So, you want to be a stand-up comedian...?

How to Become a Comedian 🎤

If we at Always Be Comedy had a pound for every time we’ve been asked “How do you get started?” we would have about £12.

On top of this princely sum, we know that aspiring comedians come to ABC to see the Grand Masters for inspiration AND they listen to the Always Be Comedy podcast for further titbits on becoming a comedian.

So it's time to offer a more direct helping hand and tell you how you go from armchair amateur to actual stand-up comedian.

Ultimately, you can write jokes, daydream, listen to those old Bob Newhart albums and practice in the mirror all you like. But, when it comes to getting up on stage, you simply have to do it. Heck, the great Kevin Bridges was inspired by the Oasis lyric: “You’ve got to make it happen,” and, if it’s good enough for Kevin Bridges, it’s good enough for you.

But how do you actually start?

The Open Mic Circuit: Where Legends Are Forged

If you ask us (and you are, because you’re here), the open mic circuit is still the purest way to earn your comedy stripes. It’s where you learn timing, resilience and how to roll with the punches (these are metaphorical punches. We can’t emphasise that enough). What's more, on the open mic circuit, you're often just performing to other comedians. If you can make them laugh (given they're also going through their notes and hyperventilating), you're probably on to something.

Some top spots to kick off your stand-up journey:

• Comedy Virgins at The Cavendish Arms, Stockwell – This would be our No1 pick. It’s a rite of passage. Supportive crowd, free drink for performers, and a buzzy atmosphere that’s perfect for first-timers. When you’re a new act, this feels like playing the Hackney Empire – it’s magical.

• The Blackout at Up the Creek, Greenwich – A gong show format that’s brutal and brilliant. Survive five minutes and you’ve earned your place. Sports stars often talk about “mental toughness” – get them to do a tight 5 at a gong show. The Olympics would feel like a doddle. And non-Londoners – you’ll be able to find a gong show outside the capital.

• Angel Comedy at The Camden Head or The Bill Murray – A nurturing hub for new acts.

• Funny Feckers, Finsbury Park – Welcoming, lively, and a great place to test new material.

• Open mic website – they never had this when we were lads. It was all fields (well, going through the Time Out listings and getting phone numbers and email addresses that way). However, this site does a lot of heavy lifting. You’ll have to also sift through music and poetry open mic nights when scrolling, but we believe in you.

These rooms are where you’ll learn what works, what doesn’t and how to keep going regardless of reaction. “How do you get over bombing?” You don’t. The bombs stay with you forever. It’s important we tell you this now. What’s more, when you’re new, a big laugh can throw you, let alone a tumbleweed, and these are the places where you learn these vital lessons. You’ll meet fellow comics, promoters (which is how you book more gigs), swap horror stories and slowly build your set, your voice, and your confidence. We’re biased (because this is how we took that first step), but – as the great Tim Vine once said to us when we were starting out – there’s no substitute for standing under the lights.

Comedy Courses: A Structured Take-off 🎓

For those who like a bit of scaffolding before leaping into the spotlight, comedy courses can be a brilliant way to begin. They offer structure, feedback, and a community of fellow hopefuls all nervously clutching their notebooks and wondering if that one joke is actually funny.

Courses vary in style and length, but many culminate in a live performance—your first gig—often in front of a supportive crowd of friends, family, and fellow students. It’s the comedy equivalent of being lovingly pushed out of a plane, parachute packed with punchlines. You’ll be terrified. You’ll be exhilarated. You’ll probably forget your closer. But you’ll have done it.

Some well-regarded options include:

• Logan Murray’s Stand-Up and Deliver – A favourite among new comics, with a strong emphasis on finding your unique comedic voice. Logan’s books are also terrific.

• The Comedy School – Offers stand-up, improv, and sketch-writing courses, with experienced tutors and a final showcase.

• Hoopla Improv – Great for building confidence and spontaneity, especially if you’re interested in character work or ensemble comedy.

While no course can guarantee you’ll become the next James Acaster, Nish Kumar or Bridget Christie, they can give you the tools, the stage time, and the gentle shove you need to get started.

The Game Has Changed: Digital First Steps

Of course, the comedy landscape isn’t just sticky floors and lukewarm pints anymore. The internet has blown the doors off the traditional route, and some of today’s biggest names started online.

• Jake Lambert began by tweeting jokes. Short, sharp, and consistently funny. His Twitter/X feed became a portfolio, and the gigs followed. Look at him now. Sensational. And, yes, he does talk about this on the Always Be Comedy podcast!

• Rosie Holt made waves with her satirical videos, especially her uncanny political parodies. She built an audience before stepping on to the stage, which is remarkable. Again, terrific on the Always Be Comedy podcast AND you can see Rosie with us on Thursday 6 November.

• Munya Chawawa turned Instagram into a sketch playground, blending music, satire, and character work to dazzling effect. And, on stage, this dude is undeniable.

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If you’ve got a phone and an idea, you’ve got a stage. TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, X—these platforms are now legitimate launchpads. But don’t be fooled: the best digital comics still understand structure, character, and rhythm. The craft matters, even in 60 seconds. What’s more, the best also gig. And we love them for it. And you can take a flamethrower to comedy snobbery (“But they never did the circuit!”): funny is funny. What’s more, the game has changed. Accept it.

Other Routes Into Comedy

There’s no single path, but here are a few more ways to get your foot in the funny door:

• Sketch groups and improv troupes – Great for collaboration and learning to think on your feet. Look up Hoopla or The Free Association in London. We did Monkey Toast improv to become a better MC. Brilliant.

• Writing for others – Submit jokes to topical shows, write sketches, or contribute to online satire sites. It’s a way in, and a way to sharpen your pen.

• Pitch ideas – look, it’s statistically unlikely, but you could get a TV, podcast or radio show away first AND THEN pursue stand-up. But, frankly, not everyone is Ricky Gervais.

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Final Thoughts: Just Start

Whether you’re posting sketches from your bedroom or dying gloriously on stage at Comedy Virgins, the key is to start. Comedy rewards persistence, curiosity, and a touch of delusion (genuinely, you need that sweet, sweet delusion). You’ll bomb. You’ll soar. You’ll rewrite the same joke 17 times. And, eventually, you’ll find your voice (spoiler: “your voice” is invariably your authentic self but, as Ross Noble once said, it can take 10 years to work this out – it’s easier said than done).

And, when you find said voice, we might one day see you at Always Be Comedy.

In the meantime, think of Oasis as your very own Obi-Wan Kenobi: “You’ve got to make it happen.”