Step on stage in 4 weeks.
No fluff.
No lottery buckets.
Just real reps.
Toronto's most hands-on stand-up intensive — workshops, a writers' room, 2-on-1 coaching with the club's owners, and guaranteed stage time at our Wednesday and Friday open mics throughout the program.
Choose your cohort — Sunday or Thursday evenings. Seats fill fast. A $50 deposit holds your spot — balance is paid at your first class.
Workshops + Writers' Room + Real Reps
Four weekly sessions at the club: orientation, two workshops, and a private 2-on-1 coaching session — with guaranteed open mic access in between.
The Owners. The Bookers. The Real Deal.
Taught by the two guys who run the club — the same people who book the shows and decide who goes up. Honest notes, real fixes, no "good job buddy."
What the Comedy Dojo actually does for you.
Four weeks.
One stage-ready set.
No theory without reps. No waiting on lottery buckets. Each week builds on the last — and between classes, you have guaranteed access to our Wednesday and Friday open mics to test what you wrote.
Orientation & Launch Pad
Meet the club, the instructors, and the system. Ask anything — from joke structure to building a comedy career that doesn't waste years spinning wheels. We walk you through our Launch Pad Program so you can get booked the same week you start.
- The exact path to your first booked spot at the club
- Promo materials and the sales strategy that gets you on stage
- How to plug into our open-mic schedule from Week 1
- Direct answers from the people running the room
Workshop #1 — The Writers' Room
A writers' room for beginners and beasts. Bring a joke — or bring absolutely nothing. We help you develop a premise, tag it, punch it, and leave with a joke you can test at the open mic that same week.
- Premise → tag → punch — the working method
- Real notes on your material from working comics
- Walk out with a testable bit by 8 PM
- Try it Wednesday or Friday at the club's open mic
Workshop #2 — Sharpen & Build
Same room, same process — now with momentum. Sharpen last week's joke, write a new one, or build a full bit. Two weeks, two reps, two chances to develop real material with real feedback.
- Tighten what already got laughs
- Fix what didn't — and learn why
- Expand a joke into a full bit
- Stack a second open-mic rep on what you wrote
Private Feedback With The Owners
A private, focused feedback session with the club's owners, bookers, and regular comics — the same two guys running everything. Honest notes. Constructive fixes. The stuff that actually helps. You walk out knowing exactly what's working, what needs tightening, and what your next steps should be.
- Direct feedback from the people booking the room
- A plan for what to do after Week 4
- Connections inside the Toronto scene
- An honest read on where you actually stand
4 Weeks. 4 Sessions. A Stage-Ready Set.
Workshops + writers' room + 2-on-1 coaching + guaranteed open-mic access throughout. You leave with tested material, real feedback, and a system that actually leads somewhere.
Built for people doing the work,
not watching from the audience.
First-timers finally taking the leap
You've thought about it for years. This is the no-fluff path from "I should try this" to "I have a tested 5 minutes."
Comics returning after a break
Get reps, sharpen your instincts, and plug back into a working room with people who'll actually help you ramp up fast.
Working comics levelling up
Bring your bits to a writers' room with the owners and bookers — take your jokes and structure to the next level.
Anyone wanting accountability
Mentorship, real notes, and an actual chance to grow onstage — not another podcast about comedy.
From signup
to stage-ready set.
Register Online
Hold your seat with a $50 deposit and pick your cohort start date right on our live calendar.
Show Up Week 1
Sunday or Thursday at the club — meet the room, the coaches, and the system. Ask anything.
Build Your Material
Two workshops + guaranteed open mics to test what you write between classes.
Walk Out With A Plan
Private 2-on-1 with the owners. Clear next steps, honest notes, and your way into the scene.
Tested material.
Real reps. A way in.
A 5-Minute
Tested Set
Material you've workshopped, tested at an open mic, sharpened, and tested again — not a Google Doc full of unproven premises.
A Repeatable
Writing System
Premise → tag → punch. A method you can keep using long after Week 4 — every time you sit down to write a new joke.
A Way Into
The Scene
Real relationships with the owners and bookers of a working Toronto club — the people deciding who gets booked.
Real comics.
Real first sets.
"I finished a comedy class at Humber but I didn't know where to practice. Backroom provided a space for me to grind."
"Being in Dojo got me my first paid gig from one of the girls in the class."
"This gave me structure. I started getting shows now and people come up to me and tell me that I'm funny instead of walking by."
Reserve Your Cohort Seat
Pick your start date and hold your seat with a $50 deposit on our live booking page. Takes under a minute.
$50 holds your seat. Pay your $50 deposit online today and pick your cohort start date. The remaining $299 is due at your first class — no upfront full payment required.
Total — Beginner Dojo Program
$50 deposit today · $299 balance at Week 1
$349
Held in person at Backroom Comedy Club, 814 Bloor Street West (Basement Unit), Toronto, ON M6G 1L9. Deposit applies to your $349 program total. Cancellation policy below.
You don't have to be funny yet. That's literally the point.
Everyone walking into Week 1 is exactly as nervous as you are. Nobody arrives with a tight 5. Nobody has it figured out. That's what the program is for — to take you from "I think this is a joke" to "I tested it twice and now I know."
You don't need material to start. You don't need experience. You just need to show up four sessions in a row and let the system do the work.
Everything you need to know.
Do I need any material or experience to start?
None. Show up with nothing — that's actually the most common starting point. Week 1 explains the system; Week 2 is the writers' room where we help you build your first joke from scratch.
What if I'm not funny? What if I bomb?
Everyone is "not funny" before they figure out their voice — including every working comic you've ever seen. The Dojo exists to shortcut that. As for bombing: you will, everyone does, and it's the fastest way to learn what doesn't work. You'll bomb in a room of supportive comics, not a hostile crowd.
How does the $50 deposit work?
The $50 deposit holds your cohort seat and applies to your $349 program total. You pay it online when you register, and the remaining $299 is due at your first class. No full upfront payment required.
What happens after I pay the deposit?
You'll pick your cohort date on the calendar, then a team member will call or text you within 1 business day to finalize your registration and answer any last questions before your first class. Your receipt and start-date details also land in your inbox right away.
Sunday or Thursday — which cohort should I pick?
We run two cohorts: one meets Sunday evenings, the other Thursday evenings. Same curriculum, same coaches, same guaranteed Wednesday + Friday open mics. Pick whichever fits your schedule when you register — both are shown on the calendar.
When does the next cohort start?
Available cohort start dates — for both Sunday and Thursday groups — are shown on the registration calendar when you click any "Register" button. Seats are limited, so the earlier you grab one, the more start-date options you'll see.
What's the cancellation / refund policy?
The $50 deposit is fully refundable up to 14 days before your cohort start date. Inside 14 days, deposits are non-refundable but transferable to a future cohort. If we cancel a cohort, you're fully refunded.
Where is the program held?
All four classes and our open mics are held in person at Backroom Comedy Club — 814 Bloor Street West (Basement Unit), Toronto, ON M6G 1L9. This is a real working club, not a Zoom room.
What if I miss a class?
Life happens. Let us know in advance and we'll help you catch up — either through a make-up touchpoint with your coaches or, if needed, by rolling you into the next cohort. We want you to actually get the value.
Is the open-mic stage time really guaranteed?
Yes. Throughout the four weeks you have guaranteed access to our Wednesday and Friday open mics at the club. No lottery buckets, no waiting on a list — you get reps every week if you want them.
How do I reach the club?
Call us at (416) 579-0940, or DM us on Instagram @backroomcomedyclub. We're at 814 Bloor Street West (Basement Unit), Toronto, ON M6G 1L9.
Your first set is 4 weeks away.
Hold your cohort seat for $50, pick a start date, and let us handle the rest. Limited seats remain in the next cohort.
Register & Pick My Start Date →