The host for any given comedy show can make or break the entire show. They are the first performer, and the glue that holds the whole show together. Also, for upcoming comics, learning how to host well can open a lot of doors for you. Producing and hosting your own show is a way to connect with many other comics, which could lead to you being booked on their shows. Also for comedians interested performing at comedy clubs, the “most straight forward” route is starting as a host, building your rep with the club, and then eventually being invited back as a feature and hopefully one day a headliner.
That being said, there are a lot of tips and tricks you can do as a host to make your routine and “hosting vibes” go from medium or good, to GREAT! Great hosts are invited to a lot more gigs, because sadly a lot of comedians look down on hosting and want to do it as little as possible.
Hosting isn’t a glamorous job. It’s a lot of work, and less fun then the other positions. It’s also the most forgettable comedian on the lineup. Great hosts know this, and it doesn’t bother them. Because hosting is the most selfless part of the show, and to do it well, many times you have to swallow your ego and pride….And let’s be honest, that’s incredibly difficult for us comedians!
Let me encourage everyone who is reading this post…Don’t sleep on hosting gigs! Even if they aren’t your favorite, they can open some great doors and it’s good practice in a lot of ways. Hosting is a skill that all great comedians should have in their toolbelt.
Here are some tips to hosting well. I’ll say up front, this is my opinion. Feel free to disagree or add your own tips in the comments! That being said, over the years I have heard I am a great host. It’s not my favorite position, but I feel I have learned to do it well…and the reason I have done it well is because at some point, a more experienced comedian has shared with me one or many of the tips that I am sharing in today’s blog post. I hope it helps!
Here are some tips and tricks to hosting!
End The Comic’s Introduction with their Name
This was the first and most basic tip I ever received as a comedian, and I still do it to this day. As the host, you are guiding the crowd on their comedic experience. Many folks at your shows may be experiencing their first comedy show, and don’t naturally know when to clap at the correct times. That sounds dumb, but it’s true. And the biggest fear for an audience member, is that they will be the butt of an awkward moment…That’s why at the beginning of the show everyone is so shy to laugh. As the host (and with the help of the opening comedian too) you will be helping them feel comfortable laughing as a group, which eases the discomfort and awkwardness….You are literally creating a safe space for the audience to laugh, which makes for a smooth comedy show!
So with that in mind, directing the crowd in the least awkward way possible is a role of the host. One of the easiest ways to do that is letting them know the right times to clap, cheer, hoot and holler. We want them to do all of that before each comedian, because it brings encouraging energy to the next performer which helps them be motivated to do their best.
Newer hosts might say something like,
“Our next comedian is Drew Davis…Drew Davis is a funny guy who travels all over the US to perform. Let’s hear it for Drew Davis!”
This is an confusing intro. Audiences will want to clap at the beginning, and then you keep talking, and then WHEN YOU want tham to start clapping, they’re going to be wondering if it’s the right time to clap.
So instead, here’s a better intro:
“Our next comedian is a funny guy who travels all over the US to perform. Let’s hear it for Drew Davis!”
Did you catch the difference? By saying the name at the end, and only the end, you let the audience know exactly when they should clap.
Don’t Shit On the Show
Look, I am not saying every show you will host at is going to be amazing….many of them will likely suck. BUT as the host, you set the vibe of the entire room. Sure, people may not be as positive and into it as you pretend to be, but they certainly will never be MORE positive and into it then what you are dishing out.
As a result of this, as the host, never shit on the shows or the other comedians. When you do that, you’re killing the vibes of the room and certainly not helping it be a better show.
I like my hosts like my soda, bubbly, fresh, and not stale. If you aren’t feeling it, that’s fine…you’re a performer, fake it!
This is ESPECIALLY important if you find yourself hosting at an open mic. It’s easy to be positive for comics 1 through 10…but 11-20 it starts feeling like a chore. And not everyone at an open mic is going to be good. But you as the host, need to create the best possible space for everyone to have a fair shot at doing well.
Everyone in the room may know it’s a crappy show, but you saying things like “Wow this is a crappy show” won’t make it any better.
DON’T Do Time
in between Comics
This is a personal pet peeve of mine, and I straight up ASK comics who host for my shows not to do this…I think it’s tacky, and not at all helpful for the show.
As the host you have your time at the beginning of the show. Warm up the audience, do your act, be funny and have fun. Your a comedian for 10-15 minutes at the start, and we love that you’re doing it…but after that time and beyond, you’re the HOST! And that’s a different role.
All the comedians on a show should be working together to create the best possible comedy show that is building in momentum with each comic. The producer has likely put you all in a very specific order because they feel the show’s momentum will grow the best with this specific order…Comics may not want to hear this, but especially at club level shows, typically the features and headliners are more experienced then the host and the producer believes they are funnier and will get a better reaction from the crowd.
I hate to admit it, because sometimes I feel like I am stuck in Host Purgatory as a comedian, but they probably are right.
So when you the host decide to do another 10-15 minutes after the opener and before the feature, what does that do for the general vibe of the show? We’ve already heard your stuff…and chances are if you’re doing off the cuff material based on what the last comic said, it’s not going to be as good as what the last comic did on purpose. You kill the momentum a bit, and then you bring up the next comic, and they have to work twice as hard after you.
Instead, do your best at the beginning of the show, and then in between comics don’t do any time and just bring the next one up. Occasionally have the audience cheer for the wait staff or venue, but don’t try to capitalize on the “hot crowd that was lukewarm when you were performing” because I promise, you’ll only hurt the overall momentum.
There is a slight exception in certain shows to this rule. What do you do when the comedian bombed and killed all the energy and now you have to bring up the next comic to a maybe dead room? Well, you could try to throw in some jokes to lighten things up and get the energy back…and many hosts will do that. (Especially if the headliner or booker asks you to!) But, the risk there is that you could kill the vibe even more if the audience doesn’t laugh at them.
So a safer alternative (not always the better one, but a safer one) is to get the audience cheering for the venue, wait staff, or themselves, and thanking them for being there. Bring in some forced positivity to raise the spirits, and then bring up the next comic.
And please, for the love of God and everything you find holy…NEVER do time after the headliner. Just thank the audience for coming, and close the show out.
Host, Do Your Jokes, Bring Up the First Comic
Speaking of your host set, let’s talk about that for a moment.
Hosts have two roles at the start of the show. You have your “hosting responsibilities” and then you have “warming up the audience”.
I highly suggest never going up and just jumping right into your jokes. It’s like going on a first date and going in for the kiss right off the back, she’s just not ready for it. Take her to dinner first, get to know her, make sure she likes you! You have plenty to do before things take a physical turn.
Many clubs, rooms, venues, etc. have a set list of responsibilities that you’ll need to do as the host. Plus there are the generic things that you should do as a host to run the show well.
Thank the venue, appreciate the wait staff, encourage tips, have the audience give themselves a round of applause for being here, etc. Those are general things you can do.
Venues may have specific things you need to do. Particular rules they ask for the audience to follow (Silence your cell phones, no heckling, etc.) Maybe you’re supposed to ask them to scan a QR code to join a mailing list, promote upcoming shows or drink specials, or ask everyone to stand who’s a veteran, etc.
What I like to do after I do all my housekeeping or “hostkeeping” chores, and create a space where we are ready for comedy, then I have a statement where I ask the audience if I can start them off with some jokes. My generic statement is “So it’s my job and sacred duty as your host tonight to warm you up with a few jokes. Can I tell you all some jokes?” And then they cheer, and I put my comedian hat on.
And I do my routine…and then after my last joke I thank them for being a great audience and ask if they are ready to get this show rolling. That is when I have put my hosting hat back on AND I DON’T PUT MY COMEDIAN HAT BACK ON UNTIL MY NEXT SHOW! (Again, personal preference, but I think I am right.)
Be the Next Comedian’s
Biggest Fan and Best Friend
Probably the host’s biggest job is bringing up the next act and making the audience believe they are in for a big treat. You want the audience to think “wow, I am so lucky to hear this next performer!” Wording is essential, and you definitely don’t want to oversell them in case they don’t deliver, but you always want to help put their best foot forward.
Make sure you always know how to pronounce their name. I have a terrible memory and reading skills, and this is the most stressful part of hosting for me…but I try my best, and you should too!
Make sure, especially for the headliner, that you remember the credits they ask to be brought up by. Yes, some of them will be overly annoying about it…but it’s fine. Write it down if you have to, but remembering them is better.
Lastly, what are other things you can do to make their lives easier? Do they want a light at a certain time in the set? Do they have a specific thing they need on stage? (A stool, no stool, etc.) It’s small, but i always try to find ways to encourage the comics and keep things upbeat.
Lastly, and maybe most importantly, leave your personal beef off the stage. The longer you do comedy, the more you will meet comedians you don’t like. You may even start by being friends with comedians, and then that changes. The worst thing you can do for a comedy show is let your personal beef show. Regardless of whether you like the comic or not, bring them up in a way that will hopefully help them succeed as a performer. Because if they do well, that makes the overall show go well, and ultimately that’s the most important thing. You can absolutely go back to not liking them after the show!
These are just some tips to host a good show, and I am sure I am missing many! What other advice do you have for new comics? Or which of these tips do you disagree with? Feel free to post about it here!
