee future paid gigs.<\/p>\n

You had to prove \u2013 on stage \u2013 you could do it.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Even after someone passed the audition, there was no guarantee they\u2019d get regular performing spots. They were on the club roster, which meant they were welcome to come in and \u201chang out at the bar\u201d as a comic. Now if they wanted to sweep the sidewalk instead of sitting around \u2013 yeah, they\u2019ll be noticed over the others. But if they hadn\u2019t passed their audition, then chances are they\u2019d still be sweeping when the show is ending.<\/p>\n

But face time does count. For example\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

During a weeknight at The New York Improv we would schedule enough comedians to get us through until around midnight. If there was still an audience at that time (in NYC we could keep the shows going until 4 am as long as we had people in the showroom) then we would look around to see what comics were \u201changing out.\u201d They would make up the rest of the show until either the audience left or we hit last call.<\/p>\n