Anybody done stand-up comedy on open mike night?

[End Of The Road]

I'm thinking about doing it. I've been working on material, think I'll be ready in a coupla months.

Tell me your experience with it.

[flvegan]

1. I fail at comedy enough here in the Lounge.

No way I'd get up in front of folks. I'm not funny enough.

Good luck to you in your endeavor, though!

[terrya]

3. I won't even get up on the stage at a karaoke bar.

My friends have no problem with that...but I just can't do it. A shocking lack of any singing talent.

I wish the OP good luck, also!

[Midlodemocrat]

2. I've done it. It was pretty fun.

Intimidating though. Sometimes the stuff you think is funny, no one else does.

[rustydog]

4. Way back in the 70's my buddy and I took the stage...

It wasn't open mike night, the band liked us and invited us to try to make the crowd laugh during one of the band's breaks.
We were invited back to perform the following week. We bombed horribly but we still loved the moment!

The good news is we were still welcome in the bar after wards

[DS1]

5. I've thought about it

but when I write stuff like that it just comes off as forced.

So, no.

[End Of The Road]

7. Yah, timing seems to make a critical difference

and I'm worried that nerves will make me screw that up.

[Midlodemocrat]

8. I didn't write anything. I just sort of used clues on note cards

Writing it does make it sound forced.

[BOSSHOG]

6. Know your audience if at all possible

Are you familiar with the place? Old folks, young folks, a mixture?? Drunken sots? Male? Female? I did it one time to a relatively closed audience (I knew everybody.) Had my lines memorized and I rehearsed every twist and turn. Had a great time. If possible pick out and on someone in the audience. Break a leg.

[bbernardini]

9. Don't forget, everybody loves jokes that start with "...and what's the deal with".