Signup is unique at East Village. You ask the staff for a number and when the host shows up and brings out the sheet, mostly talent respected the lower the number, the earlier you got to sign up. It’s just a formal version of first-come-first-choice. Garlan Thompson runs the room, has been doing so for 14 years, which says a lot for the longevity of this venue and how good it must be. The coffee lounge serves pastries and wraps on display, but mostly they serve coffee and also beer and wine. About 27 people can see the stage well but only 23 sit in the vicinity. I arrived about 6:25 and got an early number. The show started about 7:40pm. Our emcee started the show with 2 open micers then we segue into a poetry slam, where 3 poets gave their best with two pieces, and specific members of the audience were asked to grade them, 1 to 10, and prizes were given at the end. Then we went back to open micers going up and doing comedy. About 24 people were in attendance. There are no language restrictions, and the venue usually goes from 7:30 to 9:30. Typically, 12 to 13 open micers appear weekly. Only if people go way too long does the host give the light. Mostly, it’s the honor system. I must say I thoroughly enjoyed this room. Garlan is a born emcee, always high with the energy, makes good eye contact with the audience, showed up dressed up in a nice jacket. The room was very supportive, as well. I sat next to a guy who was there for the first time only to see the show, not participate. A number of the audience was civilians who came to be entertained. Yes, as the evening progressed, the room thinned, but that mostly always happens in any room you perform. I got myself off the stage when it was my turn. Though I was killing, I could get a feel for when 7 minutes had passed, and I thanked the audience. I stayed maybe another 30 or 40 minutes after my set, then started to feel the long-drive catching up to me. I thanked Garlan and told him his room was welcoming and I would recommend it to other comedians. If you’re planning a trip along the coast and you decide to stay in the quaint town of Monterey, while there are other rooms you can do in or near this small seaside city, make this venue one to do before you leave.
Signup is unique at East Village. You ask the staff for a number and when the host shows up and brings out the sheet, mostly talent respected the lower the number, the earlier you got to sign up. It’s just a formal version of first-come-first-choice. Garlan Thompson runs the room, has been doing so for 14 years, which says a lot for the longevity of this venue and how good it must be.
ReplyDeleteThe coffee lounge serves pastries and wraps on display, but mostly they serve coffee and also beer and wine. About 27 people can see the stage well but only 23 sit in the vicinity. I arrived about 6:25 and got an early number. The show started about 7:40pm. Our emcee started the show with 2 open micers then we segue into a poetry slam, where 3 poets gave their best with two pieces, and specific members of the audience were asked to grade them, 1 to 10, and prizes were given at the end. Then we went back to open micers going up and doing comedy. About 24 people were in attendance. There are no language restrictions, and the venue usually goes from 7:30 to 9:30. Typically, 12 to 13 open micers appear weekly. Only if people go way too long does the host give the light. Mostly, it’s the honor system.
I must say I thoroughly enjoyed this room. Garlan is a born emcee, always high with the energy, makes good eye contact with the audience, showed up dressed up in a nice jacket. The room was very supportive, as well. I sat next to a guy who was there for the first time only to see the show, not participate. A number of the audience was civilians who came to be entertained. Yes, as the evening progressed, the room thinned, but that mostly always happens in any room you perform.
I got myself off the stage when it was my turn. Though I was killing, I could get a feel for when 7 minutes had passed, and I thanked the audience. I stayed maybe another 30 or 40 minutes after my set, then started to feel the long-drive catching up to me. I thanked Garlan and told him his room was welcoming and I would recommend it to other comedians.
If you’re planning a trip along the coast and you decide to stay in the quaint town of Monterey, while there are other rooms you can do in or near this small seaside city, make this venue one to do before you leave.