(Updated February 8, 2025)
Not all rooms are ‘open mic’. Many are curated, meaning you need to have your name ‘on the bill’ days or even weeks before getting up. So reach out (probably via Facebook) before popping down to the following comedy rooms and expecting to perform your ‘tight five‘.
Many of these rooms also post their shows on the Gigme app so you know it’s on, as indicated by the ⭐. Download the app below:
MONDAYS
- Comedy @ Spleen, Spleen, 41 Bourke St, Melbourne – 8.30pm (Curated…with a huge wait list)
- Funny Near the Brunny, The Bergy Seltzer, 68 Sydney Road, Brunswick – 8pm (Curated)
- Local Laughs, The Local Taphouse, 184 Carlisle St, St Kilda – 8.30pm (Curated)
- Royal Comedy, The King of Tonga, 164A Tennyson St, Elwood – 7.30pm (Curated)
TUESDAYS
- Comedy at Red Betty, Red Betty Bar, 859a Sydney Road, Brunswick – 7pm
- Laugh Lab, La La Land, 125 Hardware Lane, Melbourne – 6.30pm (Curated)
- ⭐ Queer Comedy, Wheat, Wine & Whisky, 284 Smith St, Collingwood – 7.30pm (Curated)
WEDNESDAYS
- Caterpillar Comedy Club, The Lomond Hotel, 225 Nicholson St, Brunswick East – 8pm (Fortnightly)
- Comedy Corner, Craftsman’s Corner, 313 Lygon Street, Brunswick East – 7.30pm
- Comedy at Dirty Secrets, 80 Smith St, Collingwood – 7.30pm (Curated)
- Goff’s Comedy, Goff’s Richmond, 215 Swan Street, Richmond – 8pm (Curated)
Lost for Words Comedy, Lost for Words, 211 Barkley Street, St Kilda – 7pm (Open mic & Curated)CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE- SHRUB Comedy, 24 Moons, 2 Arthurton Rd, Northcote – 7.30pm (Curated & Fortnightly)
THURSDAYS
-
Apartment Comedy, 29th Apartment, 29 Fitzroy St, St Kilda – 8pm (Curated) – CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE - Comedy at Dirty Secrets, 80 Smith St, Collingwood – 7.30pm (Curated)
- Just Kidding! Comedy Hour, DT’s Hotel, 164 Church Street, Richmond – 7pm (Curated)
- Laughs on Tap, Speakeasy Theatre, 522 Flinders St, Melbourne – 8pm (Curated)
- Nevermind Bar Comedy, 336 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn – 8pm (Curated)
FRIDAYS
- ⭐ Comedy in the Cellar, St Kilda cellars, 45 Fitzroy St, St Kilda – 8.30pm (Sign up by 7.30pm)
SATURDAYS
- None
SUNDAYS
- Dirty Secrets Comedy, Caz Reitop’s Dirty Secrets, 80 Smith St, Collingwood – 5pm (Curated)
Comments 38
Hi,
Just wondering whether I can perform stand up at Club Volataire on Friday night this week? I am up from Townsville, how long can the sets last?
G’day Danny,
We don’t manage the rooms – we just keep this list up to date. Best for you to contact Voltaire directly.
But, and there’s a huge BUT, the comedy festival has just begun, which means all the open mic rooms are busy with shows.
Check out the comedy festival website for shows to see while you’re in town: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2018
I see all the comments are fairly old here. It’s currently April 2022. Can someone please let me know if the above listed open mic venue details are current?
Thanks heaps….
Hi Gentleman
I was do open mic at Yarraville on Sunday l am so lucky the audience laugh whole time on my performance what a support. And the MC ask if l can come back next Sunday to do again! I can’t believe it, what a amazing time. Thank you for helping me, appreciate that.
Great to see you on the open mic circuit, even with your leg in plaster!
HEY hi how are ya, My names Nicholas, I’m 16 and I would like to perform at your comedy club. Just give me a shot coach I WONT LET YOU DOWN. At lest email me with a reply whether it be a no or a yes so when I become famous I can be like hey SHKK… fuck you.
Hi Nick,
We’ve sent you a private message, and look forward to helping you pursue your comedy ambitions.
Am interested
hi my name is paul
I am 58 and would like to do stand up for the first time
Hi Paul,
We’ve sent you an email, and look forward to helping you start your stand-up comedy career!
Top of the day
I am interested in performing as a stand up comedian.
Have done open mic nite at the Dancing dog circa 5 times until its closing date of recent past.
Was wondering if anyone could provide me with recent list of nite clubs that have an open mic nite
Cheers Alfie
Alfie,
You’re on the correct page for the comprehensive list of Melbourne comedy open rooms. Just scroll up!
I would love to get up there but I have no idea where to start
Join our next stand-up comedy course!
Hi. How can I please put a call out to the amateur comedians of Melbourne to see if anyone is interested in a 15 minute gig for a private party on Saturday 23rd of November?
We’ve reached out to you via email. We have comedians to choose from at https://www.punchlinescomedy.com
We’ve updated this list today – 18 January, 2020.
Hi. I am trying to organise for my father in law ‘Papa’ to take part in an open Mic Night! All his life people have told Papa he should be a stand up comedian – guess that would happen quite often but he seriously does have a gift. He is such a character and if you want a rough idea what he looks like just picture Frank Zappa straight out of the 60’s but a little more grey in his hair. How am I able to organise something for him? He is quite the procrastinator and is at loose ends in his life yet still has so much to achieve at 62 years of age. I live in Palm Beach Gold Coast but he lives in Belgrave in the Hills, but my husband and I would certainly fly down for the experience. Really unsure where to start with this. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks…. any advice would be great.
Author
Did you end up finding something in the Gold Coast?
I see all the comments are fairly old here. It’s currently April 2022. Can someone please let me know if the above listed open mic venue details are current?
Thanks heaps….
Author
Yes, as up to date as possible. Currently the Melbourne International Comedy Festival has caused the postponement of most of these open mic and curated rooms though.
Yeah soooooo my cousin back in Ohio did a stand-up show (his first time) and posted it on the youtube. It was absolute crappy frappy yappy so instead of criticizing him I made a pledge to get the guts up to do my own impromptu onstage show on my birthday August 26th if possible? I’ve been wanting to try it for years and have even had a few professional comedians tell me that I am funny so now i’m finally am stepping up and biting the bullet so what do I do next here in Melbourne to make that happen?
Author
G’day Bryant, if you enrol in the August course, your graduation will fall on 25th August. Here’s the link: https://hardknockknocks.com/learn-stand-up-comedy-melbourne-august-21-25-2022/
I would like to start an open mic night at the Hotel I manage in Elwood Victoria, could you please let me know what kind of costs are involved and whom I could speak to?
Author
Hi Ben,
There is an open mic at the Elwood Lounge already. They run it once a month on Fridays. Maybe pop in and see if there’s some synergy that you can leverage.
Author
Did you get the open mic off the ground?
Hello! My name is Varun. I am here on a student visa, but I used to perform standup back in India. I would love to start hitting mics again, and was wondering where would be a good place to start, as I’m new here. It would be really helpful if I could get some initial help on the process to get on a lineup and stuff. I hope to hear from you guys 🙂
Author
Hi Varun,
Choose any of these rooms and introduce yourself to the room runner. If they see you supporting their room, then they will likely give you a chance.
Alternatively, if you’re looking to join a community of comedians, then join the next Hard Knock Knocks comedy school course in Melbourne.
I did my Stand Up Comedy shows in Turkey and now I really want to do in Melbourne I have sets in English. But I am noname comedian here but if I can find opportunity to show my potential I believe myself we all will fun all night. What about to discover new Turkish guys potential. And aslo how can I find stage and audience what do you suggest for me? Thanks in advance have a g’day
Author
Hi Murat,
If you need some polish, to make your comedy more Aussie friendly, be sure to sign up to the next comedy course. Here’s the link: https://hardknockknocks.com/learn-stand-up-comedy-melbourne-august-18-22-2024/
My son wants to learn stand up comedy. He’s 15 (16 in November). Is there an age limit?
Author
There’s no age limit, as we have ‘Working with Children’s’ Licences. Would he like to join the August course? Here’s the link: https://hardknockknocks.com/learn-stand-up-comedy-melbourne-august-18-22-2024/
Hi I would love to perform at this event – Comedy in the Cellar, St Kilda cellars, 45 Fitzroy St, St Kilda – 8.30pm start Fri 27 Sep
Author
This is a pure open mic night, so you have to sign up on the night. If you’ve not done comedy before, you’re more likely to be on later in the night. So get there early, and expect to wait.
Lost For Words Wednesday is cancelled until further notice too
Author
Thanks. I have updated the list.
Hi, I’m just inquiring about finding a venue that will allow a friend amateur comedian to be able to perform. Would there be any venues you’d recommend where we could book our friend with relative ease or places that take on amateur comedians for an open mic.
Author
Nothing is easy in stand-up comedy. Most of the comedy rooms around Australia are ‘curated’, meaning that you need to know the room runner and be invited to perform. If you are in Melbourne, I’d suggest Comedy at Cellars in St Kilda on a Friday. Of course, you can also book them into the February stand-up comedy course, so they learn the ropes before the get up on stage. This course culminates in a graduation where you and your friends/family can attend and enjoy a more seasoned performance.