Venue Chat

Where to gig and what to expect

Looking for rooms to play? Browse hundreds of comedy gigs and open mic nights in our Gig Directory.

Every comedy scene has its own character, and knowing your venues is half the battle. The Venue Chat section of Banter is where Tough Crowd members compare rooms, swap notes on promoters, and warn each other about the gigs worth driving across the country for — and the ones to avoid. From the London open mic circuit to Manchester's thriving scene and the chaos of the Edinburgh Fringe, our community of comedians shares first-hand experience of what each room is really like to play. Find out which venues are friendly to new acts, which promoters actually pay, and where your style of comedy will land best.