Name: Try Hard Open Mic & Topic Challenge
Start: 2026-03-10T19:30:00-05:00
End: 2026-11-10T22:00:00-05:00
Location: Barrett’s Too

Are you a comic looking to practice your newest bit? Or just someone wanting to try stand up for the first time? This is the mic for you!
About this Event

Try Hard Open Mic & Topic Challenge:

Have you ever been to an open mic? They can be a little bit different than your typical stand up show, comedians come here to practice their jokes! DEI Comedy produces these events to encourage Austins comedians to push the boundaries and find the funny. Some of the funniest things in life come from diversity, empathy and irony.

The second half of the night is the Topic Challenge where comedians compete for a paid gig in our show Anybody but Tony. Three judges will score their 2nd set based on the topic of the night. We also encourage y’all to cast votes to help your favorite comedian win!

Let yourself have a fun-ny night where you can laugh at the jokes you find funny, and we wont force you to pity laugh when its not. Comics learn from you what jokes do and don’t work so help us shape the Austin Scene. We hope that you come to help our comics!

Comics:

We would recommend that you sign up for both the first and second halves of the mic!

If you didn't get a chance to sign up, still come! We will also have overflow sign-ups for the evening.

Run of Show:

Check-in starts at 7:15pm & signups close at 7:40pm -> The first comedian goes up at 7:45pm

The first hour of the mic will be 3 minutes of standard open mic time to practice your jokes.

The second hour of the mic starts around 9pm and will feature the "Topic Challenge" of the evening. This is a topic decided by the hosts and will be given to you upon check-in. From the start of the evening until the second half of the mic, comedians will have the challenge to write a 3-minute set related to the evening’s topic.

The “Topic Challenge” will be a judged portion of the night. Don’t worry, as judges we want to help grow your comedy, and its only judged so we can give away the prize!

The highest scorer of the evening will win a paid gig at the Anybody but Tony showcase hosted by DEI Comedy, on the Fourth Thursday of every month

We will create a group chat on instagram of all the comedians selected for the mic, we will reach out to confirm your attendance. ~7 days before the scheduled mic.

Rules & Reminders:

If you need anything you can contact us @dei_comedy on Instagram or email us at [email protected]

DON'T SIGN UP JUST TO HOLD - If you no-show, your future signups will be canceled. Things happen, but please communicate if a cancellation comes up so more comics can get stage time. Don't sign up to hold your spot if you're not sure you can go.
NO PUNCHING DOWN - this space will be specifically designed & curated to celebrate and grow diverse comedians. Homophobic, Sexist, Racist etc. content will not be tolerated, be funnier & be original or you will not get laughs here!
BE ON TIME & CHECK-IN - Please arrive before the mic starts and check in with the hosts! If we don't know you're there, we give away your time to the overflow list. Find the two little guys who look busy usually by the stage in the back.