I have a bit of a different take on bringer shows. For me, they were an absolute godsend early in my comedy career and played a big role in my development as a young comedian.
I might be in a different boat than a lot of people. But I started doing comedy when I had a pretty large social circle outside of comedians—which made it much easier for me to bring people out when asked. I was fortunate enough to be able to consistently bring 2, 5, sometimes even 10 people to shows. These people were friends or people that I worked with.
And those bringer shows led to real opportunities and regular (non-bringer) shows. For example, I now host about once a month at HaHa Comedy Club for Guyz Nite. I’ve done door spots at Fourth Wall, a guest spot at the Ice House California Room, and I’ve performed at the Jimmy Kimmel Comedy Club in Las Vegas and Mic Drop in San Diego. Every single one of those specific opportunities can be traced back to a bringer show I was part of. All of them were non-bringers.
Here’s what I’ll say: if you’re new to comedy and reading this comment, I believe that stage time is the most important thing. If you’re clever and you find a way to get booked on a lot of quality shows quickly without having to go the bringer route, that’s amazing—you should absolutely pursue that. But if you’re someone who has a large social circle or you’re willing to get creative—whether that’s barking or figuring out how to draw a crowd in unconventional ways to hit the audience numbers you promised—then I think bringer shows can be a great stepping stone on the way up.
That said, it's important be smart: the best feedback on how good of a comedian you are onstage is from an audience that doesn’t know you, has never seen your face, or heard your jokes. Network your way into non-bringer shows as much as you can. Avoid sleazy producers who’ll put you on a three-hour lineup just to do five minutes. And get on stage as much as possible—whether that’s paid open mics, free mics, bringers, guest spots, door spots, or producing your own shows.
In my experience, Guy runs a tight ship. The shows tend to run no longer than an hour and 50 minutes. Guy himself generally does 12 minutes. And there are opportunities with who he introduces you (and not to mention who you meet) to do bringer shows and non-bringer shows. Of course, you must network and put in hustle yourself.
As for the sales-y, gamified language in Guy’s messages—I get how that might turn some people off. Personally, when I did Guyz Nite, Guy never used that language with me. Maybe the feedback you are giving him will help his approach over time.
I won’t condone everything he does—nobody’s perfect. But it would feel wrong for me not to speak publicly and thank him for the opportunities he’s given me. He’s helped me get a foothold in the comedy scene, and I’m genuinely grateful for that.
And just to be clear, Jay—none of this is a knock on you. From what I’ve seen, you’re an incredible comic with way more experience than I have. I’ve enjoyed your sets at the Belly Room a lot, especially the roasts. Maybe I’ll see things differently when I’ve been doing this as long as you have. But for now, I wanted to offer my perspective, especially because I want to give credit where credit is due.
If there is someone who has actually done a Guyz Nite show and had a negative experience, I hope they post it up here.
But I hope more people who also had a more positive experience also comment.
Hi Parker, thanks for your perspective and the kind words. I'm glad you've had a positive experience – I've had several comics speak to me in person or privately message me about having negative experiences on that show, and, of course, other bringer shows. Those are not my stories to tell, so I'll save it for those folks, in case they decide to share their experiences.
I agree 100% that stage time is the most important thing, especially for new comics. Maybe this is a generational thing, but what I heard both when I began in a small scene and shortly after moving to LA was "start your own room." Show, open mic, whatever – it lets you plant your flag in the scene, contribute to the community at large, and, of course, gets you some of that sweet, sweet stage time. But it appears that somewhere between the time I started and now, this is not the prevailing wisdom it used to be. Is this something that was suggested to you and/or that you've considered doing?
Hey Jay, I appreciate the advice! Yeah, producing your own show was never recommended to me by an individual person. But it is what I observed other people in the scene doing. It might be a generational thing. I got started in the scene here in LA in July 2022.
I have hosted open mics at Fourth Wall and had a good experience. And I am currently about to produce my first show, so I am finally getting around to starting my own room.
Thanks for taking the time to read through and respond to my comment!
This is a great read and you made a plethora of points that are hard to argue. It definitely spoke to the hearts and souls of comedians when it comes to bringer shows. My experience with guyz nite might differ from others and it’s been good. Guy has introduced me to other producers who have booked me on both bringers and non bringers and it allowed me to see new rooms and meet more comics. I’m just curious why you pointed out guyznite specifically? Vs the other bringer producers who have been in the scene when you were a green comic?
I do ask for 2 or 3 but I also let them know I work on packing the room out myself. So not to stress on it. I do pay them $5 per person they bring.
I get paid based off how many people I’m able to bring. So far the most I’ve been paid is $120 for 30 people. But I honestly don’t mind about the pay. I just try to get up as much as I can. And then I tell everybody I know to come but that means I need to be writing new jokes all the time so I’m not giving them the same show every time.
I met the Ice House booker once but I’m not sure how to go about out asking them directly, I should’ve asked for their email.
Thanks for your response — very informative. Interesting that the producers you work with are paying you less than you pay the comics on your shows; even when you hit 30 people you only got $4 a head. Not to mention that those producers made more than 5 times as much money (based on the seemingly standard $25 ticket price) as you did, even though you did the actual labor of getting those people in the door to buy tickets!
Guyz night show actually worked out for me. I was able to bring 15 people out and had a good set. He introduced me to two producers who book me regularly. Bringers can be beneficial and get you on bigger stages. I also produce my own show, I do ask for comics to bring people but I try to pack the room out myself not relying on the other comics to do so.
Hey Luie. I'm glad you've had a good experience even though it sounds like an outlier based on what else I've heard. I have a few questions, would love your answers in the interest of transparency:
- When you say "I ask for comics to bring people" do you have a number requirement or do you just say "hey promote the show and try to get some people out"?
- Based on your IG, it looks like you've been doing shows for other bringer producers post-Guyz Nite for a little over a year. Do the producers you work with continue to enforce a bringer requirement for you? If so, what is the threshold?
- How much do you get paid for these spots by the producers?
- It looks like the main club you perform at is the Ice House, have you met the club's booker at all after any of your shows? Have you spoken with him about doing work through the club directly?
I did the guyz nite show. Brought the required amount of ppl. Had a good set. Got the “intro”. It’s basically a copy paste email. Been 3 months since the show. The big producer has never responded 🤣🤣
Death to bringer shows (and paid mics!)!!!!
here here!
Hey Jay, I read the article. I enjoyed it.
I have a bit of a different take on bringer shows. For me, they were an absolute godsend early in my comedy career and played a big role in my development as a young comedian.
I might be in a different boat than a lot of people. But I started doing comedy when I had a pretty large social circle outside of comedians—which made it much easier for me to bring people out when asked. I was fortunate enough to be able to consistently bring 2, 5, sometimes even 10 people to shows. These people were friends or people that I worked with.
And those bringer shows led to real opportunities and regular (non-bringer) shows. For example, I now host about once a month at HaHa Comedy Club for Guyz Nite. I’ve done door spots at Fourth Wall, a guest spot at the Ice House California Room, and I’ve performed at the Jimmy Kimmel Comedy Club in Las Vegas and Mic Drop in San Diego. Every single one of those specific opportunities can be traced back to a bringer show I was part of. All of them were non-bringers.
Here’s what I’ll say: if you’re new to comedy and reading this comment, I believe that stage time is the most important thing. If you’re clever and you find a way to get booked on a lot of quality shows quickly without having to go the bringer route, that’s amazing—you should absolutely pursue that. But if you’re someone who has a large social circle or you’re willing to get creative—whether that’s barking or figuring out how to draw a crowd in unconventional ways to hit the audience numbers you promised—then I think bringer shows can be a great stepping stone on the way up.
That said, it's important be smart: the best feedback on how good of a comedian you are onstage is from an audience that doesn’t know you, has never seen your face, or heard your jokes. Network your way into non-bringer shows as much as you can. Avoid sleazy producers who’ll put you on a three-hour lineup just to do five minutes. And get on stage as much as possible—whether that’s paid open mics, free mics, bringers, guest spots, door spots, or producing your own shows.
In my experience, Guy runs a tight ship. The shows tend to run no longer than an hour and 50 minutes. Guy himself generally does 12 minutes. And there are opportunities with who he introduces you (and not to mention who you meet) to do bringer shows and non-bringer shows. Of course, you must network and put in hustle yourself.
As for the sales-y, gamified language in Guy’s messages—I get how that might turn some people off. Personally, when I did Guyz Nite, Guy never used that language with me. Maybe the feedback you are giving him will help his approach over time.
I won’t condone everything he does—nobody’s perfect. But it would feel wrong for me not to speak publicly and thank him for the opportunities he’s given me. He’s helped me get a foothold in the comedy scene, and I’m genuinely grateful for that.
And just to be clear, Jay—none of this is a knock on you. From what I’ve seen, you’re an incredible comic with way more experience than I have. I’ve enjoyed your sets at the Belly Room a lot, especially the roasts. Maybe I’ll see things differently when I’ve been doing this as long as you have. But for now, I wanted to offer my perspective, especially because I want to give credit where credit is due.
If there is someone who has actually done a Guyz Nite show and had a negative experience, I hope they post it up here.
But I hope more people who also had a more positive experience also comment.
(Posting this on Instagram too)
Hi Parker, thanks for your perspective and the kind words. I'm glad you've had a positive experience – I've had several comics speak to me in person or privately message me about having negative experiences on that show, and, of course, other bringer shows. Those are not my stories to tell, so I'll save it for those folks, in case they decide to share their experiences.
I agree 100% that stage time is the most important thing, especially for new comics. Maybe this is a generational thing, but what I heard both when I began in a small scene and shortly after moving to LA was "start your own room." Show, open mic, whatever – it lets you plant your flag in the scene, contribute to the community at large, and, of course, gets you some of that sweet, sweet stage time. But it appears that somewhere between the time I started and now, this is not the prevailing wisdom it used to be. Is this something that was suggested to you and/or that you've considered doing?
Hey Jay, I appreciate the advice! Yeah, producing your own show was never recommended to me by an individual person. But it is what I observed other people in the scene doing. It might be a generational thing. I got started in the scene here in LA in July 2022.
I have hosted open mics at Fourth Wall and had a good experience. And I am currently about to produce my first show, so I am finally getting around to starting my own room.
Thanks for taking the time to read through and respond to my comment!
**meant to write "1 hour and 40 minutes" earlier
This is a great read and you made a plethora of points that are hard to argue. It definitely spoke to the hearts and souls of comedians when it comes to bringer shows. My experience with guyz nite might differ from others and it’s been good. Guy has introduced me to other producers who have booked me on both bringers and non bringers and it allowed me to see new rooms and meet more comics. I’m just curious why you pointed out guyznite specifically? Vs the other bringer producers who have been in the scene when you were a green comic?
and their business prop is so nakedly MLM-y it made my blood boil
because they emailed me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I do ask for 2 or 3 but I also let them know I work on packing the room out myself. So not to stress on it. I do pay them $5 per person they bring.
I get paid based off how many people I’m able to bring. So far the most I’ve been paid is $120 for 30 people. But I honestly don’t mind about the pay. I just try to get up as much as I can. And then I tell everybody I know to come but that means I need to be writing new jokes all the time so I’m not giving them the same show every time.
I met the Ice House booker once but I’m not sure how to go about out asking them directly, I should’ve asked for their email.
Thanks for your response — very informative. Interesting that the producers you work with are paying you less than you pay the comics on your shows; even when you hit 30 people you only got $4 a head. Not to mention that those producers made more than 5 times as much money (based on the seemingly standard $25 ticket price) as you did, even though you did the actual labor of getting those people in the door to buy tickets!
Guyz night show actually worked out for me. I was able to bring 15 people out and had a good set. He introduced me to two producers who book me regularly. Bringers can be beneficial and get you on bigger stages. I also produce my own show, I do ask for comics to bring people but I try to pack the room out myself not relying on the other comics to do so.
Hey Luie. I'm glad you've had a good experience even though it sounds like an outlier based on what else I've heard. I have a few questions, would love your answers in the interest of transparency:
- When you say "I ask for comics to bring people" do you have a number requirement or do you just say "hey promote the show and try to get some people out"?
- Based on your IG, it looks like you've been doing shows for other bringer producers post-Guyz Nite for a little over a year. Do the producers you work with continue to enforce a bringer requirement for you? If so, what is the threshold?
- How much do you get paid for these spots by the producers?
- It looks like the main club you perform at is the Ice House, have you met the club's booker at all after any of your shows? Have you spoken with him about doing work through the club directly?
- Do you pay comics you have on your show?
and that same guy is still running his Gotham bringer
weirdly enough I think it might be a different guy now — bringers all the way down 😑
I did the guyz nite show. Brought the required amount of ppl. Had a good set. Got the “intro”. It’s basically a copy paste email. Been 3 months since the show. The big producer has never responded 🤣🤣
so it's not only a pyramid scheme but the pyramid is in disrepair!
Ken 😅😅
Ken is ON NOTICE
hahahaha guyz night 🤦🏻♂️