Flappers Comedy Club loves open-mic events, holding them most days both early (think 5 p.m. shows) and late (at 9 p.m. or later). Some require that comedians to audition on Wednesdays at 6 p.m., while others require comedians to buy one item and sign up for the show 30 minutes beforehand. There are nights just for women, some of the shows are held at the bar, some in the Yoo Hoo Room and others in the main room of the club. The one thing they all have in common is that everyone that performs is certain they are the next big thing in stand-up!
Recommended for Open Mic because: There's almost always an open-mic session happening at Flappers, so hone your skills, take to the stage and see if you get any laughs.
Jenny's expert tip: Check the Flappers website for the specific details for each open-mic show, as they are different depending on the date and time in the evening of each show.
Molly Malone's Irish Pub is an L.A. institution, serving up Guinness, Irish whiskey and coffees for over 50 years in a convivial place that evokes a classic Dublin pub. They often have live bands that get the crowd singing along, and they have a bi-weekly open mic for comedians to try out their sets, called Kiki's Open Mic Stand Up Comedy. Those evenings happen on Tuesday nights, with shows going up at 7:45 p.m. Comedians must purchase one item to get a spot, then put their names into a bucket to be chosen to go up. The bucket closes at 8 p.m. and hopefully the laughter begins.
Recommended for Open Mic because: It's worth going to Molly Malone's even without comedians trying out their jokes; their open-mic nights make it even more fun to hang out here.
Jenny's expert tip: Check Molly Malone's calendar on their website to confirm the Tuesday nights when open-mic night is happening.
At El Cid, they have been showcasing local talent since 1963; this Silverlake landmark hosts one of the best (and oldest) Open Mic Nights in Los Angeles. Every Monday, there's a variety show atmosphere as the performers range across the board, from comedians to singers to oddball performers. There is a $5 cover charge and the show begins at 8 p.m.; performers begin signing in at 7:30 p.m. Get there early for prime seats, as this is a very popular weekly event. El Cid has a full menu of tapas and specialty cocktails and also features famous flamenco shows that happen every weekend.
Recommended for Open Mic because: Who doesn't want to perform in a place that in 1925 was a speakeasy that looked like a jail?
Jenny's expert tip: Settle in with a big pitcher of house-made "Classic Spanish Sangria" and enjoy the show.
Located in a Hollywood building where Charlie Chaplin made "A Dog's Life" in 1918, Third Wheel is a venue that puts on different kinds of comedy and music shows. Every Monday is their Leg Room Comedy Open Mic Night, where a lottery system chooses the comedians who get 10 minutes to perform their sets. Hosted by Peter Murphy and Amanda Fritz and featuring a headliner comedian each week, the sign up for the lottery begins at 9:30 p.m. and the show starts at 10 p.m. It's a recurring chance for comic geniuses to prove they are worthy of following in Chaplin's footsteps, in a setting that The Little Tramp once made his own.
Recommended for Open Mic because: As a place in Hollywood for comedians to take the first step toward stardom, Third Wheel is the place where dreams begin.
Jenny's expert tip: Check Third Wheel's Instagram page for specifics on the Monday night open-mic events.
Boomtown Brewery began brewing beer in downtown L.A. in 2015, opening their tap room in 2017. It wasn't until the pandemic hit that the brewery began its open-mic night, utilizing their parking lot as an outdoor venue that allowed people to gather for a night of laughter (and a few beers!). The popular Monday night open-mic shows have continued as the crisis has abated, still held outside in the warm SoCal evenings. Participants get five minutes at the mic, with no charges to sign up. Audience members even get $2 off beers during the show, which lasts from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Comedians need to be on hand by 6:30 p.m. to get one of the first come, first served spots.
Recommended for Open Mic because: A fun venue in DTLA makes for a place where local Arts District residents can walk to the show.
Jenny's expert tip: Boomtown Brewery usually has 12 beers on tap, but comedians probably want to want until after their five minutes onstage before indulging.
Oeno Vino is a chameleon, seemingly a chic wine shop in the Atwater Village neighborhood of Loa Angeles, but then when you look a little deeper, you'll discover that they also have a convivial bar where all sorts of fun takes place. That part of the shop is where you'll find the Open Mic Nights, which happen on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings as well as on Saturday afternoons. At Oeno Vino, there is a one drink/item minimum for performers, with varying ways to get on the show list. Most nights it is "show up, go up," in front of a crowd that seriously loves their wine and their laughs, too, at the bar in the back room of the wine shop. You'll find charcuterie and/or cheese platters, pizza and salads to keep your strength up there, too.
Recommended for Open Mic because: Wine and comedy are a completely winning combination in our book!
Jenny's expert tip: As with most open-mic opportunities in the City of Angels, getting there early is the way to almost guarantee getting a performance spot.
At The Glendale Room, comedy is king, along with books. For when owner Sean Casey decided to open the space for comic performances (including open-mic nights), he also happened to buy a shipping container full of books. Thus the backdrop on the stage, as well as books all over the place. But it isn't about reading here, it's about laughing, especially on Wednesdays, which is open-mic night. That night, the comic performers number 20 people, with fees to go on ranging from $5 for five minutes to $10 for 10 minutes, starting at 8 p.m. Theirs is a first-come, first-served system for fully vaxxed people that night. hosted by Molly Ann Hale and Sarafina Rodriguez. On Sundays the club does The Two Popes Open Mic event at 4 p.m., with a similar fee structure of $5 for five minutes. Hosted by Parnell Piano and Dan Dowling.
Recommended for Open Mic because: Once part of the Westside Comedy Theatre, now proprietor Sean Casey is doing his thing on the East Side of Loa Angeles.
Jenny's expert tip: Arrive early to get on the performance list and bring cash or a Venmo account to pay for your open-mic spot.
At the Springbok Bar and Grill, Open Mic night is Monday and it is all about music, as producer/musician Alex Romero explains. "We strive to provide an environment where musicians of all levels can share their talents within the support of a community. Built by musicians, for musicians, we are lucky to have access to a venue that serves amazing food and drinks, as well as a team that works together each week to make our open mic an enjoyable experience," One of the few open-mic venues in Los Angeles that is not designed for comedians, the Springbok B&G is a place for musicians to try out new works in front of a receptive audience. Performers find no cover charge or sign-up fee, but everyone has a two-drink/item minimum.
Recommended for Open Mic because: Being one of the few open-mic venues for musicians in Los Angeles makes Springbok B&G special.
Jenny's expert tip: Sign ups to go on start at 8:30 p.m. on Monday nights.
One of the most famous comedy clubs in SoCal, The Laugh Factory has launched some seriously funny people into the stratosphere since 1979. Think Tim Allen, Chris Rock, Roseanne Barr, Ray Romano, Jamie Foxx, Jim Carrey, Damon Wayans and just about every other famous comedian you can think of. The club has been so successful that founder Jamie Masada now has six other branches, from Long Beach to Las Vegas and beyond. Their Open Mic Comedy Night starts at 5 p.m. on Tuesdays, with doors opening at 4:30 p.m. The first 10 people in line will perform two-minute sets that night, restricted to G-rated jokes. Ten additional lottery spots will also be available for each show, so don't despair if you arrive and are number 11.
Recommended for Open Mic because: The Laugh Factory opened in 1979 and is still making people guffaw all these years later; and still giving new comedians a chance, too.
Jenny's expert tip: Arrive early to get one of the guaranteed 10 open-mic spaces on Tuesday evenings.
Canter's Deli has a special performance space known as the "Kibitz Room"; there, every Sunday night from 10 p.m. to 11:30 p.m, singers can belt out a couple of songs in the room where, on other late nights (go there around 2 a.m.) people like Sting and Mick Jagger have been known to step up to that same mic. You'll find cocktails and a convivial atmosphere at this open-all-day-and-night deli; they've been pulling people in at all hours since 1931. The Kibitz Room is only open until 2 a.m., however; but that's been late enough for it to have evolved into a legendary place for jam sessions with world-class musicians.
Recommended for Open Mic because: This back room has the coolest vibe in town; everyone from Jim Morrison to Joni Mitchell have hung out here over the years.
Jenny's expert tip: Get there early to snag a good seat in the Kibitz Room (and have a classic corned beef sandwich, too).