There is a path to getting published in S&M without past experience. Namely, get published elsewhere first. I strongly recommend checking out McSweeney's Internet Tendency https://www.mcsweeneys.net/ Not only because they publish great comedy writing akin to S&M, but a) because they respond to submissions very quickly and b) because the New Yorker's editorial team reads it. A number of frequent contributors to McS IT have made it to S&M in the New Yorker. Sure, they often have other things going for them too. But it's not unheard of.
