Starting out in comedy

I got some good advice when I first started, so i'll just pass it along. I'm not all that good myself, and I constantly remind myself of these points to get better. In no particular order (#3 is really the most important):
1. You're gonna suck for at least the first two years. It blows, but get used to it. You just gotta plow through. It takes years to transfer what you can do offstage onto the stage. It's frustrating, but there it is.

2. Don't show yourself too early. Don't showcase for agents, etc, until you're amazing, or else you'll just set yourself back. I've head many comics talk about doing a really important show early, blowing it, and not being able to book something similar for the next two years.

3. Go up as much as you can. Then go up even more. If you think you've hit a lot of mic's this week, hit two more. Guys in New York, and even a few in LA, perform 15 times a week. And it shows. You get better with every set you do.

4. Go up wherever you can. Even if it's a shitty coffee shop full, or even empty of other comics. It's all practice.

5. Find a writing partner. They can offer tags or help you restructure whole jokes, and working on their jokes will make you a better writer. Plus, you can keep each other motivated.

6. Don't shit on the room. Or the host. Or the producer. At least not while you're there. If you were good enough to be playing a better stage, you would be.

7. Keep your shit-talking to a minimum. I struggle with this constantly. It's easy to get bitter and jealous and bitch about how much so-and-so sucks, but eventually it'll get back to them and they might be booking a room you want to play in. Plus, you look like a dick. And, if you're not great yourself, you can easily get called on it.