Being booked again is the sign that a room trusts you. Do the job as agreed, thank the producer without chasing the next date, keep a reference and a current tape, and choose one paid route to try while you keep the others going.
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.
The next stop is the club circuit’s first: guest spots and auditions, chosen because its buyers judge the short set and the tape you already have. These are the tests they set in their own published rules. Tick each one when it’s true for you.
0 of 4 true
14 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.
From the Career Field Manual: Become the comic rooms trust. In the D.O.C. book: topics 400–434.
Become the comic rooms trust · pro-05
Done when Consistent finish times over several sets.
Become the comic rooms trust · pro-07
Done when A concise thank-you or useful check-in.
Become the comic rooms trust · pro-08
Ask a producer who has booked you more than once whether you may name them as a reference.
Done when Return requests or references, with permission.
From the Career Field Manual: Assemble booking proof, Host, feature and headline and Find and pitch the right rooms. In the D.O.C. book: topics 143–173, 115–131, 435–455 and 143–196.
Assemble booking proof · package-06
Done when Lengths you can deliver in real rooms.
Assemble booking proof · package-07
Done when A verifiable performance history.
Host, feature and headline · roles-05
Ask before you list anyone: Lafayette Comedy asks for the producers, bookers or comedians who can vouch for you.
Done when Permission to share each reference.
Assemble booking proof · package-08
Done when Accessible bio, clips and contact information.
Find and pitch the right rooms · bookings-09
Done when A decision trail you can learn from.
From the Career Field Manual: Grow the act without padding and Build a repetition habit. In the D.O.C. book: topics 51–70, 115–131, 435–455, 96–114 and 415–434.
Grow the act without padding · set-03
A room that asks you back may give you more time: have ten minutes that work without filler.
Done when A ten-minute recording and notes.
Grow the act without padding · set-04
Done when Two usable opening and closing choices.
Build a repetition habit · reps-08
Keep one mic in your week for new material, so each room that books you sees a better set.
Done when A continuing place to test new work.
From the Career Field Manual: Choose help when it solves a problem, Get paid. Keep records. and Build a career you can keep. In the D.O.C. book: topics 290–313, 234–289 and 400–455.
Choose help when it solves a problem · team-01
List the hosts, producers and bookers who’ve seen you work, and how each one books.
Done when A map of buyer, host, producer and promoter roles.
Get paid. Keep records. · money-01
For each return date, confirm the slot, the length and the fee in writing, even with a room you know.
Done when A saved agreement or confirmation.
Build a career you can keep · sustain-03
Done when Three measurable deliverables under your control.
Habits, not a timetable: the atlas has no stopwatch. Keep these going, and the proof for this stop builds up week by week.
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.
References who can vouch for you, the clubs you’ve played and in what role, and who you’ve opened for.
Who can vouch for you?
List the producers/bookers or comedians who can be used for a reference.
Were you opener, feature, headliner, etc.
Lafayette Comedy’s page ↗ · checked 10 November 2026
The more it sees you perform and work on your act, the more likely a longer spot; and a new video is welcome after 90 days.
The more we see you perform and work on your act, the more likely we are to consider you for a longer showcase spot.
You're welcome to submit again after 90 days with a new video.
Henceforth Comedy’s page ↗ · checked 10 November 2026
Not hearing back can mean not yet, and an updated clip with new material is welcome.
If you don't hear back, it isn't necessarily a "no"—it often means "not yet"
You're welcome to submit again if you have an updated clip with new material on it.
BABS Comedy Club’s page ↗ · checked 10 November 2026
Places that publish how a returning comic 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 routeBrooklyn, NY · Club spots · Form
Your best five minutes as a YouTube link and a definite window of dates, sent at least two months before them. It books entirely from video, and answers only the comics it picks.
Checked 10 November 2026Published routeForest Park, IL · Club spots · Form
Apply through its form for the Friday Local Laughs Showcase; one person books the comics and watches every clip sent.
Checked 10 November 2026Published routeCleveland, OH · Independent show · Email
A high-quality video of a recent five-minute set and your credits: festivals, clubs, television and other professional bookings.
Worth knowing. It can’t answer every submission; send again after 90 days with a new video.
Checked 10 November 2026Published routeTulsa, OK · Club spots · Form
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.
Checked 10 November 2026Published routeOklahoma City, OK · Club spots · Form
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.
Checked 10 November 2026Published routeOklahoma City and Tulsa, OK, and its other clubs · Club spots · Form
What it looks for in a paid MC, before you apply: a clean 10–15 minute set, no worse than PG-13 even when the headliner works dirty, and a comic who’s easy to work with, polite to staff, sober on stage and keen to learn the MC announcements.
Worth knowing. Its page calls MCing a difficult position that sets the tone of the night, and not for everyone.
Checked 10 November 2026A return booking may be the first one that pays. None of the buyers on this page publishes what it pays for a short set, so this page gives no figure: ask, and confirm the terms in writing every time, even with a room you know.
In writing, each timeQuestions to ask when you’re asked back · Road Maps: the Math of a Gig, with your own numbers · Get Paid, Get Back: the deal in writing · The IRS on gig work ↗
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.
Subject: Thank you for [The show's date] Hi [The producer's or booker's name], Thank you for having me back on [The show]. [One line on how the night went] The set from the night, if it's useful: [Your clip's link] Best, [Your name]
Subject: May I name you as a reference? Hi [The producer's or booker's name], Thank you again for [The show]. Some rooms I'm submitting to ask who can vouch for me. May I name you as someone who has booked me, as: [How you'd list them: their role and the show]? If you'd rather not, that's no problem at all. Best, [Your name]
[Your name] is a stand-up comedian from [Your home town]. Rooms and shows, as they are: [Your rooms and shows, as they are]. [Your name] has been booked back by [The rooms that booked you back]. A current clip and dates: [Your SUCDb record or website]
1. The same slot and length as last time, or different? 2. Is it paid this time? If so, how much, and when? 3. Has the content rule changed? 4. Would you like the set you saw, or new material? 5. May I record my set? 6. Who do I check in with, and when?
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.
Nothing yet: your status changes and ticks appear here, each with its day.
Saved in this browser
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.
By D.O.C. Editorial. This is one stop of the Stand-Up Career Atlas: the common start, stop 5 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 why clubs bring comics back, read Why comedy clubs rebook certain comics.
Updated · The Career Atlas · Comic's Corner · Privacy
