Open mics aren't hard to find at all- just check out badslava.com. But open mics aren't ever bringer shows. If someone tells you there's a bringer requirement for their open mic, you end that conversation and stay as far away from that person as you professionally can, because they are trying to take advantage of you.

"Bringer shows" are usually stand up shows you can get on if you bring a certain number of friends to pay the cover charge and meet a two drink minimum. These shows are great to get your feet wet at being on stage, but they will kill your creativity after a while. Don't fall into their trap.

For a new comic who doesn't have friends in the scene yet, it's hard to find shows outside of these, yes. What I'd recommend is meeting people involved in the scene as much as you can. I started out in stand up, got burnt out by bringer shows, and started doing improv. Improv is a much newer form, especially in New York City, so bringer shows are barely existent. I got involved in the scene and have met a lot of people over the past year or two. I'm hooked on improv, but at this point, if I wanted to try stand up again, I know enough people who host their own shows that I could get a spot on a non-bringer show if I wanted to. You don't have to do improv to meet those people, but that's how I did it. The important thing is to get to know people in the scene. If you're just some guy from a blind call for talent, it's going to be hard to get those doors to open.