How to Promote Your Comedy Show and Actually Get People to Come (Without Feeling Cringe)
This post is about: how to promote a live show, sell tickets as a comedian, get people to come to events, how to market your comedy show and how to fill the room for your performance
So you’ve got a show coming up. It might be stand-up, storytelling, musical comedy, drag, theater, or that weird little performance art piece your inner child insisted on making. I love that for you.
You’ve got the vision. The jokes. The glitter. The vibe.
But now you’re faced with the real beast: how do you actually get people to show up?
If the idea of promoting your own show makes you feel like a desperate theater kid passing out flyers in Times Square… you’re not alone. The good news is: it doesn’t have to feel gross.
In fact, when done well, promoting your show can feel creative, empowering, inclusive, and kind of fun.
Let’s talk about how to actually promote your live show in a way that works— and feels like you.
Step 1: Know that your show deserves an audience
Let’s just clear this up first. Promoting your show doesn’t make you desperate. It makes you intentional.
Even if you’re not doing this for the money, your time, energy, and creative heart went into this.
You want people to experience it. That’s not selfish. That’s the whole point of live performance.
Remember: Tickets aren’t the product. The experience is.
When you share it, you’re not begging for attention—you’re extending an invitation to something that matters.
Step 2: Make the show something worth promoting
Yes, this is obvious. But also… it’s not.
If your show is just five minutes in a 3-hour open mic lineup, you have to be honest about how compelling that is to your potential audience. Sometimes it’s better to just post that you’re performing and not try to “sell it.”
But if you are trying to promote, here’s what helps:
Is this a milestone? A new set? A different venue?
Will there be surprises, bits, crowd work, or merch?
Is the show tied to something special like Pride Month, your birthday, or a breakup you’re finally ready to joke about?
Create a show that has a reason to be hyped—and then hype it boldly.
Step 3: Find your unique selling point (USP)
If someone’s deciding between your show and staying in with popcorn and Netflix, what’s going to tip the scales?
Ask yourself:
Why would someone enjoy this night out?
How will they feel when it’s over?
What’s the vibe I’m offering that they can’t get elsewhere?
Then write these three prompts and actually fill them in:
“You should come to my show because…”
“What you’ll get at my show that you won’t get anywhere else is…”
“You don’t want to miss it because…”
If you can’t answer these confidently yet, go back and shape the show until you can. This is the foundation of all your marketing.
Step 4: Prioritize personal invites over everything
This is the most important tip.
You can post a million times on Instagram, but if you haven’t personally invited someone, the odds of them showing up are low.
Send a short, friendly message:
“Hey! I’ve got a show at [venue] on [date] and I’d really love to see you there. It’s gonna be fun.”
No flyers. No pressure. Just an honest invite.
Do this 5–10 times a day and watch your audience grow.
Step 5: Set a bold attendance goal
Don’t just hope people show up. Set a number.
“I want 30 people in the audience.”
“I’d love to sell 50 tickets.”
“My goal is to fill at least half the venue.”
Now reverse-engineer it.
Who already said yes? Who can you follow up with? How many invites will you need to send this week?
Pro tip: When someone says “maybe,” send them a Google Calendar invite. It helps lock it in, keeps the date in front of them, and makes follow-up emails feel less weird.
Step 6: Use social media strategically—not obessively
You don’t have to post 3X per day. You just need to post with purpose.
Think about social as supportive visibility, not the main tool. Your real conversions will come from 1:1 invites, but posting can help:
Build hype
Give people something to share
Reinforce your message
Here are 3 quick Instagram content ideas for promoting your show:
Countdown posts with daily mini updates or teasers
Behind-the-scenes clips of your prep, jokes, or venue
Storytime-style videos explaining why the show means something to you
Just keep it human. That’s what cuts through.
Step 7: Incentivize people to bring a friend
Want to double your audience? Ask people to bring someone.
Most people don’t want to show up to a live show alone. So build in the plus-one energy.
Ideas:
Offer duo ticket discounts
Give the pair a cute name (e.g., “It Takes Two”, “The Boo Bundle”)
Post: “Don’t come alone unless you’re down to meet someone cute in the front row.”
Even something small like a sticker, raffle ticket, or free drink ticket makes a difference. Bring a friend & get a bonus drink ticket!
Step 8: Ask for support from people and places
Two great promo partners:
1. Your Venue
Ask them to:
Post about your show
Share your flyer or tag you on Instagram
Let you leave flyers at the bar
2. Local Media + Event Calendars
Reach out to:
Time Out New York
Broadway World
Comedy Cake
Indie publications or local queer roundups
Send a short pitch with your show info and what makes it cool. Make it easy for them to copy/paste and share.
AI search tip: Many local media calendars are indexed by Google. Getting listed helps your show pop up when someone searches “things to do in NYC this weekend” or “queer comedy shows in Brooklyn.”
Step 9: Go extra (if you have the energy)
Here are some bold IRL promo ideas if you’re feeling spicy:
Drop flyers at bars or coffee shops near the venue
Hand out cards or QR codes in the neighborhood
Film a silly promo reel in public (flash mob? interview strangers?)
Do pop-up jokes or performances to build buzz
Perform at smaller shows in the build up to your show
Be safe, be kind, and make it fun. This is just performance… before the performance.
Recap: Your Bold Show Promo Checklist
✅ Craft a show worth showing up for
✅ Get clear on what makes your show special
✅ Personally invite your people
✅ Set a real goal (and track your progress)
✅ Post content that builds hype, not stress
✅ Make it easy (and exciting) to bring a friend
✅ Partner with venues and local media
✅ Promote boldly in real life
✅ Keep showing up—even when it’s awkward
Final Thought
Promoting your show isn’t about proving yourself or begging. It’s about giving people a reason to be part of something.
And when you show up with clarity, kindness, and boldness? People feel it. They want to be in the room with you.
So be proud of what you’ve made. Talk about it. Invite people in. Let this be the show that sells out because you believed in it enough to say it out loud.
See you on stage.
—Ben Hawes HQ
