The Headliner is the star of the show - they get the most time on stage, and they often get the most laughs of the night. Of course, being the star of the show means there are a few things that a headliner must do that the other acts don't need to.

Open with a Bang

Most comics "come out swinging" by giving the audience their first or second best joke, but the headliner has a bit more to contend with: the audience is probably drunk, they're starting to get a bit tired (after all, by this time they've seen two or three acts, and possibly more!), and they know that the bill is going to be due soon.

So, the headliners opening joke not only need to be funny, but also engaging. The joke has to strike some sort of common ground that almost everyone in the audience is going to enjoy.

Handle the Rowdy

Everyone has to deal with hecklers - that's just the name of the game, but at this late stage of the night, most audience members are either tired or restless ... and that means a significantly higher number of rowdy audience members. While most clubs will deal with the real problem members, having to deal with the occasional audience member that shouts at the stage is something a headliner will have to deal with more than the other comics.

Getting Laughs during a Check Drop

The Check Drop sucks: everyone is doing math, and nobody is paying attention to you. It's hard to not lose your audience during this time, but a professional headliner will not only be able to get through a check drop, he'll be able to keep the audiences attention long enough to keep their focus on stage after they've paid their bill.

Closing with a Bang

Most comics already close with a bang, but the headliner needs to close with a significant bang. As the final joke of the night, the headliner needs to provide the audience with as much pop as possible so that the night ends on a loud laugh instead of a chuckle or whimper.

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