Friday · Manhattan Open Mic
Craig Lottner
West Side Comedy Club · UWS
When
Fridays · 12:30pm
- Hosts
- Fear City@thefearcitycomedyclub
- @westsidecomedyclub
What to expect
Plan your set around roughly 10 min on stage. In practice, that means showing up with a tight opener, one clear middle idea, and an ending that can land even if the room is moving quickly.
Budget for $6. In NYC that kind of cost or item minimum is normal, so it is better to treat it as part of planning the night than as a surprise at the venue.
Venue notes
West Side Comedy Club runs in UWS, Manhattan, which matters because neighborhood context changes who actually makes it into the room. A Village mic, a Lower East Side mic, and an Astoria mic can all feel very different even before the first comic goes up.
The venue setup itself is worth paying attention to because open mics are rarely interchangeable once you are standing in the room.
Before you go
Aim to arrive before Friday at 12:30pm, especially if the signup is handled in person or the host builds the list manually.
If plans look fuzzy day-of, check the room or host Instagram before you travel. NYC mics change time, cost, and signup format more often than comics would like.
New to this format?
Your First NYC Open Mic: What To Expect
A practical guide for comedians doing their first open mic in New York City, from signup to stage time to post-set etiquette.
Read the guideUnverified