--- title: "How to Run Your Own Comedy Tour: A Roadmap | D.O.C." description: "A roadmap to running your own ticketed comedy tour: a route from demand, holds and deposits in writing, clean settlements and a scorecard by city." url: https://disciplesofcomedy.com/career-atlas-run-your-own-comedy-tour.html updated: 2026-11-10 --- The Career Atlas · Your own shows · stop 5 of 5 # Your own ticketed tour: your roadmap Start the playbook → Your proof The short answer A tour of your own is a route through towns where people have already bought tickets, each date under terms you’ve read. Build it from your city scorecards, confirm every hold, deposit and cancellation term in writing, settle each night cleanly, and change the route from what each town left you. - **16** steps, each with its “done when” - **3** buyers, in their own words - **6** places to send it - **3** notes ready to send By D.O.C. Editorial · [The Career Atlas](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-career-atlas.html) ## This roadmap, in five parts Your roadmap ## From here to release an album or special 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… ### Independent touring headliner - Towns beyond home have bought tickets more than once, and you know what each left you. - You can do a full-length set that holds a paying room, night after night. - Venues and producers in other towns have hosted you and asked about another date. - The next step is a run of dates you sell yourself, each under terms in writing. You’re ready to move on when… ### …to [release an album or special](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/career-atlas-release-a-comedy-special.html) The next stop runs alongside the routes: a release of your own. Its partners set their own terms, so these are the tests to meet before you record. Tick each one when it’s true for you. You’ve performed the same full set on your route, night after night, and it holds a paying room. You have a room for the recording, and the venue’s agreement to record, in writing. The recording and release rights are settled with the venue and with any other comic on the bill. You’ve started the next set, so the release doesn’t leave you without an act. 0 of 4 true ### The playbook 16 steps in 5 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. #### The full set, tested From the Career Field Manual: Grow the act without padding and Host, feature and headline. In [the D.O.C. book](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-book.html): topics 51–70, 115–131 and 435–455. 1. Grow the act without padding · set-08 #### Build and test an hour before promising an hour Test the full set in front of paying rooms before you offer it to venues as a headline show. **Done when** A full headline-length performance in a real room. [Log the set in Stage Time →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stage-time.html#log) [Building an hour →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-build-an-hour.html) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date 2. 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 →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/critique.html) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date #### Choose the route from demand From the Career Field Manual: Route the road, not the poster and Turn one good night into a return. In [the D.O.C. book](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-book.html): topics 197–233, 314–347, 348–366, 383–399 and 435–455. 3. Route the road, not the poster · road-09 #### Build a city scorecard for return decisions Start the route from the towns on your scorecard where both the paid count and what the night left you held up. **Done when** Actual draw, attendance and net by town. [Your city scorecard →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedy-tour-planner.html#after) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date 4. Turn one good night into a return · audience-08 #### Plan a credible reason for a repeat show in a city **Done when** A return-date decision based on demand. [Returning to the same cities →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-grow-ticket-sales.html) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date 5. Route the road, not the poster · road-03 #### Route anchor bookings before speculative support dates Confirm the dates that carry the run first; add the nights between once those are firm. **Done when** A route with confirmed dates distinguished. [Plan the run →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedy-tour-planner.html#run) [One-nighters or runs →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-plan-comedy-tour-dates.html) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date #### Every date under contract From the Career Field Manual: Produce your own night, Get paid. Keep records. and Choose help when it solves a problem. In [the D.O.C. book](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-book.html): topics 197–233, 258–289, 234–289 and 290–313. 6. Produce your own night · produce-04 #### Get the venue and performer terms in writing **Done when** Who sells, refunds, markets and settles. Asking for a hold → The terms, confirmed → **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date 7. Get paid. Keep records. · money-07 #### Understand percentage-of-door and guarantee terms **Done when** Your own worked example with assumptions. [Door deal or guarantee →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-door-deal-vs-guarantee.html) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date 8. Choose help when it solves a problem · team-05 #### Read commission, exclusivity, territory and termination terms Read each venue’s or promoter’s contract for its radius and exclusivity terms, and its cancellation terms, before you sign. **Done when** The agreement reviewed before signing. [Radius clauses and exclusivity →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-radius-clause.html) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date 9. Choose help when it solves a problem · team-06 #### Get suitable professional advice for consequential contracts **Done when** Lawyer or accountant engaged when needed. [Why comedians need contracts →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-comedy-contracts.html) [An attorney or a business manager →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-publicist-attorney-business-manager.html) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date #### Sell each town From the Career Field Manual: Turn one good night into a return. In [the D.O.C. book](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-book.html): topics 348–366, 383–399 and 435–455. 10. 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 tour dates on your own site →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/tour-dates-widget.html) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date 11. Turn one good night into a return · audience-05 #### Compare promotion activity with actual city ticket sales **Done when** A basic city-level result log. [What each city bought →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedy-tour-planner.html#after) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date 12. Turn one good night into a return · audience-07 #### Test merch only after learning what fans would buy Bring what your audience has asked for, in small numbers first, and know the venue’s cut before the table goes up. **Done when** Simple margin and inventory assumptions. [Run the merch table →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-merch-table.html) [The venue’s cut of merch →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-merch-splits-with-venues.html) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date #### Run it, settle it, review it From the Career Field Manual: Route the road, not the poster, Get paid. Keep records. and Build a career you can keep. In [the D.O.C. book](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-book.html): topics 197–233, 314–347, 234–289 and 400–455. 13. Route the road, not the poster · road-07 #### Check the room’s technical needs and advance contacts **Done when** Show advance and load-in instructions. The advance, a week out → [The rider →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-comedian-rider.html) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date 14. Route the road, not the poster · road-08 #### Record actual net by show and by full run What each date left you after its share of the miles, the rooms and the meals: the run’s total, not the best night’s gross. **Done when** Post-tour reconciliation, not ticket gross. [The run’s totals →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedy-tour-planner.html#run) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date 15. Get paid. Keep records. · money-06 #### Separate business money and planned tax reserves **Done when** A documented money-handling routine. [What to set aside →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-taxes-for-comedians.html) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date 16. Build a career you can keep · sustain-07 #### Archive your performance history with its source links **Done when** Backup of gigs, clips and agreements. [Your printable career record →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-career-atlas.html#passport) **Your note and target date** Your note: what you did, a link, what's next Target date ### What speeds this up - **Route from your scorecards** Go back where the numbers say people came. [Your city scorecard →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedy-tour-planner.html#after) - **Build around the weekend** Thursday to Sunday is a common pattern for a run, as crowds build toward the weekend. [Planning tour dates →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-plan-comedy-tour-dates.html) - **Book a local opener** A comic from each town brings local friends and local knowledge. [Booking your own tour →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-book-your-own-comedy-tour.html) - **Sell after the show** A merch table and a meet-and-greet can add to what a town leaves you. [Make the Trip Pay →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedian-meet-and-greet.html) - **Tell each town first** The people on your list in that town hear before anyone else. [Your list →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/promote-your-comedy-show.html#yourlist) - **Know the radius clause** Read where and when a contract stops you playing nearby. [Radius clauses →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-radius-clause.html) 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. - **Run the full set** Do the whole show wherever a room gives you the time, and log what held. - **Advance the next date** Confirm the times, the tech, the merch table and the settlement with the next venue. - **Watch the sales** Check each upcoming date’s ticket pace weekly, and promote where it’s slow. - **Write to each town** A note to the people on your list in towns with dates coming up, with the ticket link. - **Settle and score** Each night’s settlement into the city scorecard: the paid count, the costs, what it left. - **Plan the rest** Plan the drive and the sleep before the next date, not after. 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 it asks for a 45–60 minute clip of the material you’d bring. - 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. [Lexy’s Comedy Club’s page ↗](https://www.lexyscomedyclub.com/booking) · checked 10 November 2026 A venue’s published producer terms ### Q.E.D. Astoria A venue may ask you not to run other shows nearby around its date: Q.E.D. asks its producers not to produce or regularly host other shows in Astoria for two months either side, and encourages performers to perform wherever they can. - QED encourages performers to perform wherever and whenever they can. - We do, however, ask QED producers not to produce or regularly host other shows in Astoria (anywhere else is a-okay!) within 2 months before or after their QED show. [Q.E.D. Astoria’s page ↗](https://qedastoria.com/pages/producing) · checked 10 November 2026 A producer’s published submission rules ### Henceforth Comedy A producer that presents headliners’ shows publishes its refund rule for ticket buyers, and asks comics for their dates in its town. - Your purchase can be refunded up to 24 hours before the listed show time. - Your available dates in Cleveland [Henceforth Comedy’s page ↗](https://henceforthcomedy.com/) · checked 10 November 2026 ### Where to send it Places that publish how a touring show 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 →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-career-atlas.html#ways) Published route Eugene, OR · Produce a show · Email #### Lexy’s Comedy Club, produce your own show For producers with a proven show concept, an established audience and a track record: a show description, promotional images, a promo reel from the actual show, links to past shows, attendance and ticket sales averages or reports, your website or EPK, and the dates you want. **Worth knowing.** It is building a permanent home in Eugene; for now its shows are pop-ups. [Its page ↗](https://www.lexyscomedyclub.com/booking) Checked 10 November 2026 Published route Eugene, 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 ↗](https://www.lexyscomedyclub.com/booking) Checked 10 November 2026 Published route Cleveland, OH · Independent show · Email #### Henceforth Comedy 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. [Its page ↗](https://henceforthcomedy.com/) Checked 10 November 2026 Published route Denver, CO · Independent show · Email #### Rotating Tap Comedy Shows at craft breweries across the Denver metro area, with comics from across the country: email your name, a submission tape and the dates you’re looking to be booked. [Its page ↗](https://www.rotatingtapcomedy.com/) Checked 10 November 2026 Published route Astoria, NY · Produce a show · Form #### Q.E.D. Astoria, producing a show Tell it about your show or event through the form on its page. Its baseline for new shows and producers: a ticket split with no rental or up-front costs, up to 50 tickets, generally, at a price you set; the first $50 to $125 in sales, by night, goes to Q.E.D., producers guarantee that amount, and the rest is split 50/50. **Worth knowing.** It asks its producers not to produce or regularly host other shows in Astoria within two months before or after their Q.E.D. show. [Its page ↗](https://qedastoria.com/pages/producing) Checked 10 November 2026 Published route Burbank, CA · Produce a show · Form #### Flappers, independent producers A proposal for a show you produce: the concept, the room you want, your audience and your marketing plan. **Worth knowing.** The form asks whether you can buy $200 worth of tickets to hold the space: know the terms before you agree. [Its page ↗](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc6uMEmqhr-Y5PNwJzGKC_bn8dutqbIBNCumMhGlJFBgTT7Ig/viewform) Checked 10 November 2026 The money here ### Every date under contract Venues and promoters set their own terms; the ones on this page that publish theirs are under Where to send it. For each date, ask for the terms, read them whole, and get professional advice on any contract you’re unsure of. **In each date’s contract** - The date, the hold, and when it becomes firm - The rent or the split, the deposit and when it’s due - Ticketing: who sells, the price, the fees and the comps - The radius: where and when you may not play nearby - Settlement: who, when and how - Cancellation, by either side, and what happens to the deposit - Merch: whether you may sell, and the venue’s cut, if any [Road Maps: the Math of a Gig, with your own numbers](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/comedy-road-maps.html#math-of-a-gig) · [Get Paid, Get Back: the deal in writing](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/get-paid.html#deal) · [The IRS on gig work ↗](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/manage-taxes-for-your-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 Your name Your show’s name The city The venue The venue’s contact The dates you’re asking for The confirmed date Your set length, in minutes The show, in one line Your last show there, or that it’s your first The rent or split, as arithmetic The deposit, and when it’s due Who sells, the price and the fees Any radius terms When and how you settle What happens if it’s cancelled ### Asking a venue for a hold ``` Subject: Hold request: [Your name], [The city], [The dates you're asking for] Hi [The venue's contact], I'm [Your name], touring [Your show's name], and I'd like to ask about a hold at [The venue] on [The dates you're asking for]. The show: [Your set length, in minutes] minutes, [The show, in one line]. My last date in [The city]: [Your last show there, or that it's your first] Could you send your terms: the rent or the split, any deposit, the ticketing fees, and when you settle? Thank you, [Your name] ``` ### The terms, confirmed by email ``` Subject: [The city], [The confirmed date]: confirming our terms Hi [The venue's contact], To confirm [Your show's name] at [The venue] on [The confirmed date]: The money: [The rent or split, as arithmetic] Deposit: [The deposit, and when it's due] Tickets: [Who sells, the price and the fees] Radius: [Any radius terms] Settlement: [When and how you settle] If either of us cancels: [What happens if it's cancelled] If anything here is wrong, tell me and I'll correct it before we sign. Thank you, [Your name] ``` ### The advance, a week out ``` Subject: Advancing [Your show's name], [The venue], [The confirmed date] Hi [The venue's contact], Looking forward to [The confirmed date]. A few things to confirm: 1. Load-in and sound check times? 2. Doors and showtime? 3. Mic, stand, light and a monitor? 4. A table for merch, and the venue's cut, if any? 5. Tickets sold so far, and the comps held? 6. Who settles with me, and when? Thank you, [Your name] ``` 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 A route chosen from towns that have bought tickets before Each date’s terms in writing: the hold, the deposit, the cancellation A clean settlement for each show on the run What each town left you, after the road A changed route for next time, from what the towns showed you Your status ### Run your own ticketed tour A link to your proof: a tape, a booking, a review Your private note **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 →](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-career-atlas.html#passport) Saved in this browser ## Next stops [Discovery & recordings · Own your recording **Release an album or special** A release is a lasting record and a way in for new audiences.](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/career-atlas-release-a-comedy-special.html) [Club circuit · Rebook **A regular in the region’s clubs** Repeat bookings in more than one town make this a business.](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/career-atlas-regional-club-circuit.html) ## Go deeper - [How do you book your own comedy tour?](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-book-your-own-comedy-tour.html) The explainer, from the D.O.C. book - [Chapter 10, The DIY Tour](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-book.html) Picking the cities, finding rooms and routing a tour, in D.O.C.’s companion book, Stand-Up Comedy: From Writing to Touring - [Mike Birbiglia: When the Jokes Add Up to a Story](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/study-mike-birbiglia.html) The comic study: a touring show that was still changing as the tour reached its final cities ## 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. - [Lexy’s Comedy Club, booking and opportunities ↗](https://www.lexyscomedyclub.com/booking) A club’s published booking rules. - [Q.E.D. Astoria, producing a show ↗](https://qedastoria.com/pages/producing) A venue’s published producer terms. - [Henceforth Comedy, booking questions ↗](https://henceforthcomedy.com/) A producer’s published submission rules. - [Rotating Tap Comedy ↗](https://www.rotatingtapcomedy.com/) Its published route, checked 10 November 2026. - [Flappers, independent producers ↗](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc6uMEmqhr-Y5PNwJzGKC_bn8dutqbIBNCumMhGlJFBgTT7Ig/viewform) Its published route, checked 10 November 2026. - [The D.O.C. book](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-book.html) The playbook's book topics, matched to the book's contents on 10 November 2026. ## About this roadmap **By D.O.C. Editorial.** This is one stop of [the Stand-Up Career Atlas](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-career-atlas.html): your own shows, 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 what booking your own tour involves, read [How do you book your own comedy tour?](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/answer-book-your-own-comedy-tour.html). Updated 10 November 2026 · [The Career Atlas](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/stand-up-comedy-career-atlas.html) · [Comic's Corner](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/tools-for-comedians.html) · [Privacy](https://disciplesofcomedy.com/privacy.html)