How to Be the Comic Who Always Gets Booked (Despite Being Average)

They say talent rises to the top - here's how to float in the middle forever: 1. **The Yes Man** - Take every spot, even the 3PM Tuesday "senior discount" show. 2. **The Booker's Buddy** - Remember: it's not nepotism if you call it "supporting the scene." 3. **The Set Chameleon** - Have one clean corporate set and one dirty bar set (same jokes, different delivery). 4. **The Social Media Mirage** - Buy 5,000 followers to look "established" (they can't ALL be bots). 5. **The Tech Guy** - Volunteer to run sound - it's the backdoor to stage time. 6. **The Fake Humility** - "I'm just happy to be here" (while mentally stealing the feature act's material). 7. **The Strategic Laugh** - Cackle at the booker's jokes like they're Richard Pryor. 8. **The Name Dropper** - "Me and [Headliner] go way back... to that one open mic in 2017." 9. **The Credit Inflator** - Call that podcast appearance "a special guest spot." 10. **The Hustle Myth** - "You gotta grind" is code for "I'm not actually funny enough." 11. **The Recycler** - Repackage old material as "my new hour." 12. **The Industry Plant** - Date someone influential just long enough to get booked. 13. **The Geographic Hack** - Be the "local favorite" in three different time zones. 14. **The Nostalgia Play** - "Remember that bit from 2019? It's vintage now!" 15. **The Long Game** - Outlast the talented comics who quit out of frustration.