Tonight, 10 performers will gather in the Tate Theater to talk about familiar topics such as classes, relationships and growing up for the University’s third annual Local Laughs Live.

The event is “like an open mic setup at a comedy club,” said Marc LaMotte, program adviser for the University Union, and “usually at these events what you expect isn’t what you get.”

For those who are willing to be surprised, Local Laughs Live is an excellent opportunity to see live comedy performed by fellow students. And for the students performing, it provides a chance to test their skills.

“Most people have maybe never gotten on stage before, so it’s kind of hard to make them audition,” LaMotte said of the selection process. Instead, interested students could sign up for one of 10 spots to perform until Jan. 29.

“The big reason why it started was Athens has such a big music scene and not a lot of comedy,” LaMotte said. “And [Local Laughs Live] seems to draw a big crowd, at least for those interested in comedy.”

The event has gotten bigger over the years, from an experimental show held the first year to an annual tradition with a show held every spring and sometimes a smaller show in the fall.

Still, the audience is made up largely of the friends of those performing.

“A lot of friends,” LaMotte said. “That’s probably the best way to do it if you’ve never done it before; they’ll laugh along with you.”

Robert Hayes, a junior from Atlanta, first performed stand-up as his talent when he competed in the University’s Mr. Esquire pageant, but this will be his first time performing at Local Laughs Live.

“[Mr. Esquire] doesn’t make me experienced at all, but it gives me some experience, something to refer to, so it’s not totally new.”

Eric Slauson, a junior from LaGrange, will be performing for the fourth time.

“It’s pretty intense, it’s definitely a huge rush,” he said. “That’s why I keep doing it.”

Although he has performed stand-up before, Slauson tries not to repeat his material.

“I usually try to do all new stuff every time, so in case I ever get the chance to do something big, I’ll know what works.” But, he said, “regardless of what I try to write, 70 percent of it ends up being about sex and relationships just because that’s the funniest.”