No need for unnecessary intros this time. Here’s why: the manager doesn’t like you…you’re funny but he or she doesn’t like you.
Showbiz isn’t fair. Sometimes managers promote comics they like sooner than comics who are funnier (you know-right!). So what are you doing that makes the manager not like you so much?
The stupidest thing I see emcees try to do is “show” the manager how much material they have. They stretch 10 minutes into 12, 15 into 17. No manager wants to look at the clock nearing 8:20 during a first-show Saturday and see that the emcee is still up. The feature and headliner don’t want to see that either. When you do this, you cause anxiety to multiple people and in this business we turn to each other and bitch about it. You become unlikable. The manager won’t want you to succeed if he or she doesn’t like you.
When you emcee, be ready to start the show. Be wherever the manager can see you as the intro music starts well before showtime. Having to search for you is another nuisance that gets under their skin. On top of the stress of running a club, your mistakes are magnified. Also–clean up after yourself. This week there was an empty cup near where I was sitting. No, it wasn’t mine, but I still threw it out (yeah me). These are more of the little things that you don’t want to get blamed for.
Grow up with your material. I’m sure I’ve blogged about this before, but married couples in their 40s and 50s don’t want to sit through 25 minutes of you whining about your lonely basement-bedroom activities. Figure out how to write more universal material. Get a full-time job and the material will happen. This will help you clean it up too.
By sticking to your time, staying low-maintenance, and maturing your material you’ll be much more likable to the manager and at least be given fair judgment on what you do on the stage rather than off as to whether you’ll become a feature act.
For more tips on how to make money in stand-up comedy, try reading Don’t Wear Shorts on Stage on paperback or any e-book outlet (Kindle, Nook, iTunes, Kobo, etc.)
Don't Wear Shorts on Stage 