Don't make real comics wait

Here's a tip for new comics who just started hosting open mics and haven't learned about "bumping" yet.

I get that when you're starting out, it sucks to get bumped. But there are people who have been doing it for a lot longer than you, and they don't treat stand-up as a hobby. It's important for them to sometimes try out new material at an open mic, or use it to warm up for a paid show.

If you want to help the art of stand-up comedy, it is best to allow professional comedians to be able to get up sooner, so they can use the four minutes of stage time to practice. This will help them do well on whatever show they're rehearsing for. This helps the artform, and is not about ego or showing other comedians up.

That's why bumping people who've been doing it for less than five years is okay. It's not about popularity or friendship, it's about raw experience and whether the comedian is pursuing stand-up as a job vs a hobby.

From episode 53 of The Tim Weichselbaum Show.

Full episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3jPT4VV5CI