Say Yes to the Guest (Spot)
Why guest spots are the unsung heroes of stand-up glow-ups
There’s a moment in every comic’s journey when they get offered a guest spot—a short, unbilled set in someone else’s show. It’s five to seven minutes, you’re not on the flyer, and your “payment” is maybe a drink ticket or a hug.
And here’s my advice:
Say yes. Say yes to the guest spot. Every time you reasonably can.
Why Guest Spots Matter
You’re not just doing five minutes. You’re building trust. You’re showing producers and fellow comics:
I show up on time.
I can read a room.
I can be funny without hijacking the lineup.
Guest spots are basically auditions in disguise—with less pressure and more potential. I often see a comic at open mics and think they are really working on their craft, but can they handle a longer set or a booked show? So I offer a guest spot - a test run if you will. This way they get a chance to perform for a paying crowd or in a new space, and I get to see how they do. If they kill it, great. If they bomb but handle it well? Also great. If they’re respectful and present? Even better. I don’t expect every comic to kill it their first time doing a guest spot or at a booked show - I look for potential and stage presence and how they handle hecklers and most importantly how they respect the audience, fellow comics, and space.
How to Make the Most of a Guest Spot
Some tips I was given or have learned along the way:
Be on Time
It shows respect and gives you a chance to get a feel for the room. The last thing a producer needs to worry about is if you are going to make it to the show or not. Also, a lot of times I like to go over how I give the light or where I give it from, where performers sit, or just introduce folks to each other. If you get there late, I am panicked and will not forget it.
Know the Room
Watch the show. Don’t wait outside or hang out at the bar talking to other people. Watch everyone on stage before you and watch how the audience reacts. Learn the tone. Guest spots aren’t the time for your experimental oat milk rant—unless it’s that kind of show (if you are booked on one of my shows it is not that kind of show).
Don’t Be Thirsty
Absolutely hang! The post-show chill is part of the magic—some of the best connections, advice, and inside jokes happen after the mic is off. But don’t use the hang as a pitch session. If you start listing your avails or asking for other gigs the second you step off stage, it kills the vibe. Also, don’t try new material out and pretend its a conversation. Most comics know when someone is testing material on them and it is irritating.
Be present, not pushy. Let your set and your energy speak for you. If the producer wants to book you again, they’ll remember.
What Saying Yes Really Means
Saying yes to a guest spot is saying yes to:
Growth
New crowds
Low-stakes bombing (it happens!)
Expanding your scene
Getting better
It’s not glamorous. But it’s essential.
It’s part of the glow-up.
That’s how you grow. That’s how you get seen.
And eventually—that’s how you go from guest spot… to headliner.
