How to Market for Comedy Clubs

Ensure that all club dates on your comedy website are current and that the headliner's bio and headshot are prominently displayed, as a well-known headliner will help draw in people. Use free social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook. Create a fan Web page and invite young comics just starting out to bring guests.

"Paper the club." This means that offering free tickets to guests so that they can bring more people will help build an audience. Keep in mind that most clubs make their money on the two-item minimum and not on the door. It is better to have comics perform to a crowded room than to have nobody there, so don't be stingy with those tickets. Offer the comics performing that night a special password to give to guests to get in for free.

Partner with local radio and TV shows to create a sponsorship. You're trading an on-air mention of your show for a visit by the headliner to do a spot. TV and radio are always looking to fill air time, and if they know they can count on a three-minute sound bite from a new headliner every week, this creates a great chance for you and them to co-market each other. In return, offer to place the TV or radio show's banner in your club and give their audience a chance to win free tickets.

Create postcards and fliers and mail these to surrounding businesses, if you have some money for a marketing budget. Send the fliers to the human resources departments or to managers and offer their companies free admission for an "After Work Mixer." This is a great way for a company to build morale and doesn't cost the company anything. It then allows your club to gain a new audience. Remember, the attendees are still required to buy food and drinks, and each person still has a two-item minimum.