Alternative Comedy Open Mic Directory
Find the best venues for your unique voice in comedy
Quick Jump to Your City
How to use this directory: Each venue listing includes the mic schedule, sign-up process, typical audience, and insider tips. Venues marked with ALT-FRIENDLY are particularly welcoming to experimental and non-traditional comedy.
Before You Go:
- Call or check social media to confirm the mic is still running
- Arrive 30 minutes early for sign-up mics
- Bring cash for venue minimums or donations
- Follow the venue on social media for updates
New York City
NYC has the most diverse open mic scene in the world, with opportunities every night across all five boroughs.
Union Hall ALT-FRIENDLY
Location: 702 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Insider Tip: One of Brooklyn's best rooms for alternative comedy. The audience is receptive to experimental material. Sign up early—slots fill fast.
QED Astoria ALT-FRIENDLY
Location: 27-16 23rd Ave, Astoria, NY 11105
Insider Tip: Multiple mics per night means more stage time opportunities. The venue is comedian-owned and very supportive of new voices.
The Bell House
Location: 149 7th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Insider Tip: Higher-profile mic with industry attendance. Great for testing polished material.
Pine Box Rock Shop ALT-FRIENDLY
Location: 12 Grattan St, Brooklyn, NY 11206
Insider Tip: Rock venue atmosphere makes this perfect for edgier, experimental material. Free pizza sometimes!
The Creek and The Cave
Location: 10-93 Jackson Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101
Insider Tip: Comedy hub with multiple rooms. Great for networking and getting multiple sets in one night.
Los Angeles
LA's comedy scene blends traditional stand-up with entertainment industry influence, creating unique opportunities for multimedia and character work.
Dynasty Typewriter ALT-FRIENDLY
Location: 2511 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90057
Insider Tip: THE venue for alternative comedy in LA. Home to experimental shows and character work. Industry scouts attend regularly.
The Clubhouse ALT-FRIENDLY
Location: 1607 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Insider Tip: Intimate room perfect for working out new material. Very supportive of experimental comedy.
Lyric Hyperion Theater
Location: 2106 Hyperion Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Insider Tip: Former site of the famous Meltdown show. Great room for both traditional and alternative styles.
The Pack Theater
Location: 6470 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038
Insider Tip: Sketch and improv focused but very open to alternative stand-up. Great for character work.
Chicago
Chicago's comedy scene balances Midwest sensibility with experimental edge, offering diverse rooms for every style.
The Hideout ALT-FRIENDLY
Location: 1354 W Wabansia Ave, Chicago, IL 60642
Insider Tip: Legendary alt venue. The Tuesday show is curated but they occasionally have open mic nights. Check their calendar.
Uncharted Books ALT-FRIENDLY
Location: 2630 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
Insider Tip: Bookstore setting creates intimate atmosphere perfect for storytelling and conceptual material.
The Lincoln Lodge
Location: 4008 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
Insider Tip: Back room of a diner. One of Chicago's most beloved rooms with great energy.
San Francisco Bay Area
The Bay Area scene embraces tech culture and progressive politics, creating space for smart, experimental comedy.
The Function ALT-FRIENDLY
Location: 1932 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Insider Tip: New venue quickly becoming the hub for alternative comedy in SF. Great sound system and lighting.
Cheaper Than Therapy
Location: Stage Werx, 446 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Insider Tip: Long-running mic with consistent audience. Great for trying new material.
Boston
Boston's scene is tight-knit and supportive, with a mix of traditional clubs and alternative venues.
The Riot Theater ALT-FRIENDLY
Location: 15 Elkins St, Boston, MA 02127
Insider Tip: Newest comedy-only venue in Boston. Very supportive of experimental work.
ImprovBoston
Location: 40 Prospect St, Cambridge, MA 02139
Insider Tip: Improv theater but welcomes stand-ups. Great for character work and storytelling.
Seattle
Seattle's alternative scene thrives in coffee shops, bookstores, and indie venues throughout the city.
Jai Thai Capitol Hill ALT-FRIENDLY
Location: 235 Broadway E, Seattle, WA 98102
Insider Tip: One of Seattle's best alternative rooms. Thai restaurant setting creates unique atmosphere.
The Pocket Theater
Location: 8312 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
Insider Tip: Tiny venue (40 seats) creates intimate setting perfect for experimental material.
Portland
Portland's DIY culture creates perfect environment for alternative comedy in unconventional spaces.
Suki's Bar & Grill ALT-FRIENDLY
Location: 2401 SW 4th Ave, Portland, OR 97201
Insider Tip: Karaoke bar that hosts comedy. Embraces Portland's "Keep It Weird" ethos.
Kickstand Comedy
Location: 2808 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR 97214
Insider Tip: Dedicated comedy venue with great sight lines and sound. Mix of traditional and alternative comics.
Austin
Austin's comedy scene mirrors its music scene—independent, diverse, and constantly evolving.
The Creek and The Cave ATX ALT-FRIENDLY
Location: 611 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78701
Insider Tip: Sister venue to NYC location. Multiple rooms mean multiple opportunities nightly.
Fallout Theater
Location: 616 Lavaca St, Austin, TX 78701
Insider Tip: Improv theater that welcomes stand-ups. Great for experimental and character work.
Philadelphia
Philly's scene is growing rapidly with new venues and increased support for alternative voices.
Good Good Comedy Theatre ALT-FRIENDLY
Location: 215 N 11th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Insider Tip: Philly's premier alternative comedy venue. Very supportive of experimental work.
Franky Bradley's
Location: 1320 Chancellor St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Insider Tip: Long-running mic in unique venue. Mix of music and comedy creates eclectic atmosphere.
Online/Virtual Open Mics
Virtual mics exploded during the pandemic and remain viable options for geographic flexibility and accessibility.
Zoom Comedy Open Mic ALT-FRIENDLY
Platform: Zoom
Insider Tip: Great for testing material with diverse audience. Use good lighting and audio for best results.
Comedy on Twitch
Platform: Twitch.tv
Insider Tip: Building Twitch following can create new revenue streams through subscriptions and donations.
Instagram Live Comedy
Platform: Instagram
Insider Tip: Great for building online following. Collaborate with other comedians for larger audiences.
Universal Open Mic Tips
Do's:
- Arrive early and stay for the whole show
- Support other comedians—laugh genuinely
- Respect time limits (buy a timer!)
- Thank the host and venue staff
- Network with other comedians
- Record your sets (with venue permission)
- Try the same material at different mics
Don'ts:
- Leave immediately after your set
- Heckle or talk during others' sets
- Go over your time
- Get drunk before performing
- Make excuses on stage
- Steal material (even accidentally)
- Burn bridges—comedy scenes are small
Submit a Venue
Know an alt-friendly open mic we should list? Help us keep this directory comprehensive and current.