What I look for

The unofficially official booking policy:

• Open Mic host - Someone who is excited to be there and can engage the crowd either through crowd work or jokes. Being dirty is fine since about half the crowd are comics, and they like it dirty. It can be great if you talk shit between comics, or say a quick joke to keep the momentum going, but don't be that MC that does 2-3 minutes between 20 comics...
• Showcase host - Confidence. Someone who can read the crowd and engage them while working somewhat clean up top. Cursing is fine, but going right into incest and masturbation jokes will alienate an average group of people. These audiences are usually people, not comedians.
• Showcase performer - I’ve either seen you do well at mics while not exclusively working dirty, or get a recommendation. The more consistent you are in delivering laughs the more often I can bring you back. Dirty is fine and so is being outright blue, but I have less spots per show for blue comics so keep that mind.
• Busboys & Poets shows - The busboys community is made up of socially conscious liberal folks (they were one of the first venues to have gender neutral bathrooms) So our crowds are usually filled with pretty progressive people. Now as a comedian I think it’s fine to walk the line and push the audience a bit, but if you want to do well (which you should want!) you have to meet them half way. Comics who lean into dark jokes and don't course correct haven't done well here...I've personally been booed at a couple times, and I'm as edgy as a butter knife.

Criteria for judging a performance - I take the overall audience into account each night. If the audience is "hot" and everyone kills it, that's great but means a little bit less than killing it on a "warm" audience where comics are hit or miss. If you crush it on a hit or miss night, or when most people miss that helps you stand out. If you miss on a night where most people miss I don't judge you cuz that would be dumb. If you bomb on a "hot" night I'm probably still judging you to this day.

Cheers,
Allan

P.S. I'm like Santa, even if I'm not there I'll find out if you were naughty or nice.