Open mic at Drnk Coffee has a pretty good following, based on the attendance that I saw. Even as the evening progressed, more people showed up even though others had left, specifically, people not there for open mic. Run by a gentleman named Rodney, he’s been hosting this open mic for almost four years, and while it’s open to all genres of talent, this room tends to attract mostly musicians. I went there with a friend who plays violin, and I was the only comedian to go up. Everyone else played music and sang, one guy even doing a cappella. The format is simple: first come first signup. I showed up almost quarter after six, believing signup was 6:30. Turns out I was wrong. Signup sheet comes out at 6pm, and the open mic starts 6:30. Seven names were already on the list when I entered the place. We took the eighth and ninth spot. By 7:20pm, I saw 19 of the 20 slots available had been filled. This room is popular. Talent gets six minutes. Language is permitted only when people under 21 are not present in the room. Yes, you read it correctly: 21. Not 18. Not sure how enforceable that rule is. I think it would be hard to tell who’s “under age” in a coffee house. A single mic is placed to one side of the room, the most conducive side, and a pretty good sound system allows talent to plug in their music (as background) while they sing. Drnk Coffee and Tea is just that: a business that primarily serves hot beverages. But they also sold cold drinks, including bottled juices. To eat they offer breakfast food, paninis and bagels. The place is not large. The place seats over 22, with additional seating outside. If you go there not intending to see the show, the music can’t help but be heard. The place also has its own parking lot. There were 18 people in the room, not counting the two staff, when we promptly started at 6:30. An hour into the open mic, I went up, and there were 16 people I performed for. I could tell they don’t get standup much here. The audience was quite eager to hear my act. Got some spectacular laughs, to the point I had to stop talking till one person relaxed their chortles. My friend wanted to leave after she went up, and by 8pm when we left, the room had increased in size to 22 peeps in the room. The evening goes till 8:45pm, one of the staff told me. I don’t see how they could get the remaining talent on stage in those final 45 minutes. Perhaps the evening runs till the business closes as 9pm when signup is that full. Guys, this room is one to do, specifically because they will be a great audience if you are doing standup. You will be most welcomed at Drnk Coffee, as little comedy as they get. Just get there by 6pm for signup. As popular as this room is, I think more artists are going to discover this gem of a room, and you’ll be competing for a spot. Rodney asks that the audience be respectful, and they were. Even those in the room not there for open mic were respectful enough to speak in soft voices.
Open mic at Drnk Coffee has a pretty good following, based on the attendance that I saw. Even as the evening progressed, more people showed up even though others had left, specifically, people not there for open mic.
ReplyDeleteRun by a gentleman named Rodney, he’s been hosting this open mic for almost four years, and while it’s open to all genres of talent, this room tends to attract mostly musicians. I went there with a friend who plays violin, and I was the only comedian to go up. Everyone else played music and sang, one guy even doing a cappella.
The format is simple: first come first signup. I showed up almost quarter after six, believing signup was 6:30. Turns out I was wrong. Signup sheet comes out at 6pm, and the open mic starts 6:30. Seven names were already on the list when I entered the place. We took the eighth and ninth spot. By 7:20pm, I saw 19 of the 20 slots available had been filled. This room is popular. Talent gets six minutes. Language is permitted only when people under 21 are not present in the room. Yes, you read it correctly: 21. Not 18. Not sure how enforceable that rule is. I think it would be hard to tell who’s “under age” in a coffee house. A single mic is placed to one side of the room, the most conducive side, and a pretty good sound system allows talent to plug in their music (as background) while they sing.
Drnk Coffee and Tea is just that: a business that primarily serves hot beverages. But they also sold cold drinks, including bottled juices. To eat they offer breakfast food, paninis and bagels. The place is not large. The place seats over 22, with additional seating outside. If you go there not intending to see the show, the music can’t help but be heard. The place also has its own parking lot.
There were 18 people in the room, not counting the two staff, when we promptly started at 6:30. An hour into the open mic, I went up, and there were 16 people I performed for. I could tell they don’t get standup much here. The audience was quite eager to hear my act. Got some spectacular laughs, to the point I had to stop talking till one person relaxed their chortles. My friend wanted to leave after she went up, and by 8pm when we left, the room had increased in size to 22 peeps in the room. The evening goes till 8:45pm, one of the staff told me. I don’t see how they could get the remaining talent on stage in those final 45 minutes. Perhaps the evening runs till the business closes as 9pm when signup is that full.
Guys, this room is one to do, specifically because they will be a great audience if you are doing standup. You will be most welcomed at Drnk Coffee, as little comedy as they get. Just get there by 6pm for signup. As popular as this room is, I think more artists are going to discover this gem of a room, and you’ll be competing for a spot. Rodney asks that the audience be respectful, and they were. Even those in the room not there for open mic were respectful enough to speak in soft voices.