Comedy Networking

Stand-up can feel like a solo activity. I mean when you are performing it is just you out there. But the truth is: no one actually does this alone. Comedy runs on community.

Networking can sound cheesy, and is cheesy sometimes. But it can also be fun and helpful. When my dad died and I was going through his things I found his comedy business card and it cracked me up. It said “for laughing matters” and I just imagined my dad handing this out. Then I remembered how he met some pretty famous comics and it led to writing gigs. In comedy, networking just means making friends with other people who also think it’s normal to spend a Tuesday night performing for six people and a guy eating wings into the mic.

When I first started, I was so focused on writing better jokes. (And, to be fair, that part still matters.) But I learned fast that showing up for other comics — going to their shows, tagging them on flyers, inviting them to your weird bar show — that’s where the real magic happens. Comedy isn’t just about stage time; it’s about community.

The people who get it — the bombing, the rewriting, the late nights — they become your people. They’ll recommend you for gigs, tag your jokes, and be the most excited when you finally nail it. They’ll know how you feel when a joke doesn’t work or when a crowd doesn’t get your humor.

So yeah, network. But not in the LinkedIn way — in the bar show way. Be kind. Be funny. Let people know when they killed it. Support your community and they will support you. Be the person people actually want to hang out with after a mic. Because the real payoff in comedy isn’t just the laughs — it’s the people who laugh with you, lift you up, and text you when your flyer looks insane.