Trying stand-up comedy is a great idea for those who’re trying to challenge themselves to do something new, whilst having fun in the process. It may be unlikely that those who’ve never considered it will jump at the opportunity, but those who have at least imagined themselves on stage should try and act on their desire to make people laugh.

One of the brilliant things about stand-up is that you can take it as seriously as you want. If you’re looking for a full-time commitment, then there’s plenty in the world of comedy to keep you busy all day, every day. If you just want to jump in and out of performing every so often, then that’s a possibility too.

There’s hundreds of open mic nights throughout the UK, where you can get on stage for the first time once you’ve written material, although some of these are easier to find than others. If you live in a busy city, then the easiest way to find a night is simply to walk around one evening and keep your eyes opened. If not, then check out Open Mic Finder to find events within travelling distance, but it may be worth contacting the venue directly as well, just in case the site hasn’t been updated recently and they no longer run the night.

To give you a bit of a helping hand, here’s our favourite nights for beginners:

Beat the Frog – Frog & Bucket, Manchester
Beat the Frog is a gong show that takes place every Monday at the award winning Frog & Bucket in Manchester. A gong show is the same as an open mic, except the audience will be given the opportunity to ‘vote’ each comedian of stage if they’re not pulling their weight – think Britain’s got Talent, but on a lower budget. Beat the Frog is not as cruel as some other gong shows though and there’s a good chance you’ll make it to the end of your 5 minute set if you’re not totally bombing.

Red Raw – The Stand Comedy Club, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow
Now one of the country’s most respected names, The Stand Comedy Club has grown from a regular venue in Edinburgh to a chain of brilliant clubs across the North of England and Scotland. Their open spot night Red Raw has a long waiting list, but is worth applying for anyway. The crowd is often friendly and forgiving as many comedians make their stage debut at the night.