When Funny People, with Adam Sandler came out, people asked me if that was an accurate portrayal of amateur comedy. I said “not even close.” At least, not in the beginning. You don’t get 15 minutes at Hollywood’s Improv when you’re just starting out, “working on your craft.” In that respect it was pretty unrealistic, but you also don’t know exactly how long the characters have been doing comedy.

With the little time I’ve been pursuing stand-up, the video below is a much more accurate look at the kind of crowds and responses you get when you’re beginning your career. I’ve had nights that are much better than this one, like my Poleng set, and I’ve also had nights that left me feeling like putting a gun to my head, like Bunjo’s. Keep in mind, I’ve been doing comedy for about 3 1/2 months. I always tell myself “This is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.”

Open mic comedy usually goes like this. A bar, restaurant or laundromat will have a designated open mic night. You either sign up in advance via email with the MC, or get there the night of, to put your name on a list with 20-30 other comics. Then you wait for anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours for 5 minutes of stage time. After performing for a room of skeptical audience members, who want to try comedy themselves, and other comedians, who usually never laugh, you’re done. You repeat this process as many times a week as possible and relish the opportunity when you get a real audience to test your material on. It’s a struggle, but a process that will make you tough and sharp if you can stick with it.