When to Say Yes (and No) to Booked Shows

Once you start doing stand-up, the next big goal is getting booked. It’s exciting, validating, and a sign that people are noticing what you’re doing. But sometimes, the opportunity comes before you’re truly ready.

I learned this the hard way. Within a month of starting stand-up, I was offered a 10-minute set. At the time, I barely had five minutes of material—let alone five good minutes. But I was so eager to be on a booked show that I said yes, figuring I’d somehow make it work. Spoiler: I did not make it work.

I stumbled through maybe seven minutes before running out of things to say and ending early. It was rough. More importantly, it taught me a valuable lesson: it’s okay to say no. If you don’t feel ready, you can always ask to do a future show instead. You’re not doing yourself, the audience, or the show any favors by performing before you have solid material. And trust me, bombing because you weren’t prepared does not help your confidence.

That being said, if you get offered a show early on—congrats! It means someone sees potential in you. They trust you enough to put you on their lineup, and that’s huge. But if you need more time, it’s okay to say so. It doesn’t mean you’ll never get booked again. In fact, people respect honesty and self-awareness.

So, when the opportunity comes, ask yourself: Am I ready? If the answer is yes, go for it. If not, know that waiting until you are ready will only make you better in the long run.