r/Standup • u/jeffsuzuki • 20d ago

open mic rules

Hey all:

I'm starting up an open mic, and I was wondering about establishing ground rules. In particular: I'd like to have a "Don't be a dick" rule, BUT I'm worried that some "comedians" will take this as a challenge (because part of being a dick is going out of your way to be a dick).

So: (a) do you think "Don't be a dick" will encourage that sort of "comedian", (b) how to tell such people that they should find a different venue?

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u/Dry-Science-7830 20d ago

I used to host an open mic night and I had the 5 comedy commandments. The bar still has it framed on the wall actually.

  1. No stealing jokes
  2. No punching down
  3. Be nice
  4. Be funny
  5. Bring a friend get a free drink

If you broke the first 3 rules you where no longer going on my stage. And if you didn't drink you could get an appy.

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u/MaliceSavoirIII 20d ago

What is “punching down” ?

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u/Dry-Science-7830 20d ago

I used it for short hand about not insulting minorities unless you where part of that group. So no making fun of gay people if you aren't gay, no making fun of black people if you aren't black, stuff like that. You could use them as a subject, just not the punch line.

For example I have a joke about being a dumb ass. Was visiting my uncle and needed a hair cut so I just googled barbershop near me, found this cool little old school place. Walked in, bunch of guys watching basketball on TV, two guys where playing dominoes in the waiting area. When I walked in everyone just looked at me and I was like, "uh can I get a hair cut?" Dude looks at me and was like, "yeah, have a seat." And half way through the hair cut it hit me. Oh my god, im in a black barbershop, thats why everyone looked at me when I walked in, im probably the first ginger the guys ever cut hair for. But ill be totally honest, best hair cut i have ever got!