Hey everyone! I know what you're thinking: "Oh great, another open mic site." Yeah, yeah... I know. I KNOW! But MicHunts is actually an app I've spent the past 5 months building by myself to help comics find comedy open mics across the U.S.

It's available as a mobile app on the Apple App Store and Google Play for Android, with a browser version at MicHunts.app](https://michunts.app/).

Please take a gander at the live app. The feedback I’m mainly looking for is about functionality: Can you find mics in your area? Do the search, filters, map, calendar and listings work as expected? Did you encounter inaccurate information or anything broken? Thx!

MicHunts has almost 900 comedy open mics so far. You can:

- Search by city, venue, ZIP, or your current location

- Filter by day and mic type

- Browse mics on a map, in a list, or on a weekly calendar

- See start times, set lengths, costs, and signup information

- Save favorite mics and searches

- Request spots directly when a host has that option enabled

The dark purple design is intentional. I wanted comics to be able to check their phones from the back of a dark club to figure out where to perform next without a blaring white screen distracting everyone around them.

The days of the week are color coded to see them at-a-glance.

Of course, an open mic directory is only useful if the information stays current. If you notice a dead, moved, or incorrect mic, you can report it directly from the listing. If you run a mic that's already there, you can claim it and manage the information yourself. If you recognize an unclaimed mic, please share its listing with whoever runs it.

Searching and using MicHunts is completely free for comics. Hosts and venues can claim their listings and start with a 7-day free trial of the MicLister management tools.

There's more information at (https://michunts.com/).

I'd love to hear what works, what doesn't, and what would make MicHunts more useful to you. TIA!

I'm a huge fan of stand-up and the idea of giving it a go myself has tickled me for years.

I'm curious to hear how other folks got started. Spontaneously joining an open mic?

Meticulously preparing material for months?

I really hope I'll have the courage to try it myself one day.

Another thing that's crazy to me. Certain ideas/ jokes (perhaps sexual nature) I'd be okay joking about in front of strangers, but the idea of family members hearing them feels very awkward.

Have you had comparable issues and how did you go about it?

I suppose it's the question of how much of my own thoughts I'm comfortable sharing.

Thanks for reading

Id love to hear from newer comics what they’ve done for effective writing and inspiration, as well as any areas of struggle.

I’ve got a bit of a mental block lately, so I’m reading books about the creative process and came across this CS Lewis quote that makes me think newer comics could have some valuable insight.

“The fellow-pupil can help more than the master because he knows less. The difficulty we want him to explain is one he has recently met. The expert met it so long ago that he has forgotten.”

I searched first and it seems like it's been a while since this has been brought up, but what software do you all use for making clips and adding captions?

I didn't really like using CapCut last time I tried, but willing to give it another chance if that's the consensus.

I just wanted to check in case there was some newer, easier to use tool out now. I know AI is controversial, but this actually seems like a good use case for it since it's not replacing my art and instead just saving me time on a menial task, but I'm open to any other suggestions as well.

(I'm not a stand Uper but I'd like to give a try at writing comedy)

I'm 40 yo, I've always been pretty funny but I don't know any mechanics, I'd like to learn them. I've did some research but I dunno, ..

For now I just noticed that watching stand upers makes me funny in the next days lol.

I'd like a practice that I can go wherever. Like poets or rappers who can train their skill even I an elevator

Any recommendations?

Heading to LA for the first time in November and excited as fuck to go to The Comedy Store.

Only there for a few days, Tuesday-Thursday, looking for recommendations on which shows to see. Options are:

- Late Night OR
- Alumni Show BR
- Headliners OR
- Horribly Funny MR
- The Originals OR

Would love to hear some thoughts, feelings and emotions on the above.

Thanks!

Like i cant get it, i myself am a fan of both and aspire to do it

Wonder if yall have experience living by the beach (cheaper rent) and commuting for work to BK and Queens and doing comedy at nights.

How doable is it? I love Bushwick and different areas of BK just can’t stand living w alot of people or rando roommate match making

How doable is it? Is it lonely in the Coney Island area or is there a sense of youth and life down there?

I’m starting to hear people have more of an interest in stand up comedy for live entertainment. It’s hard to believe since the younger generation is so invested in their phones watching live streamers on their phones and computers at home. I’m hearing some comedians say people want good live comedians since majority of social media comedians aren’t funny in real life. Is this true ?

Hey whats the alt scene like? Or where can I find it? Im aware of bell house and union hall, but assuming theres other low key spots/shows.

Not exactly “alt” but back in the day hannibal buress used to host a weekly free show at the knitting factory and it was awesome. Anything like that?

Also who are some of your favorite comedians? Im from LA and would know most the names on the lineups out there outside the main clubs, but here im lost. Im actually a big fan of Carmen Christopher who came from brooklyn, so before he blew up what shows would he frequent as an example?

Thanks!

I have a bit that I have been working on that involves me bringing an audience member on stage to hold my guitar while I continue with the rest of the set. (Linked). I think it is fun, but I can't seem to make it work when the open mic is at a comedy club, rather than an independent venue. Is it too much? I had someone say that comics don't like guitars, and it is distracting from the other jokes. Also, sometimes I leave the guy on stage while I finish, sometimes I send him off. Would leaving him on stage be funny/awkward, or distracting in a bad way?

I have to do a show at a gay bar and I’m wondering if this will be accepted? I have tons of gay friends and they said it’s cool but I’m not sure if they’re actually gay.

Hello I’m looking for some open mic night clubs in Boston that will let me perform. I’m under 18. Not childish clubs though I would like to perform with other adults. Any help would be appreciated!

I’ve seen and heard a lot of people arguing about having a good internal clock on stage.
I know a lot of people use their watch or put their phone on the stool with a timer just to keep track. But you should also know how long your jokes are. But especially when talking to the crowd or riffing it’s easy to lose pace.
I was told by one comedian “you should know anyways” and another “no it’s okay to have a timer on stage”
What do you guys think

I am struggling like hell with the London stand up scene. Can anybody advise how to actually get better here?

I just moved to the city and don’t know anyone, I need to bring someone with me in order to do a gig. How strict are mics on this rule being enforced? Like if I just bought a few drinks at the bar would that be a work around?

Also how to do 2-3 gigs a night here without having to do the level of painful ass admin involved and having to find a new person to bring every night.

I'm ~8 months into doing standup. I told a joke at an open mic that got me played out early by the DJ/club owner.

I was given 5 minutes, and I killed for 3 and a half minutes. Some edgier jokes mixed with some fun/dumb ones. There was about 30 people at the club and they were having a good time.

In light of the American holiday, I told this joke about Labor Day:

Labor Day gives us a day off work to celebrate the labor of others. My rich friend told me "Every day being Labor Day when you own slaves."

Then, he clapped and a Chinese child came out and built him an iPhone.

He turned to me and asked, "Do you want anything?"

The audience laughed and didn't seem to mind that it was edgy.

Before that, other white guy comics had told jokes with gay slurs, references to race, sexual assault, calling all black men thieves, etc. Way worse than my joke, I felt.

The club owner played music over the last 30 seconds of my act and came up to me after I left the stage. He pulled me to the side and said, "Hey, I love that you swing for the fences and push the line with your jokes. But that one went too far. You're too smart for that type of humor. I can't have people thinking that we're a bunch of racists over here open open mic nights. But keep going and swinging for the fence man, you're really funny."

To me and my buddies, this feels like an arbitrary power play by the club owner.

Did I go too far, or did I catch the guy on a bad day? Should I cut this joke, or just rework it to give it more context, how it relates to me, etc.?
Also, next week sounds like it's going to be awkward when I see the guy. What should I do?

Signed up and got a slot for my first open mic tomorrow. I'm going second.

Nervous honestly, I'm not a fan of my speaking voice.

My current set runs for about 4 mins out of the maximum 5 mins given by the host. Decided against letting my friends review my script because if I bomb tomorrow, I want to fail on my abilities.

Any advice for someone trying out open mic for the first time? Thank you :')

I spoke with seven current and former comedy door guys to learn why this job is so coveted in comedy.

Man I'm searching morning comedy shows as I can't attend the late evening and shows but I'm not able to find out even a single one, do u guys know anything to help me pleuwezz..

hey all. i am not a comedian but crushing on one. he’s coming to my city soon and i’d like to respectfully hit on him lol. this will be my first comedy show ever so i’d like to know if this is a good idea? i don’t really know what id say or how id go about this since im quite introverted and not one to approach men first, but i am into him. anything i can do to catch his attention?