You need stage time to get good, but how do you get good stage time?

Of course there are the traditional comedy clubs: the Improv, Comedy Store, Laugh Factory, Ice House. It's totally possible to get stage time at these clubs (see our suggestions for getting stage time anywhere), but the mainstream currents run extremely deep and hard and it's almost impossible (and futile) to do anything other than straight set-up punchline jokes.

The Un-Cab Lab Show is a monthly venue for storytelling and more personal POV-oriented 'alternative comedy'. The show is booked by our alumns and offers quality stage time in front of an audience that actually pays attention. The show is booked from a pool of anyone who has ever studied with us at our workshop.

In general 'open mic nights' can be extremely depressing but are worth doing a couple of times at least for the experience. For many more standup shows and open mic listings check out:
Chuckle Monkey
Mr. Buttersworth
SoCal Standup

Here's a new venue we can't exactly vouch for but sounds viable: July 9-11 there's a stand-up festival in Santa Monica which is taking applications for stage time now. They sent us this description:

"The idea is to showcase a lot of up-and-coming local talent to comedy fans and industry.  [The Westside Eclectic is] really putting some promotion behind this... and they are reaching out to agents, managers, casting folks, etc. in an effort to provide the performers with some good exposure." Or so they say. The cartoon logo looks a little scary to me, but you can check it out for yourself. Get info and application here.