The Perfect Testing Ground

“Great as always, Cris!” Joy said as she handed me my check.

That’s her real name, too. Joy. And she certainly lives up to her name.

Over the years I’ve performed for her around eight times.

Her guests are the perfect ‘test audience.’ In magic, pros often give suggestions on where to get stage time when you’re starting out.

They often suggest open mic nights at comedy clubs.

Personally, I find this absurd.

Unless you’re going to be a stand-up comedy magician and work in bars and similar places, the kind of feedback you’ll get is hardly worth it.

What gets a huge laugh at a comedy club might not go over well with a corporate audience, for example.

And if you’re a family performer, forget comedy clubs. You gotta get in front of audiences that appreciate family entertainment.

Now I know some people reading this will disagree and that’s fine. They may quote a famous magician who toiled in comedy clubs and got his start that way.

But I feel comedy club open mic nights are not the way to go. First, comedy clubs are dying on the vine, at least here in the United States. Yes, there are still plenty but nowhere near what we had during the apex of comedy clubs, the 1980s and 90s.

Second, open mic nights only let you onstage for a short time, maybe five or ten minutes. I have friends in the comedy world who have told me they’d drive miles and miles to get a chance to get five minutes on stage.

I wager most of the folks reading this are looking to do long-form shows. 45 minutes for a corporate event. The same for a birthday party. And so on.

It’s going to take a lot of effort to slowly polish a 45-minute act by performing at open mic nights, five minutes at a time.

Third, most of the folks in a comedy club open mic night do not want to see you. Don’t feel bad – unless they have a following, the other comics are in the same position.

If it sounds like I’m putting down comedy clubs, I’m not. I’ve performed in a few and if you’re good with the right act, they are a lot of fun. I’ve enjoyed my few club gigs a lot.

I just don’t believe in subjecting yourself to that kind of environment until you’re polished. That’s why I disagree so much when experts suggest the most challenging environments first when you’re breaking your stuff.

My old hypnosis teacher used to tell his students new to hypnosis to go to a local bar and pitch their services. Bars, he claimed, were easy to book.

He’s right, they are. But for a newbie, it’s torture. I’ve done a few bar gigs, and I hated them.

If you’ve got the personality, go for it.

So where do the rest of us go if, like me, you rule out comedy club open mic nights and bars when developing an act?

I go where my client Joy is, and others like her.

Joy is the president of our local senior center. These centers are, as the name implies, a place where retirees go to spend time during the day.

Many offer lunches, entertainment, activities, and camaraderie for their members. They serve an important function, too.

Many of these folks are old enough to have outlived many friends and relatives. Going to these centers offers them companionship and a sense of purpose.

Going to our center has brought my mother-in-law out of a deep depression from loneliness. The folks at most of these places are kind-hearted and happy to see you.

Yup, I recommend booking some senior center shows when you are starting out. They are an appreciative audience, and they need entertainment.

Most of the ones I’ve booked have outside entertainment once a month. Booking them is easy – just call the center and ask to speak to the activities director. She’ll probably be thrilled to take your call.

Here’s the bad news – you won’t get paid much for the gig. When I perform at Joy’s center, I only get $175. Normally I blow off a gig that low. But since my mother-in-law goes to the center, I’m happy to go too every six months or so.

Here’s another great benefit: they will want you to perform for at least 45 minutes, and most prefer an hour.

Whenever Joy calls, I put together a nice show for her seniors. And in the middle of the show, I always plan a few new effects I’m working on.

This low-stakes experience is invaluable. I’m able to fine-tune my scripts, blocking, and much more.

Senior centers are a wonderful way to get your feet wet if you’re just starting out. And they are a way to test new material, too.

Best of all, you’ll be bringing smiles to the faces of folks who often feel forgotten or left behind.

Have a great week!

--Cris

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