I did my first ever open mic their and it went great funny hosts and some pretty good other comics,Great vibe and I have to say I am glad I did my first time their!
Email first if you know you're def going. Nice people run the place, but I would say that based on my experience, this is not a very female-comic friendly crowd. Maybe just the night I went, but if those guys are regulars then this is a really tough place for the lady comics.
NO OPEN MIC on Saturday, October 30th, 2010. The theater is having a Halloween Party/Show. OPEN MIC will resume Nov. 6th - first 18 to sign-up will get-up.
Definitely not the best open mic in LA...its the worst in my opinion...nobody wants to support the other comics...the stage is the worst...may as well be a classroom or something...just don't waste your time...plenty of other options in la and this one should be your last...
The hosts Ryan O'Flanagan and Jeff MacKinnon are very funny and do quick one liners or a sketch or comment on the last comments act, and they keep it rolling. The sign up is at 6pm. Everyone waits outside until then. Because of the popularity of this show, comics only get 4 minutes. You get the light at 3 and they start music exactly at 4 minutes to cut you off. They are not obnoxious about it however, if you are landing the plane on your last joke they'll slowly raise the volume of the music. It's a lottery. And to prevent comics from leaving if they are too late on the list they only draw the comic next and the one on deck. If you get picked last, congratulations you sat through a 2 hour show and probably only a few comics left to perform to. Expect about 40 plus comics (98 % male). No real audience. It is very cliquey. I noticed the five new comics that never performed there got the cold shoulder pretty bad, myself included. But the club looks great. I remember when it was just cracked brick walls, fold out chairs, and an unpainted plywood stage. Now it's an actual comedy club with black curtains to divide the room in case of low turnout, like the improv does. They have a pull down screen for films and a back stage area. When I'm done licking my wounds from my epic bombing I'll be back because it is a good show and a great club. - Brett Gilbert
If you park in garage #3, it's a $5 flat rate after 5ish. And you can exist the garage in the back, right where the theater is. The best part about garage #3 is that, if you stay until about a half hour after midnight, the attendants leave and open a night exit lane for FREE.
I went for the first time on Saturday. The comics were a mixed bag, which is to be expected, but the hosts were funny, so you could expect a laugh at least every four minutes.
You do have to arrive VERY early. The sign up starts at 6:00, so I thought I'd be safe arriving at 5:30. There were, like, 20 people ahead of me. The first 18 were guaranteed 4 minute sets. Then there was a new lottery for 3 minutes. I was lucky enough to be one of the last people on stage, but wow.
That being said, people were willing to laugh, and very supportive (except a group of four who took off when they had all finished, leaving the FRONT ROW empty).
Even though I don't have anything to compare it to, I'd say it was a great experience..
Hosts are great, but the audience of comics...not so much. Great place for "comics" to religiously go every saturday to cross their arms & not laugh at anyone's material other than their friends that are also there crossing their arms every...single...week...
Nice club setup. Not very accomdating to out of towners. Though it was a lottery draw they would not allow us to enter the draw even though they hadn't made up the list yet...most other clubs we have been to cut people from out of town some slack and squeezed us on. Also, We were given faulty information about the signup process by a different mic site. Maybe if I end up back in cali doing open mics ill check it out again. Guys were nice about it though. Just wish they were a bit more understanding of our plight.
I got on stage for the first time here and I'll never forget it. The folks that run this mic are cool as hell. I didn't make the list because I got there too late (get there around 5:30), but they have an alternate list they use if there's time left at the end and I was able to grab the last spot of the night as the 3rd alternate. If you don't get on at least you're right near the beach, so you can't complain. I have nothing negative to say about this place.
I went to this open mic last week, and got there at about 5:35, and there were already about 8 people there. There was some semblance of a line at the door to sign up, which some people got in as they arrived, but most just stood sort of near the door and got their name on the list, so beware of that. They usually take the first 20, then do alternates if they have time. They kept us waiting until about 6:15 outside until they took our names down, then brought us in about 10 minutes later.
On this specific night, they said they had to end a little early for the next show, so they only gave all the comedians 3 minutes of time, which is a bit of a joke itself. They also had a new system for the light at 2 minutes where they were slightly raising a house light, which was confusing for a lot of people, leading to a lot of cutoffs. The MC/management was good and the crowd was OK. The crowd was probably 85-90% people performing, though, but no one was rude.
Bottom line: if you want a friendly open mic, then this is a good one, but it's kind of a long haul to Santa Monica if you're not in the area to show up, pay $7 for parking, wait for 45 minutes in the cold, then do 3 minutes and sit through another hour and a half. Also, be sure to check the calendar on their website, as some weeks they don't do this (the week before they did not because of another show).
Tonight he was at the Westside dressed as a King, black dude with the long ass name, why does he try so fucking hard to be different? And he's not different because everything he's doing was already done so he's late, Andy Kaufman wanna bee, always trying to get all the Attention in open mics, I swear one day ill knock tht nigga out cold.
The Westside Comedy Theatre's unorthodox location is ironically a Tuesday nights comedic mecca, and for many reasons, a post-show residual audience that precedes the open mic, an uncanny aura that glitters the fruits of ambience, a host imprudence that flourishes the air and permeates the listeners, and a polarized collection of peculiar comics...! The performance is lottery driven rather chronological, therefore getting there early or late is somewhat irrelevant, ironically the list capacity is around 25, so it's contingent you get there early.
Venturing to the Westside is an imperative notion indeed, and to miss this eureka of a medium experience is a regret that shall wither into the cold desert air.
Atelston is RAINMAN, been on his site and read his shit, some reall esoteric fucking stuff hahaha, and tthis dudes legit he writes for like 5 news sites and lectures across states. WTF I'm looking at this niggas as some bat shit crazy loon off the streets and it turrns out he's like a crazy genius. We're the morons not this dude trust me were the fucking chicken shit, go to his fucking site you fuckwipes and see how insignificant you fucktards are
West Side on Saturday nights is my favorite open mic in the city. Great crowds, great hosts. Only mild complaint is they don't have a full bar unfortunately, and I like the place so damn much I wish you could get 5 minutes instead of a TIGHT 3.
This place is really blowing up, last Saturday had a good 40 people. I just went on Tuesday night, we were a half hour early for sign up and I swear to god there was already 30 people there; one guy said people start lining up for that one at 7:30 for a 9:30 sign up.
Saturdays are better because the owner/bartender makes you line up 3 hours on Tuesdays. he likes to watch the line while he is working, so he can smoke in your face and feed his own ego. My friends stop going to see all the different shows there because they don't get served all the drinks they want, because the owner is always outside smoking. how do they make money? The best mics in town.
Great place. The people who work there are all very friendly and the whole place is very supportive of new comics. It's a nice vibe - do it.
ReplyDeleteDo it! It's a great mic in a real comedy place with excellent hosts.
ReplyDeleteGreat open mic, best in LA.
ReplyDeleteI did my first ever open mic their and it went great funny hosts and some pretty good other comics,Great vibe and I have to say I am glad I did my first time their!
ReplyDeleteEmail first if you know you're def going. Nice people run the place, but I would say that based on my experience, this is not a very female-comic friendly crowd. Maybe just the night I went, but if those guys are regulars then this is a really tough place for the lady comics.
ReplyDeleteThe best place in the world to bust your comedy cherry at.
ReplyDeleteNO OPEN MIC on Saturday, October 30th, 2010. The theater is having a Halloween Party/Show. OPEN MIC will resume Nov. 6th - first 18 to sign-up will get-up.
ReplyDeleteJeff
NO OPEN MIC on Saturday, Dec 11th. Private Event. Atul
ReplyDeleteDefinitely not the best open mic in LA...its the worst in my opinion...nobody wants to support the other comics...the stage is the worst...may as well be a classroom or something...just don't waste your time...plenty of other options in la and this one should be your last...
ReplyDeleteMy favorite place to do an open mic. The hosts are cool and I find it's a real supportive room.
ReplyDeleteThe hosts Ryan O'Flanagan and Jeff MacKinnon are very funny and do quick one liners or a sketch or comment on the last comments act, and they keep it rolling. The sign up is at 6pm. Everyone waits outside until then. Because of the popularity of this show, comics only get 4 minutes. You get the light at 3 and they start music exactly at 4 minutes to cut you off. They are not obnoxious about it however, if you are landing the plane on your last joke they'll slowly raise the volume of the music. It's a lottery. And to prevent comics from leaving if they are too late on the list they only draw the comic next and the one on deck. If you get picked last, congratulations you sat through a 2 hour show and probably only a few comics left to perform to. Expect about 40 plus comics (98 % male). No real audience. It is very cliquey. I noticed the five new comics that never performed there got the cold shoulder pretty bad, myself included. But the club looks great. I remember when it was just cracked brick walls, fold out chairs, and an unpainted plywood stage. Now it's an actual comedy club with black curtains to divide the room in case of low turnout, like the improv does. They have a pull down screen for films and a back stage area. When I'm done licking my wounds from my epic bombing I'll be back because it is a good show and a great club. - Brett Gilbert
ReplyDeleteAny one have any suggestions for parking? I can't imagine moving your car every two hours is a good idea.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite open mic. Its a random lottery with no favoritism and the hosts keep the show moving.
ReplyDeleteIf you park in garage #3, it's a $5 flat rate after 5ish. And you can exist the garage in the back, right where the theater is. The best part about garage #3 is that, if you stay until about a half hour after midnight, the attendants leave and open a night exit lane for FREE.
ReplyDeletemake sure to get there super early...i was 40 mins early & still didn't make the list.
ReplyDeleteI went for the first time on Saturday. The comics were a mixed bag, which is to be expected, but the hosts were funny, so you could expect a laugh at least every four minutes.
ReplyDeleteYou do have to arrive VERY early. The sign up starts at 6:00, so I thought I'd be safe arriving at 5:30. There were, like, 20 people ahead of me. The first 18 were guaranteed 4 minute sets. Then there was a new lottery for 3 minutes. I was lucky enough to be one of the last people on stage, but wow.
That being said, people were willing to laugh, and very supportive (except a group of four who took off when they had all finished, leaving the FRONT ROW empty).
Even though I don't have anything to compare it to, I'd say it was a great experience..
Hosts are great, but the audience of comics...not so much. Great place for "comics" to religiously go every saturday to cross their arms & not laugh at anyone's material other than their friends that are also there crossing their arms every...single...week...
ReplyDeleteJune 25 open mic is cancelled.
ReplyDeleteSuch a fun mic. The hosts are awesome. Ryan is literally the most attractive person I have ever seen.
ReplyDeleteWho cares?
DeleteThis is a great place to bob on a cock. Right, everybody???
ReplyDeleteNice club setup. Not very accomdating to out of towners. Though it was a lottery draw they would not allow us to enter the draw even though they hadn't made up the list yet...most other clubs we have been to cut people from out of town some slack and squeezed us on.
ReplyDeleteAlso, We were given faulty information about the signup process by a different mic site. Maybe if I end up back in cali doing open mics ill check it out again. Guys were nice about it though. Just wish they were a bit more understanding of our plight.
I got on stage for the first time here and I'll never forget it. The folks that run this mic are cool as hell. I didn't make the list because I got there too late (get there around 5:30), but they have an alternate list they use if there's time left at the end and I was able to grab the last spot of the night as the 3rd alternate. If you don't get on at least you're right near the beach, so you can't complain. I have nothing negative to say about this place.
ReplyDeleteI went to this open mic last week, and got there at about 5:35, and there were already about 8 people there. There was some semblance of a line at the door to sign up, which some people got in as they arrived, but most just stood sort of near the door and got their name on the list, so beware of that. They usually take the first 20, then do alternates if they have time. They kept us waiting until about 6:15 outside until they took our names down, then brought us in about 10 minutes later.
ReplyDeleteOn this specific night, they said they had to end a little early for the next show, so they only gave all the comedians 3 minutes of time, which is a bit of a joke itself. They also had a new system for the light at 2 minutes where they were slightly raising a house light, which was confusing for a lot of people, leading to a lot of cutoffs. The MC/management was good and the crowd was OK. The crowd was probably 85-90% people performing, though, but no one was rude.
Bottom line: if you want a friendly open mic, then this is a good one, but it's kind of a long haul to Santa Monica if you're not in the area to show up, pay $7 for parking, wait for 45 minutes in the cold, then do 3 minutes and sit through another hour and a half. Also, be sure to check the calendar on their website, as some weeks they don't do this (the week before they did not because of another show).
Heard atelston Fitzgerald holder 1st got banned for getting naked
ReplyDeleteTonight he was at the Westside dressed as a King, black dude with the long ass name, why does he try so fucking hard to be different? And he's not different because everything he's doing was already done so he's late, Andy Kaufman wanna bee, always trying to get all the Attention in open mics, I swear one day ill knock tht nigga out cold.
ReplyDelete'Anonymous' I Beg Your Pardon?
ReplyDeleteThe Westside Comedy Theatre's unorthodox location is ironically a Tuesday nights comedic mecca, and for many reasons, a post-show residual audience that precedes the open mic, an uncanny aura that glitters the fruits of ambience, a host imprudence that flourishes the air and permeates the listeners, and a polarized collection of peculiar comics...! The performance is lottery driven rather chronological, therefore getting there early or late is somewhat irrelevant, ironically the list capacity is around 25, so it's contingent you get there early.
Venturing to the Westside is an imperative notion indeed, and to miss this eureka of a medium experience is a regret that shall wither into the cold desert air.
SIMPLY MAGNIFICENT
Atelston Fitzgerald Holder 1st
www.mrpregnant.com
www.youtube.com/mrpregnant
Atelston is RAINMAN, been on his site and read his shit, some reall esoteric fucking stuff hahaha, and tthis dudes legit he writes for like 5 news sites and lectures across states. WTF I'm looking at this niggas as some bat shit crazy loon off the streets and it turrns out he's like a crazy genius. We're the morons not this dude trust me were the fucking chicken shit, go to his fucking site you fuckwipes and see how insignificant you fucktards are
ReplyDeleteWest Side on Saturday nights is my favorite open mic in the city. Great crowds, great hosts. Only mild complaint is they don't have a full bar unfortunately, and I like the place so damn much I wish you could get 5 minutes instead of a TIGHT 3.
ReplyDeleteThis place is really blowing up, last Saturday had a good 40 people. I just went on Tuesday night, we were a half hour early for sign up and I swear to god there was already 30 people there; one guy said people start lining up for that one at 7:30 for a 9:30 sign up.
West Side is the BEST side; word LIFE, son.
Saturdays are better because the owner/bartender makes you line up 3 hours on Tuesdays. he likes to watch the line while he is working, so he can smoke in your face and feed his own ego. My friends stop going to see all the different shows there because they don't get served all the drinks they want, because the owner is always outside smoking. how do they make money? The best mics in town.
ReplyDelete