15/08/2026
Hi all - the below information is for people that are new to comedy and thinking about setting up a night. Last time we provided some observations on how to set up a small night and this one is about things that can go wrong.
We have made so many mistakes running nights and I feel that it’s important to share them to all our friends in comedy.
Technical problems
Microphone audio cutting out is horrible and if you have attended Up4dacraic events it’s happened loads of times. So how do we avoid it.
Cheap wireless mics fail often which we found out quickly. Always have a backup wired microphone and cables sitting right next to the stage.
Next is venue distractions: have you ever been Shenanigans and heard the Bar staff using blenders, TVs showing live sports downstairs or noisy kitchen doors or outside noise.. this is part of open mic but for pro nights it will kill the room's focus. Ensure the venue manager commits to turning off TVs and silencing noisy equipment before showtime as much as possible.
Poor stage lighting: A comedian standing in a dark shadow loses half their facial expressions. Test the lighting angles yourself from the back row before doors open. If your venue does not have stage lighting then buy some. Improvise your stage lighting: If the venue lacks stage lights, use a cheap spotlight placed on a high table to separate the comic from the dark room.
A hot, stuffy room makes an audience irritable, sluggish, and far less likely to laugh. If you think it’s going to be crazy hot buy a couple of fans and get air flow in before the gig starts with windows and doors.
Audience Disruptions
Aggressive or persistent heckling: A single disruptive audience member can hijack the entire show. Empower your MC to shut them down quickly, and warn them you will eject them if they persist. Groups celebrating birthdays or hen parties often talk over acts without realizing they are ruining the show. Seat large parties further back and ask staff to gently warn them if they get too loud. An empty front row: People naturally sit further back, leaving a physical dead zone in front of the comic. Ask audience members forward before the host takes the stage. If you need to tempt them forward with a shot of cheap booze.
Performer and Timing Issues
* Comedians running over time: An act ignoring the "light" destroys the schedule and exhausts the crowd. Give strict warnings beforehand, and pull the music up on them if they refuse to leave the stage.
Last-minute dropouts: Comedians get stuck in traffic or get sick. Always have a trusted local comic in the audience or on standby who can fill a 10-minute gap at a moment's notice.
Ensure your host understands their job is to warm up the room, not do a self-indulgent headline set.
Low bar spend: If the audience doesn't buy drinks, the venue loses money and may cancel your night. Use the host to remind the crowd to visit the bar during the scheduled mid-show breaks.
Keep the bill local: Avoid booking comedians who require travel expenses, petrol money, or train ticket compensation. Build your core community around talent operating within a small radius which for us is the North West. Support your local talent and keep an eye out for who is in town.. we had had some amazing last minute celebs drop into Shenanigans and our other venues
![Up4dacraic - current venues - [ ] Shenanigans - Liv - Monthly New material- [ ] Tank Bar St Helens - Monthly New Mater...](https://img3.glartent.com/936/677/1065855569366770.jpg)
