The Career Atlas · Club circuit · stop 4 of 5

Headlining a full show: your roadmap

Start the playbook → Your proof
The short answer

The headliner closes the show, and the room has sold its audience on you finishing it strong. Build the hour in real rooms, tape it whole, count the people who come for you, and get each deal in writing.

  • 17 steps, each with its “done when”
  • 3 buyers, in their own words
  • 6 places to send it
  • 4 notes ready to send

By D.O.C. Editorial · The Career Atlas

This roadmap, in five parts

Your roadmap

From here to a regular in the region’s clubs

Where you are, the tests for the next stop, and the steps between, in the order most comics take them. The steps are the Career Field Manual's; mark each one as you go, and the day goes in your passport.

You’re here if…

Headliner: closing the show

  • You’ve featured in clubs, and a headliner or booker will vouch for you.
  • You have 45 minutes or more that hold a paying room, in an order you’ve tested.
  • You know, roughly, who comes out for you in the towns you’ve played.
  • The next booking you want is the last slot of the night, with your name at the top of the bill.
You’re ready to move on when…

…to a regular in the region’s clubs

These are the tests the next stop’s buyers set in their own published rules. Tick each one when it’s true for you.

0 of 5 true

The playbook

17 steps in 4 parts, from the Career Field Manual. Each has its “done when”, a D.O.C. tool for it, and your status, note and target date; star up to twelve for your 90-day plan.

Build the hour

From the Career Field Manual: Grow the act without padding, Host, feature and headline and Build a repetition habit. In the D.O.C. book: topics 51–70, 115–131, 435–455, 96–114 and 415–434.

  1. Grow the act without padding · set-07

    Build forty-five minutes with a deliberate sequence

    Done when Audience-tested act, not just a timed draft.

    Build an hour →Log the set in Stage Time →
    Your note and target date

  2. Grow the act without padding · set-08

    Build and test an hour before promising an hour

    Lexy’s says short clips and 5–20 minute sets aren’t enough to judge a headliner. Test the full hour in real rooms before you offer it.

    Done when A full headline-length performance in a real room.

    Getting to the Magical Hour →
    Your note and target date

  3. Host, feature and headline · roles-07

    Create a 45/60-minute headline set and alternative chunks

    Done when Recorded versions and audience notes.

    Read the tape in Comic Critique →
    Your note and target date

  4. Build a repetition habit · reps-08

    Keep one productive open mic even after paid gigs begin

    Done when A continuing place to test new work.

    Open mics near you →
    Your note and target date

The headliner’s proof

From the Career Field Manual: Assemble booking proof and Host, feature and headline. In the D.O.C. book: topics 143–173, 115–131 and 435–455.

  1. Assemble booking proof · package-04

    Record an uninterrupted live sample set

    The Loony Bin books from full-length, unedited video of a 45-minute set, and Lexy’s asks for 45–60 minutes: tape the whole show, not the best half.

    Done when A clip showing what a buyer can expect.

    Set up the tape: Stage Time’s Tech tab →Your headliner reel →
    Your note and target date

  2. Assemble booking proof · package-06

    List your proven set lengths accurately

    Done when Lengths you can deliver in real rooms.

    Set lengths by spot →
    Your note and target date

  3. Assemble booking proof · package-07

    Record recent rooms, shows and dates with references

    Done when A verifiable performance history.

    Your log in Stage Time →
    Your note and target date

  4. Assemble booking proof · package-08

    Build a one-link electronic press kit

    Done when Accessible bio, clips and contact information.

    What a booker needs from an EPK →
    Your note and target date

  5. Host, feature and headline · roles-05

    Gather two references from rooms that booked you

    Done when Permission to share each reference.

    Why clubs rebook comics →
    Your note and target date

Know your draw

From the Career Field Manual: Turn one good night into a return. In the D.O.C. book: topics 348–366, 383–399 and 435–455.

  1. Turn one good night into a return · audience-01

    Publish accurate upcoming dates with official ticket links

    Done when A date page with no phantom ticket links.

    Your dates on your own site →
    Your note and target date

  2. Turn one good night into a return · audience-03

    Build an opt-in email list with an unsubscribe path

    Done when A consent-based signup process.

    Why an email list →
    Your note and target date

  3. Turn one good night into a return · audience-05

    Compare promotion activity with actual city ticket sales

    Write down the tickets each town really sold for you. Rooms booking a headliner ask whether people will come.

    Done when A basic city-level result log.

    Grow ticket sales, city by city →City by City →
    Your note and target date

  4. Turn one good night into a return · audience-06

    Ask a venue how many people came and who handled presales

    Done when Actual sales or attendee data, where shared.

    A following that buys tickets →
    Your note and target date

Pitch, advance and settle

From the Career Field Manual: Find and pitch the right rooms, Route the road, not the poster and Get paid. Keep records.. In the D.O.C. book: topics 143–196, 197–233, 314–347 and 234–289.

  1. Find and pitch the right rooms · bookings-04

    Tailor your clip and message to each buyer

    Say you’re submitting to headline, send the full unedited set at that room’s length, give your avails, and name the rooms you’ve headlined.

    Done when Three concise, different pitches.

    The submission email →
    Your note and target date

  2. Route the road, not the poster · road-07

    Check the room’s technical needs and advance contacts

    Advance each date before the day: show times, arrival, lineup, lodging, travel, promotion, merch and payment.

    Done when Show advance and load-in instructions.

    The advance email →Riders and advancing a show →
    Your note and target date

  3. Get paid. Keep records. · money-01

    Confirm the buyer, slot, set length and fee in writing

    Done when A saved agreement or confirmation.

    Get the deal in writing →
    Your note and target date

  4. Get paid. Keep records. · money-07

    Understand percentage-of-door and guarantee terms

    Work a door deal and a guarantee through with your own numbers before you sign either.

    Done when Your own worked example with assumptions.

    Door deal or guarantee →
    Your note and target date

What speeds this up

Each week

Your weekly rhythm here

Habits, not a timetable: the atlas has no stopwatch. Keep these going, and the proof for this stop builds up week by week.

What buyers check

In their own words

Each buyer's published rule, quoted from its own page, checked on 10 November 2026. They differ, so send each one what its page asks for, and read the page again before you send.

A club’s published booking rules

Lexy’s Comedy Club

Headlining is for comics with an established body of work and a 45–60 minute set, shown in a clip of that length, with a bio, a headshot, a website or EPK and your dates. Short clips and reels aren’t enough to judge a headliner.

  • Headlining opportunities are reserved for comedians with an established body of work and enough material to perform a 45–60 minute headlining set.
  • Short clips, individual jokes, social media reels, or 5–20 minute sets are not sufficient for headlining consideration.
  • We want to see the material you would actually bring to a full-length headlining performance.

Lexy’s Comedy Club’s page ↗ · checked 10 November 2026

A club’s published booking rules

The Loony Bin, Tulsa

Full-length, unedited video of a 45-minute set for headline consideration, and the full-week clubs you’ve headlined.

  • We book from full length, unedited set video.
  • 45 minute set for headline consideration

The Loony Bin, Tulsa’s page ↗ · checked 10 November 2026

A producer’s published submission rules

Funny Girl Events

One continuous take of a 45-minute headline set that starts with you, with clear sound and light and nothing explicit.

  • Headliner 45 minutes
  • Make sure the video is a continuous shot and it's not chopped up and pieced together.
  • The video should start with you, not a host bringing you up.

Funny Girl Events’s page ↗ · checked 10 November 2026

Where to send it

Places that publish how a headliner gets in, each checked on 10 November 2026. Save one to your booking desk to keep its status, a follow-up date and a note. 62 places in all, on the Career Atlas →

Published routeEugene, OR · Headline · Email

Lexy’s Comedy Club, headliners

Headlining is for comics with an established body of work and a 45–60 minute set; its page lists what to send for each kind of opportunity.

Its page ↗
Checked 10 November 2026

Published routeTulsa, OK · Club spots · Email

The Loony Bin

Email a full-length, unedited set: 15 minutes for MC, 30 for feature, 45 for headliner. With it: the full-week clubs you’ve worked in that position, your avails for the next 12 months, a bio and headshot or press pack, any recommendations, your phone and email, and your social media.

Worth knowing. It won’t download a program or sign up to a service to watch a video, and it gets in touch only if your act is a match.

Its page ↗
Checked 10 November 2026

Published routeLafayette, LA · Club spots · Form

Lafayette Comedy

A 5–10 minute stand-up video, not set to private, the role you want (host, opener, feature, headliner) and references who can vouch for you. Its own examples of set lengths: a feature 10–25 minutes.

Worth knowing. It mostly brings in national touring comics; the showcases are where it books others.

Its page ↗
Checked 10 November 2026

Published routeTulsa, OK · Club spots · Form

Bricktown Comedy Club

The club’s contact page links BARK Entertainment’s comic submission form, shared by its clubs: choose Bricktown Comedy Club, Tulsa, and the positions you want (MC, showcase, feature, headliner), with a video (5 minutes recommended), the clubs you’ve worked in the past 12 months and any referrals from comics who work for it.

Worth knowing. Once you’re passed, you go on its avails email, sent at least once a quarter: the only way to submit for dates. It may not answer every submission, and it welcomes new video every six months.

Its page ↗
Checked 10 November 2026

Published routeOklahoma City, OK · Club spots · Form

Bricktown Comedy Club

The club’s contact page links BARK Entertainment’s comic submission form, shared by its clubs: choose Bricktown Comedy Club, Oklahoma City, and the positions you want (MC, showcase, feature, headliner), with a video (5 minutes recommended), the clubs you’ve worked in the past 12 months and any referrals from comics who work for it.

Worth knowing. Once you’re passed, you go on its avails email, sent at least once a quarter: the only way to submit for dates. It may not answer every submission, and it welcomes new video every six months.

Its page ↗
Checked 10 November 2026

Seasonal: check firstDurango, CO · Club spots · Form

Durango Comedy

Its 2026 performer form, for openers (5 minutes) to headliners (up to 60) and hosts; national and non-regional headliners are booked by invitation only.

Worth knowing. A 2026 form: check that it’s still taking names before you send.

Its page ↗
Checked 10 November 2026
The money here

Ask, and get it in writing

None of the buyers on this page publishes what it pays a headliner, so this page gives no figure. A headline deal may be a flat fee, a guarantee or a share of the door: ask which, and get it in writing.

In writing, before you go
  • The dates, the number of shows and your set length
  • The deal: a flat fee, a guarantee or a share of the door, and the figure
  • When and how you’re paid, and who settles with you
  • The room or condo, and who pays for travel
  • Merch and recording: whether you may
  • What the club does to promote the dates
  • What happens if a show is cancelled

Questions to ask before you say yes · Road Maps: the Math of a Gig, with your own numbers · Get Paid, Get Back: the deal in writing · The IRS on gig work ↗

Ready to copy

The notes to send

Fill in what you know once: it fills every note below and stays on this device. Anything left blank shows in [brackets], to fill in by hand.

Your details

The submission email

Subject: Headliner submission: [Your name], [Your home town]

Hi [The booker's name],

I'm [Your name], a stand-up from [Your home town], submitting to headline at [The club].

A full, unedited [Your headline set's length, in minutes]-minute headline set: [Your clip's link]

Rooms I've headlined, as they are: [The rooms you've headlined, as they are].
My avails: [The dates]. Bio, photo and press kit: [Your SUCDb record, website or press kit]
Recommendations: [Comics or clubs who will recommend you]

Thank you for looking,
[Your name]

The advance email

Subject: Advance: [Your name], [The club], [The dates]

Hi [The booker's name],

Looking forward to [The dates]. So we're set:
1. The show times, and when you'd like me there?
2. Who's hosting and featuring?
3. My set is [Your headline set's length, in minutes] minutes: is that right for each show?
4. The content rule for these shows?
5. The room or condo, for which nights, and travel?
6. Merch: may I sell, and where?
7. Payment: when, and how?

Thank you,
[Your name]

The note to the host and feature

Hi [The host's or feature's name],

I'm headlining [The club] on [The dates], and I'm glad we're on together. A few things ahead of time:
- My introduction: [Your introduction, word for word]
- I'm doing [Your headline set's length, in minutes] minutes.
- [Anything else they should know: a clean show, no crowd work]

If you'd like anything from me, just say. See you there,
[Your name]

Questions to ask before you say yes

1. How many shows, which nights, and how long is my set?
2. Is the deal a flat fee, a guarantee or a share of the door, and what's the figure?
3. When and how am I paid, and who settles with me?
4. Is there a room or a condo, and for which nights? Who pays for travel?
5. What does the club do to promote the dates, and what would it like from me?
6. Who's on the lineup with me?
7. May I sell merch, and may I record my set?
8. What happens if a show is cancelled?
Your proof

Proof for your passport

Tick each piece when you have it: the day goes in your passport with it. The passport keeps your whole career's record on this device, to download, print and review once a year.

The evidence

This stop is done when you have

Your status

Headline a full show

On your record

    Nothing yet: your status changes and ticks appear here, each with its day.

    Your whole passport: the timeline, your booking desk, your 90-day plan, the printable career record, the yearly review and the cloud copy →

    Saved in this browser

    Next stops

    Club circuit · RebookA regular in the region’s clubsRepeat bookings in more than one town make this a business. Your own shows · Make it payA ticketed room that paysProfit, a good night for the audience, and a show you can run again: all three count.

    Go deeper

    Sources

    The buyers' rules are quoted from each buyer's own page, checked on 10 November 2026. A buyer can change its rules at any time, so read its page before you send anything.

    About this roadmap

    By D.O.C. Editorial. This is one stop of the Stand-Up Career Atlas: club circuit, stop 4 of 5. It's a way to plan, not a promise of bookings: it gives no expected years, its only figures are the ones buyers and venues publish on their own pages, and the buyers' rules are theirs. For what a headliner does, read What does a comedy headliner do?.

    Updated · The Career Atlas · Comic's Corner · Privacy