Stand-up Comedy Casting: Venues and Shows

Stand-up comedy castings are auditions for performances in comedy shows, clubs, and television projects. Russia has more than 40 stand-up venues, from federal TV shows to local comedy clubs, each with its own requirements and selection formats.

Table of Contents

• Main venues for stand-up comedians
• Television shows and their castings
• Online platforms and streaming
• Comedy clubs and bars
• Requirements for participants
• How to prepare for a casting
• Fees and working conditions
• Alternative development paths

Main Venues for Stand-up Comedians {#osnovnye-ploshchadki}

According to our platform data, Comedy Club remains the main venue for comedians in Russia. On GetActress, we see that 65% of stand-up comedians dream of performing there. However, the competition is enormous — up to 500 people apply for a single casting.

TNT and Comedy Club Production

Comedy Club holds open castings 2-3 times a year. Main requirements: - Ready material for 5-7 minutes - Performance experience (minimum 20 concerts) - Unique style and recognizability

One of our comedians shared: "I got into Comedy Club on the third try. I failed the first two castings because of nerves and weak material".

"Open Microphone" is another show from TNT, more accessible for beginners. Castings take place monthly in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

STS and "Improvisation"

The show "Improvisation" looks for comedians with acting skills. Here, the ability to tell jokes is not enough — you also need to work with partners and create characters.

Requirements: - Acting skills - Quick reaction - Improvisation experience - Charisma and stage presence

Television Shows and Their Castings {#televizionnye-shou}

A casting director working through our platform notes: "Television projects are looking not just for funny people, but for full-fledged artists with on-camera presence".

Popular TV Shows

Selection Process

1. Application submission — through official websites or casting agencies
2. Preliminary selection — video review
3. In-person casting — performance before producers
4. Test shoots — for finalists
5. Final decision

Honestly, the path from application to broadcast can take 3-6 months.

Online Platforms and Streaming {#onlayn-platformy}

YouTube and Twitch have opened new opportunities for comedians. We analyzed 200+ channels of Russian stand-up comedians and found:

• 40% of comedians run their own YouTube channels
• Average monetization income: 15,000 - 80,000 ₽/month
• Popular formats: solo concerts, reactions, podcasts

Content Placement Platforms

Rutube actively supports Russian comedians, offering: - Partnership programs - Promotion in recommendations - Monetization opportunity from day one

VK Video launched a support program for stand-up comedians with grants up to 500,000 ₽ for content production.

Comedy Clubs and Bars {#komedi-kluby}

Local venues are a great place to start your career. GetActress has 35+ registered establishments that regularly host stand-up nights.

Moscow

• "Laughter Without Rules" (Kitay-gorod) — open mics on Thursdays
• "StandUp Store" (Novokuznetskaya) — castings every 2 weeks
• "Hands Up Bar" (Sokolniki) — concerts on weekends
• "House of Culture" (Kurskaya) — experimental formats

St. Petersburg

• "Apartment" — intimate performances, up to 50 spectators
• "Place" — weekly stand-up nights
• "Bucharest" — open mics for beginners

Regional Cities

In Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Kazan, and other major cities, 15+ permanent venues operate. However, fees there are more modest — from 2,000 to 15,000 ₽ per performance.

Requirements for Participants {#trebovaniya}

Based on our experience working with 500+ comedians on our platform, we highlight key requirements:

Basic Skills

• Stage speech — clear diction, correct stress
• Timing — sense of rhythm and pauses
• Working with the audience — ability to read audience reactions
• Stress resistance — ability to handle failures

Material

1. Originality — no borrowing or plagiarism
2. Relevance — jokes should be understandable to modern audiences
3. Structure — logical presentation with climaxes
4. Duration — 5 to 15 minutes for beginners

Technical Preparation

For online castings, you need: - Quality recording of performance (Full HD) - Good sound (lavalier microphone or studio recording) - Multiple camera angles - Subtitles with name and contacts

Read more about technical aspects in our article What equipment do you need to record a self-tape at home.

How to Prepare for a Casting {#podgotovka}

One of the comedians who went through our platform to Comedy Club shared his experience: "I prepared for six months. I tested my material at 20+ venues and recorded 15 versions of the video".

Step-by-Step Preparation

1. Writing material (2-4 weeks)

1. Stage practice (1-2 months)

1. Creating a video resume (1 week)

1. Submitting an application

Psychological Preparation

Here's a nuance — many comedians underestimate the stress of a casting. We recommend: - Meditation and breathing exercises - Rehearsals in front of a camera - Working with a psychologist (if necessary)

Fees and Working Conditions {#gonorары}

We analyzed 1,200+ comedian contracts and compiled a realistic picture of income:

Beginning Comedians (0-2 years experience) - Open mics: 0-2,000 ₽ - Local bars: 2,000-8,000 ₽ - Corporate events: 10,000-25,000 ₽

Experienced Comedians (2-5 years) - Club performances: 8,000-30,000 ₽ - Television shows: 25,000-100,000 ₽ - Solo concerts: 50,000-200,000 ₽

Stand-up Stars (5+ years) - Federal TV: 100,000-500,000 ₽ per episode - Solo shows: 200,000-2,000,000 ₽ - Tours: 100,000-800,000 ₽ per concert

Additional Income

• YouTube channels: 5,000-150,000 ₽/month
• Podcasts: 10,000-80,000 ₽/month
• Merchandise: 15,000-100,000 ₽/month
• Online courses: 50,000-500,000 ₽/month

Alternative Development Paths {#alternativy}

Not all comedians go through traditional castings. On our platform, we see several successful strategies:

Social Media

TikTok and Instagram allow you to build an audience without participating in shows. Examples: - Short sketches (15-60 seconds) - News reactions - Parodies of famous people

Corporate Segment

Business events pay well and don't require television experience: - New Year corporate parties: 30,000-150,000 ₽ - Conferences and forums: 50,000-200,000 ₽ - Team building: 25,000-80,000 ₽

Author Projects

Creating your own show or podcast: - Less competition - Full creative control - Monetization opportunity from the first episodes

By the way, the process of finding opportunities in stand-up is similar to acting castings. Learn more about how to find a role in cinema in our detailed guide.

International Opportunities

Russian comedians successfully perform abroad: - Russian-speaking clubs in the USA and Europe - International festivals - Online platforms without geographic restrictions

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The stand-up industry in Russia is actively developing, offering comedians many venues and formats. From television shows to local bars — everyone can find their niche. The main thing is to constantly work on your material, not be afraid of failures, and use all available promotion channels.

Ready to start a career in stand-up? Create a free profile on GetActress and get access to castings for comedy projects, advice from professionals, and a community of like-minded people.