A good comedy night can become a regular fixture that people plan their month around. You don't need a theatre or a famous headliner to start one: lots of brilliant nights run in pub back rooms, cafés and small bars. Here's how to set one up and keep it going.
Decide what kind of night it is
Comedy nights come in a few common formats, and each needs a slightly different approach:
- Open mic: new and developing acts doing short spots. Cheap or free to attend, and great for building a scene.
- Mixed bill: an MC plus a few acts, often an opener, a middle and a headliner. The classic comedy club format.
- Showcase or themed nights: a theme, a work-in-progress night, or a night built around one style of comedy.
If you're new to running events, a mixed bill with a strong MC is a reliable place to start.
Choose the right room
The room makes a huge difference to how well jokes land. Look for:
- A separate space away from the main bar, so the audience isn't competing with people who just came for a drink.
- Low ceilings and seats close together. Laughter spreads when people are packed in; a half-empty big room feels flat.
- A clear stage area where everyone can see the performer.
- A working microphone and speaker. Check it before every show.
- Lighting on the performer and lower lights on the audience.
Pick a room that you can fill. It's better to have a packed 40-seat room than a 150-seat room with 40 people in it.
Agree terms with the venue
Talk to the venue about how the arrangement works: room hire, a minimum bar spend, a split of ticket money, or the room free in return for the bar trade. Agree who provides sound equipment, who handles the door, and what time you need to be finished. Get it in writing, even if it's just an email.
Book your acts
Start with your MC. A good MC warms the room up, keeps the energy going between acts and handles anything unexpected. Then book acts that suit your audience and your budget.
- Watch acts at other nights or online before you book them.
- Agree fees, set lengths and any travel costs in advance.
- Ask acts to share the event with their followers.
- Have a backup plan if someone drops out on the day.
Be fair with fees, and pay acts on the night or as agreed. Word gets round quickly in comedy, in both directions.
Plan the running order
A typical mixed bill might run like this: MC opens, first act, MC, second act, interval, MC, third act, MC, headliner, close. Keep the interval long enough for people to get a drink, but not so long they drift off. Start on time, or close to it; a 30-minute delay kills the atmosphere before anyone's on stage.
Set your ticket price
Work out your costs first: acts, room, sound and promotion. Then decide how many tickets you can realistically sell. Our guide on how to price event tickets walks through the maths. Many comedy nights use an early-bird price to get sales moving, then a standard price.
Sell tickets in advance
Advance tickets tell you how many people are coming and get people to commit. You can list your comedy night on TickTap for free and keep 100% of the ticket price; buyers pay a small booking fee shown before they pay, and get a QR ticket straight away without needing an account.
Promote the night
- Put the line-up front and centre, with photos of the acts.
- Post short clips of the acts (with their permission).
- Create a Facebook event and share it in local groups. See how to promote an event on Facebook.
- Put posters with a QR code in the venue, especially in the toilets and near the bar.
- Announce the next date at the end of every show.
On the night
- Arrive early to set up chairs, test the mic and sort the lighting.
- Fill seats from the front. Empty front rows make performers' jobs much harder.
- Ask the bar to keep noise down during sets, and keep the coffee machine quiet if there is one.
- Have a clear door process, and a list of buyers in case anyone can't find their ticket.
- Make sure someone's keeping time so the night doesn't overrun.
Handle problems calmly
Most nights run smoothly, but it helps to plan for the awkward moments. Agree with your MC how persistent heckling will be handled, and make sure bar and door staff know who to go to if someone needs to be asked to leave. If an act cancels late, a strong MC can stretch their sections, or you can ask a reliable local act to be on standby. Keep a printed running order with everyone's names, set lengths and contact numbers, so whoever's in charge on the night can make quick decisions without hunting through messages.
Build a regular night
Comedy nights usually grow through consistency. Running on the same night of the month, at the same venue, makes it easy for people to remember and come back. Collect email addresses (with consent), ask for reviews, and keep posting photos and clips between shows. Over time, the night itself becomes the draw, not just the acts.
Comedy night checklist
- Format decided
- Room you can fill, with stage, mic and lighting
- Venue terms agreed in writing
- MC and acts booked, fees and set lengths agreed
- Running order and start time set
- Tickets on sale with a clear price
- Promotion plan and posters with a QR code
Frequently asked questions
How do I start a comedy night with no experience?
Start with a mixed bill: a strong MC plus a few acts, in a small room you can fill. Agree terms with the venue in writing, book acts you've seen perform, and sell tickets in advance.
What makes a good room for comedy?
A separate space away from the main bar, seats close together, a clear stage area, a working mic and speaker, and light on the performer. A packed small room beats a half-empty big one.
How long should a comedy night be?
Many mixed-bill nights run for around two hours including an interval, but it depends on your line-up and the venue's finish time. Agree set lengths with acts in advance and start on time.
How do I find comedians to book?
Go to other comedy nights and open mics in your area, watch clips online, and ask acts you trust for recommendations. Agree fees and set lengths before the night.
