Room can be very hit or miss depending on the host. Some hosts(usually employees who tend to give shitty intros to non Store people)love to do bits after each comic so the night can drag but not always. Usually more people later on in the night after the paid regulars do their pop in spots which ends around 12:30'sh, after that it's a total clusterfuck. In terms of potluck, you draw numbers 1-15 but you are not guaranteed a spot.
In my experience, the host Marino threw a lot of negative and cynical material into it early ("this is your big night-- entertain this huge crowd of ghosts!" "I can survive this.. I can get through this..."), which set the mood for the rest of the night (read: laughs were hard to come by). I heard someone next to me groan pretty loudly when he was crapping on us. He actually seems like a good guy, and he was supportive as the night went on, BUT....
The World Famous Comedy Store "potluck" or open mic, has been going on for 30 plus years. Bubbling with comedy history, drama and laughter unfolding simultaneously every night. The open mic list is indeed rigged, to weed out the homeless crazies and the half hearted "trying it for the first timers". If you show up a couple weeks, get to know some of the doormen so they know your name and know you're not either the above categories mentioned then you will get on. You get three minutes and they light you with a bright blue star off to your left at two. Eventually, if you get good laughs consistently and become friends with said doormen you can skip the sign up process and just do a pop in during the potluck - depending on how good of friends you are with that night's host. That's the first graduation step for the comedy store, next is to be part of the "friends and family" section of the night which takes place AFTER the potluck. This is the employees, doormen, and regulars popping in to try out some stuff. These are 5 minute spots, sometimes 10-15 depending on how big a name you are. Tommy, the General Manager, decides this list, (if he isn't there it falls back on the host again) and if you do well here, putting your time in (years sometimes) you will become a Paid Regular. Now you will get booked for paid 15 min spots throughout the week and even at the La Jolla Comedy Store. It's a myth that industry doesn't come to the Store. They do, just not as much as the Improv or the The Laugh Factory. Many, many great comedians have started at the Store: Sam Kinison, Bill Hicks, David Letterman, Roseanne Barr the list goes on and on - the names on the outside wall are not there for marketing they've all earned their name there by putting in the time and work when they were a young comic - that all starts with the potluck. When you're serious about being a professional comedian, hit up the potluck. The Comedy Store is a long and difficult road but the rewards are endless. - Brett Gilbert
I must confirm the "try not to have a dick" advice. Twice I went with a female comedian friend of mine and both time they got selected and I did not (it was their first time both times, so wasn't like they knew the doormen). I then went back the following week, and put in a random female name, and it was chosen.
This isn't to say you WON'T get on as a guy, but if you're a woman you should hit up this open mic since it's highly likely you'll get selected.
Exactly. If you're a guy who doesn't know or do favors for the employees and you see just a couple of women outside your odds of getting on are probably 5-10% If you're a guy and you see a large gathering of women sign the list, get out of there because the odds that you're going to get on are almost 0 at that point. They will put most or all of those women on and only the men they like most.
dude, don't blame not getting up on gender. "try not to have a dick?" you already are dickless, because you're whining about this instead of finding a result. blame not getting up, on not being royal to one of the most respected comedy clubs left. if you go first three times and don't get up, quit whining, and play the game- keep going. you're in hollywood, maybe you just don't cut it. thanks
It's a cold, hard fact of life, girl/son-- comedy favors women. It's not something that I'm complaining about--it's a heads-up. I respect the hell out of The Store, hence the words "as an open mic." "You just don't cut it." If pointing out that fact bothers you, maybe you have the thinnest skin and are the weakest link, bitch. Goodbye.
They will put you on if they've never seen your name before. You just have to be good to get on again I think. Not sure yet about the female favoritism part, a female would have to keep going and see if girl get picked more often than male of same comedy level. Me talk caveman now. I thought it was intimidating but it was still fun nonetheless.
Hey this place is great if you know how to work it. First you should be a serious comic if you plan on going up here. Yes they will tear you a new one if you bomb but if you put in the face time night after night at the club you will get in with the gang. I would not suggest getting up here if you have not been in comedy for at least 1 year.
I got there mad early basically because I didnt have shit better to do and cause I thought it would help my chances of getting on stage, it didn't. but I got to see alot of comedians perform. Celebrities come and hung out and even though folks have some good jokes it's hard to get laughs if the audience of comics don't know you. I'm going to keep going back cause fuck it the worst that could happen is you bomb which most people do ...get over it and get better
My performances here was quite a phenomenon, in terms of my sporadic stage time interventions that spurred out of pure luck. Explaining the intricate dynamics of how i performed here three weeks in successions without signing up is a mystery that defies description, also its a luxury i cannot afford explaining. <<< Apologize for being vague.
There's something extraordinarily magnetic about this magically driven environment, maybe because it encapsulates quite an array of standup demographics and performance density.
There's multiple rooms, and the backstage glitters multiple neon- flashes of hollywood jitters, and obliquely opposite is the hazy LA Skyline just fogging away at our imaginative potentiality.
My experience was memorable, although i was somewhat anti-social, which is ironic for a comedian, i guess my pro-introvertism makes me a victim of my own discretion, seduced by my own self introspection..
Tom i believe is the Talent Coordinator or Owner, 'Not Certain' But he was insightful in terms of LA and the pursuit of standup.
If you don't bring people they don't let you perform. They even ended the show early and did not let me perform just because my people were late...it's a true "Bringer show"
First time I've ever been there. 53 people signed up and I was one of 15 on the list. Host, Eric Marino, was great. Staff was fabulous.
ReplyDeleteof course you got picked. you're a girl...
DeleteRoom can be very hit or miss depending on the host. Some hosts(usually employees who tend to give shitty intros to non Store people)love to do bits after each comic so the night can drag but not always. Usually more people later on in the night after the paid regulars do their pop in spots which ends around 12:30'sh, after that it's a total clusterfuck. In terms of potluck, you draw numbers 1-15 but you are not guaranteed a spot.
ReplyDeleteIn my experience, the host Marino threw a lot of negative and cynical material into it early ("this is your big night-- entertain this huge crowd of ghosts!" "I can survive this.. I can get through this..."), which set the mood for the rest of the night (read: laughs were hard to come by). I heard someone next to me groan pretty loudly when he was crapping on us. He actually seems like a good guy, and he was supportive as the night went on, BUT....
ReplyDeleteThe World Famous Comedy Store "potluck" or open mic, has been going on for 30 plus years. Bubbling with comedy history, drama and laughter unfolding simultaneously every night. The open mic list is indeed rigged, to weed out the homeless crazies and the half hearted "trying it for the first timers". If you show up a couple weeks, get to know some of the doormen so they know your name and know you're not either the above categories mentioned then you will get on. You get three minutes and they light you with a bright blue star off to your left at two. Eventually, if you get good laughs consistently and become friends with said doormen you can skip the sign up process and just do a pop in during the potluck - depending on how good of friends you are with that night's host. That's the first graduation step for the comedy store, next is to be part of the "friends and family" section of the night which takes place AFTER the potluck. This is the employees, doormen, and regulars popping in to try out some stuff. These are 5 minute spots, sometimes 10-15 depending on how big a name you are. Tommy, the General Manager, decides this list, (if he isn't there it falls back on the host again) and if you do well here, putting your time in (years sometimes) you will become a Paid Regular. Now you will get booked for paid 15 min spots throughout the week and even at the La Jolla Comedy Store. It's a myth that industry doesn't come to the Store. They do, just not as much as the Improv or the The Laugh Factory. Many, many great comedians have started at the Store: Sam Kinison, Bill Hicks, David Letterman, Roseanne Barr the list goes on and on - the names on the outside wall are not there for marketing they've all earned their name there by putting in the time and work when they were a young comic - that all starts with the potluck. When you're serious about being a professional comedian, hit up the potluck. The Comedy Store is a long and difficult road but the rewards are endless. - Brett Gilbert
ReplyDeleteBrett your a douche!
ReplyDeleteIt's true I am.
ReplyDeleteat least brett has the balls to put up his name anonymous. wait am i talking to myself?
ReplyDeleteBrett--
ReplyDeleteGood stuff you posted! I've read your other posts and your insightful commentary is really helpful with considerable thought put into it!
Please keep it up!
Brett--
ReplyDeleteI second that! You are a great writer,
Slava
Fuck this place as an open mic. It's amazing how "veterans of open mics" suck the most rat cock.
ReplyDeleteAlso, if you have a dick, good luck getting stage time as an open micer here.
ReplyDeleteI must confirm the "try not to have a dick" advice. Twice I went with a female comedian friend of mine and both time they got selected and I did not (it was their first time both times, so wasn't like they knew the doormen). I then went back the following week, and put in a random female name, and it was chosen.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't to say you WON'T get on as a guy, but if you're a woman you should hit up this open mic since it's highly likely you'll get selected.
Exactly. If you're a guy who doesn't know or do favors for the employees and you see just a couple of women outside your odds of getting on are probably 5-10% If you're a guy and you see a large gathering of women sign the list, get out of there because the odds that you're going to get on are almost 0 at that point. They will put most or all of those women on and only the men they like most.
ReplyDeletedude, don't blame not getting up on gender. "try not to have a dick?" you already are dickless, because you're whining about this instead of finding a result. blame not getting up, on not being royal to one of the most respected comedy clubs left. if you go first three times and don't get up, quit whining, and play the game- keep going. you're in hollywood, maybe you just don't cut it. thanks
ReplyDeletesigned, a j
It's a cold, hard fact of life, girl/son-- comedy favors women. It's not something that I'm complaining about--it's a heads-up. I respect the hell out of The Store, hence the words "as an open mic." "You just don't cut it." If pointing out that fact bothers you, maybe you have the thinnest skin and are the weakest link, bitch. Goodbye.
ReplyDeleteThey will put you on if they've never seen your name before. You just have to be good to get on again I think. Not sure yet about the female favoritism part, a female would have to keep going and see if girl get picked more often than male of same comedy level. Me talk caveman now. I thought it was intimidating but it was still fun nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteHey this place is great if you know how to work it. First you should be a serious comic if you plan on going up here. Yes they will tear you a new one if you bomb but if you put in the face time night after night at the club you will get in with the gang. I would not suggest getting up here if you have not been in comedy for at least 1 year.
ReplyDeleteAlso weed helps!
ReplyDeleteI got there mad early basically because I didnt have shit better to do and cause I thought it would help my chances of getting on stage, it didn't. but I got to see alot of comedians perform. Celebrities come and hung out and even though folks have some good jokes it's hard to get laughs if the audience of comics don't know you. I'm going to keep going back cause fuck it the worst that could happen is you bomb which most people do ...get over it and get better
ReplyDeleteMy performances here was quite a phenomenon, in terms of my sporadic stage time interventions that spurred out of pure luck. Explaining the intricate dynamics of how i performed here three weeks in successions without signing up is a mystery that defies description, also its a luxury i cannot afford explaining. <<< Apologize for being vague.
ReplyDeleteThere's something extraordinarily magnetic about this magically driven environment, maybe because it encapsulates quite an array of standup demographics and performance density.
There's multiple rooms, and the backstage glitters multiple neon- flashes of hollywood jitters, and obliquely opposite is the hazy LA Skyline just fogging away at our imaginative potentiality.
My experience was memorable, although i was somewhat anti-social, which is ironic for a comedian, i guess my pro-introvertism makes me a victim of my own discretion, seduced by my own self introspection..
Tom i believe is the Talent Coordinator or Owner, 'Not Certain'
But he was insightful in terms of LA and the pursuit of standup.
Thank You Tom
Mega Magnificent Place....!
Atelston Fitzgerald Holder 1st
Mr Pregnant.....!
www.mrpregnant.com
www.youtube.com/mrpregnant
www.youtube.com/mrpregnantmusic
If you don't bring people they don't let you perform. They even ended the show early and did not let me perform just because my people were late...it's a true "Bringer show"
ReplyDelete