NO BSOpen mic mistakes that kill first sets
New comics rarely fail because they are not funny. They fail because of a handful of avoidable mistakes that have nothing to do with talent. Fix these and your real material gets a fair shot.
Running over your time
Going long is the fastest way to lose the room and the host. Time your set at home, then cut it so it fits with a buffer. When you see the light, wrap up your current joke and get off.
Opening with your weakest joke
The first thirty seconds decide how the crowd listens to the rest. Lead with your strongest, most reliable joke, not the one you are hoping will finally work tonight.
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Apologizing or announcing it is your first time
Telling the room you are new lowers their expectations and your confidence. Skip it. Walk up like you belong there and let the jokes speak.
Explaining the joke
If a joke does not land, do not explain why it should have. Explaining kills momentum. Move to the next bit and trust the set.
Reading off your phone
Glancing at notes on a stool is fine. Reading your set off a screen breaks eye contact and energy. Rehearse enough that the phone is a safety net, not a script.
Not recording your set
If you do not record it, you are guessing about what worked. Audio on your phone is enough. Listen back and let the laughs, and the silences, tell you what to keep.
Next step: get on a list this week. Reading about it is not doing it, and the first set is the one that changes everything.