Really Supportive RM There are musicians and comics so you get an actual audience to test your material on You have to buy a Sandwich but the Food is Bomb so you'll be glad you did!
Pretty cool place with lots of antiques and a fairly friendly atmosphere. You pay $7, but you get a sandwich and a soda with that. The music is a nice break from comedy also.
Located in an industrial part of North Hollywood is a themed general store called Hallenbecks. Inside are chairs hanging from the ceiling and dry goods (fake and real). They have a raised stage for bands to play and they have an incredible sound system. Many musical acts even record their albums here live or otherwise, they offer these services. They even have a sound guy running the board during the show. The place is open from 9am-5pm and it closes until 7pm when they reopen for the open mic. It costs $7 to perform but it goes towards food and drink, and the food here is fantastic. It's become a local legend because the two girls that work behind the counter for the past 5 years are stunning. I can only imagine how they must have endured so many creepy comic's advances. The open mic is open to comics and musicians. How it's run is the host asks you to pick a number between 1-100. Then he somehow randomly picks a number and whoever is closest to that number is who goes first in the line up. Confused? Me too. If you pick 27 and he draws 26 and you're the closest you go first and then it goes up in numbers then swings back round, so if you chose 24 you are now going last. Musicians get one song. Comics get 4 minutes but the host told me if you're really rolling he'll usually let you go long. A bonus to this room is if you go last you now "headline" and you can literally go as long as you want - and you get to pick what spot you want to go next week. The place is packed 9 out of 10 times and 80% stay and watch the show. This place also has a small following of local audience that attend and are extremely supportive. I watched a young rapper drop beats and laughed my ass off watching a retired lady grooving to it with all her heart. I wish I recorded it for youtube. Overall, a great room. $7 is a bit steep and 4 minutes is too short but you can never beat a packed house to perform to - especially one thats not just comics. - Brett Gilbert
I could not have found a better place to try my hand at Stand-up. The crowd was supportive. There is a mixture of novices and veterans. some were sharp and I really laughed a lot. I loved it. If you need to cut your teeth, there is no better spot.
If you have new material, it's a decent place to gauge how non-comic will react. Otherwise, don't overdo it as it has a strong contingent of regulars who show up every week. A good option to do monthly with whatever new 3-4 min you're trying to work out.
Don't eat beforehand, plan on dinner there as they have a food min.
A note on the list. They give everyone numbers between 1-100, then they have a friend of the show pick a number and up or down. They start with that number and go in order whichever way he picks. No need to get there super early, it has no bearing on your spot.
I recently performed my stand-up debut here. Extremely supportive audience and the host is very kind. The atmosphere is very country and cozy. This is a great place for new and seasoned comics to try out new material. There also musicians and sometimes poetry. Great mix of talent.
I've performed there only twice. The first time I went almost all of the comics were stared down by a large group of musicians who looked like they didn't care (guys, that's OUR role!). Admittedly, I was pretty intimidated and didn't do well. The second time I performed there I did a fairly new joke that had killed amongst COMICS previously and has since killed or done at least fairly well amongst comics and "normal"/non-comics since that time. The night I told it at Hallenbeck it got only light, breathy sounds from the musicians. So I jumped off the stage only one minute into my set and left because I wasn't in the mood for that crap that night. If you asked me which stages have the weirdest, most awkward stage feeling for me personally, it's definitely this place and The Comedy Store.
....which doesn't necessarily mean that YOU won't like it, but for $7 you can definitely count me out. I don't pay to do comedy unless I'm at Marty's.
Wow. Way to be a quitter. I've bombed at Hallenbecks as well, but I at least finished my set. Yes the crowd can be weird, but that's part of doing stand-up. The same jokes that kill at one place can bomb hard at the next. Either you can deal with it or you can't. Sounds like you need to be doing something else. Comedy ain't for you.
The ghosts at the Comedy Store don't like you - otherwise you'd feel at home there. And in terms of Hallenbecks, seriously, this is the most supportive open mic in the WORLD. So you told a joke that usually goes over and it bombed on this particular night? So... you quit and walked off? You're lame. Finish your damn set. Especially if you've already paid $7 to be there.
I can't believe that you're taking it to this level. You come across as the biggest douche in the world-- and probably someone who works at Hallenbeck. In terms of The Store, although I love it as a legendary place, even professional comics who have performed there (Marc Maron, Brody Stevens) and lesser-known comics who have toured many clubs in America (Dick Spinneberg) will tell you that it's the hardest room in which they have performed. In terms of myself, I have performed at least 150 times by now. I have quit a set early maybe twice. Again, you dickhole, I wasn't in the mood for that reaction for the second time in a row, No one gives a shit about this argument, and my review was intended only as helpful advice for people who might perform at this place.
A truly great place to do stand-up. The musicians there are usually pretty stellar and it's a nice mix. If you're looking for a place to "finally try" open mic, this is the spot. The sandwiches are great, too.
Open mic has been going on for 18 years, run by Richard, a writer himself. Mostly they get comics here, but sometimes a musician or poet or spoken word artist pops in for some stage time. They’ve even had a magician before. Parking is on the street. The room seats 34 and gets 14 or 15 performers a week. Talent gets 6 minutes after making a $7 purchase from the business. No alcohol is served, but they do make some nice sandwiches. Also, there are no language restrictions. There were just over 20 people attending at its peak. Richard does the lineup by lottery, and he reads the first 9 names off the top. My luck, I drew the last slot. Fortunately, Richard offers the last comedian the opportunity to come back another week and take any spot they want. Yeah, it sucks to go last. But Richard makes it tolerable. Sure enough, the number of attendees dropped as the evening went on, and I played to a room of 7 when I went up. One thing I observed, many comedians did not respect "the light," which was Richard holding up his index finger. Comedians acknowledged him but kept going. Although he used a mic to bring talent on stage, he never used it to let a comedian know they went over. I started to feel like the comedians were being disrespectful on purpose, which was a bit of a turnoff. Guys, respect the light. Always. When you're on stage, you matter. When you get the light, it's time for you to respect the next comedian and wrap it up.
Really Supportive RM
ReplyDeleteThere are musicians and comics so you get an actual audience to test your material on
You have to buy a Sandwich but the Food is Bomb so you'll be glad you did!
Pretty cool place with lots of antiques and a fairly friendly atmosphere. You pay $7, but you get a sandwich and a soda with that. The music is a nice break from comedy also.
ReplyDeleteGreat room. No booze though. But non comedians will be there, and they laugh
ReplyDeleteMy favorite open mic in town. Very supportive audience, great room to try out new stuff, and for $7 you get a sandwich, a drink, and some time.
ReplyDeleteLocated in an industrial part of North Hollywood is a themed general store called Hallenbecks. Inside are chairs hanging from the ceiling and dry goods (fake and real). They have a raised stage for bands to play and they have an incredible sound system. Many musical acts even record their albums here live or otherwise, they offer these services. They even have a sound guy running the board during the show. The place is open from 9am-5pm and it closes until 7pm when they reopen for the open mic. It costs $7 to perform but it goes towards food and drink, and the food here is fantastic. It's become a local legend because the two girls that work behind the counter for the past 5 years are stunning. I can only imagine how they must have endured so many creepy comic's advances. The open mic is open to comics and musicians. How it's run is the host asks you to pick a number between 1-100. Then he somehow randomly picks a number and whoever is closest to that number is who goes first in the line up. Confused? Me too. If you pick 27 and he draws 26 and you're the closest you go first and then it goes up in numbers then swings back round, so if you chose 24 you are now going last. Musicians get one song. Comics get 4 minutes but the host told me if you're really rolling he'll usually let you go long. A bonus to this room is if you go last you now "headline" and you can literally go as long as you want - and you get to pick what spot you want to go next week. The place is packed 9 out of 10 times and 80% stay and watch the show. This place also has a small following of local audience that attend and are extremely supportive. I watched a young rapper drop beats and laughed my ass off watching a retired lady grooving to it with all her heart. I wish I recorded it for youtube. Overall, a great room. $7 is a bit steep and 4 minutes is too short but you can never beat a packed house to perform to - especially one thats not just comics. - Brett Gilbert
ReplyDeleteMeh.
ReplyDeleteI could not have found a better place to try my hand at Stand-up. The crowd was supportive. There is a mixture of novices and veterans. some were sharp and I really laughed a lot. I loved it. If you need to cut your teeth, there is no better spot.
ReplyDeleteIf you have new material, it's a decent place to gauge how non-comic will react. Otherwise, don't overdo it as it has a strong contingent of regulars who show up every week. A good option to do monthly with whatever new 3-4 min you're trying to work out.
ReplyDeleteDon't eat beforehand, plan on dinner there as they have a food min.
A note on the list. They give everyone numbers between 1-100, then they have a friend of the show pick a number and up or down. They start with that number and go in order whichever way he picks. No need to get there super early, it has no bearing on your spot.
I recently performed my stand-up debut here. Extremely supportive audience and the host is very kind. The atmosphere is very country and cozy. This is a great place for new and seasoned comics to try out new material. There also musicians and sometimes poetry. Great mix of talent.
ReplyDeleteI've performed there only twice. The first time I went almost all of the comics were stared down by a large group of musicians who looked like they didn't care (guys, that's OUR role!). Admittedly, I was pretty intimidated and didn't do well.
ReplyDeleteThe second time I performed there I did a fairly new joke that had killed amongst COMICS previously and has since killed or done at least fairly well amongst comics and "normal"/non-comics since that time. The night I told it at Hallenbeck it got only light, breathy sounds from the musicians. So I jumped off the stage only one minute into my set and left because I wasn't in the mood for that crap that night.
If you asked me which stages have the weirdest, most awkward stage feeling for me personally, it's definitely this place and The Comedy Store.
....which doesn't necessarily mean that YOU won't like it, but for $7 you can definitely count me out. I don't pay to do comedy unless I'm at Marty's.
Wow. Way to be a quitter. I've bombed at Hallenbecks as well, but I at least finished my set. Yes the crowd can be weird, but that's part of doing stand-up. The same jokes that kill at one place can bomb hard at the next. Either you can deal with it or you can't. Sounds like you need to be doing something else. Comedy ain't for you.
DeleteYeah, maybe you missed the words "that night." It's an open mic show, and I'm paying them, not vice versa. I can do whatever I want.
DeleteThe ghosts at the Comedy Store don't like you - otherwise you'd feel at home there. And in terms of Hallenbecks, seriously, this is the most supportive open mic in the WORLD. So you told a joke that usually goes over and it bombed on this particular night? So... you quit and walked off? You're lame. Finish your damn set. Especially if you've already paid $7 to be there.
DeleteI can't believe that you're taking it to this level. You come across as the biggest douche in the world-- and probably someone who works at Hallenbeck. In terms of The Store, although I love it as a legendary place, even professional comics who have performed there (Marc Maron, Brody Stevens) and lesser-known comics who have toured many clubs in America (Dick Spinneberg) will tell you that it's the hardest room in which they have performed.
DeleteIn terms of myself, I have performed at least 150 times by now. I have quit a set early maybe twice. Again, you dickhole, I wasn't in the mood for that reaction for the second time in a row,
No one gives a shit about this argument, and my review was intended only as helpful advice for people who might perform at this place.
A truly great place to do stand-up. The musicians there are usually pretty stellar and it's a nice mix. If you're looking for a place to "finally try" open mic, this is the spot. The sandwiches are great, too.
ReplyDeleteOpen mic has been going on for 18 years, run by Richard, a writer himself. Mostly they get comics here, but sometimes a musician or poet or spoken word artist pops in for some stage time. They’ve even had a magician before.
ReplyDeleteParking is on the street. The room seats 34 and gets 14 or 15 performers a week. Talent gets 6 minutes after making a $7 purchase from the business. No alcohol is served, but they do make some nice sandwiches. Also, there are no language restrictions.
There were just over 20 people attending at its peak. Richard does the lineup by lottery, and he reads the first 9 names off the top. My luck, I drew the last slot. Fortunately, Richard offers the last comedian the opportunity to come back another week and take any spot they want. Yeah, it sucks to go last. But Richard makes it tolerable. Sure enough, the number of attendees dropped as the evening went on, and I played to a room of 7 when I went up.
One thing I observed, many comedians did not respect "the light," which was Richard holding up his index finger. Comedians acknowledged him but kept going. Although he used a mic to bring talent on stage, he never used it to let a comedian know they went over. I started to feel like the comedians were being disrespectful on purpose, which was a bit of a turnoff.
Guys, respect the light. Always. When you're on stage, you matter. When you get the light, it's time for you to respect the next comedian and wrap it up.