Open mic at Black Plug has been going on for 4 years, run by a gentleman named Steve. Talent gets 2 songs or 10 minutes, and all talent is welcome. If there are not a lot of signups, there is a 2nd round of 1 song or 5 additional minutes. Signup is first-come-first-choice. There are no language restrictions unless children are present. The café is semi-divided into two rooms. There are about 38 seats in the room where open mic takes place. There is a muted TV on in that room and a second TV on with sound playing sports in the second room. The stage is a 6-inch platform that holds 3 mics. The place serves beer and wine and some cocktails as well as sodas. To eat they offer salads and sandwiches, burgers and paninis and after 3pm some dinners like chicken alfredo, and they do serve all day breakfast burritos and crepes. Steve started the room because he wanted a place to go to where he knew people were there for the talent. Unlike a sports bar, where there can be a number of distractions, Black Plug is a quiet room that welcomes talent and civilians alike to enjoy the show and each other’s company. Of course there are regulars who come almost every week. This is a very lax room. By 7pm, 2 people had signed up. I talked to Steve while people showed up. The evening started by 7:15pm with 4 people plus the host in the audience. By 7:25, attendance had increased by 1. On a good night they can pack as many as 20, I am told. By 7:40pm, 8 people were in the room. By 8:15, eleven people. Steve did not open with anything other than welcoming everyone and just getting into the lineup, calling the first person, a regular, to go up. The second talent sang a cappella. I went up 4th. I was told they hadn’t had a comedian on stage in a long time. My set went remarkably well. Towards the end of my time I asked if I could try some R rated material on the audience. Surprisingly, my adult material went off better than any of my other bits. The room goes till as late as 9:30, but this night we ended at 9pm. For the life of me, I can’t understand why more comedians haven’t discovered this hidden treasure. Forget Treasure Island, the island that is Alameda has this gem to offer. Ten minutes with the possibility for an additional 5, plus the fact that they want more comedy in this room, is reason enough for you to give it a try, especially if you’re a comedian living in the Bay Area. I think of other rooms that have to turn away talent because they max out fast, and here you have this room hungry for comedy. Nothing funny about that.
CLOSED 1/16/17 Found this message on FB: The staff here at the Black Pug received incredibly shocking news last night. The owner of the business has closed the cafe doors permanently, with no warning or proper explanation. The rest of us, the staff here, would like to thank each and every one of you for your support, your kind words, your encouragement, your critiques, feedback, your art, your music, your performances, your dedication to us. We are still quite shocked and still trying to process that this place, our second home, is now no longer a place for us, or for our community. We will sorely miss it, and you all as well.
Most sincerely, Shannon Marsden and the rest of the staff at the BPC.
Open mic at Black Plug has been going on for 4 years, run by a gentleman named Steve. Talent gets 2 songs or 10 minutes, and all talent is welcome. If there are not a lot of signups, there is a 2nd round of 1 song or 5 additional minutes. Signup is first-come-first-choice. There are no language restrictions unless children are present.
ReplyDeleteThe café is semi-divided into two rooms. There are about 38 seats in the room where open mic takes place. There is a muted TV on in that room and a second TV on with sound playing sports in the second room. The stage is a 6-inch platform that holds 3 mics. The place serves beer and wine and some cocktails as well as sodas. To eat they offer salads and sandwiches, burgers and paninis and after 3pm some dinners like chicken alfredo, and they do serve all day breakfast burritos and crepes.
Steve started the room because he wanted a place to go to where he knew people were there for the talent. Unlike a sports bar, where there can be a number of distractions, Black Plug is a quiet room that welcomes talent and civilians alike to enjoy the show and each other’s company. Of course there are regulars who come almost every week.
This is a very lax room. By 7pm, 2 people had signed up. I talked to Steve while people showed up. The evening started by 7:15pm with 4 people plus the host in the audience. By 7:25, attendance had increased by 1. On a good night they can pack as many as 20, I am told. By 7:40pm, 8 people were in the room. By 8:15, eleven people. Steve did not open with anything other than welcoming everyone and just getting into the lineup, calling the first person, a regular, to go up. The second talent sang a cappella. I went up 4th. I was told they hadn’t had a comedian on stage in a long time.
My set went remarkably well. Towards the end of my time I asked if I could try some R rated material on the audience. Surprisingly, my adult material went off better than any of my other bits. The room goes till as late as 9:30, but this night we ended at 9pm.
For the life of me, I can’t understand why more comedians haven’t discovered this hidden treasure. Forget Treasure Island, the island that is Alameda has this gem to offer. Ten minutes with the possibility for an additional 5, plus the fact that they want more comedy in this room, is reason enough for you to give it a try, especially if you’re a comedian living in the Bay Area. I think of other rooms that have to turn away talent because they max out fast, and here you have this room hungry for comedy. Nothing funny about that.
CLOSED 1/16/17 Found this message on FB: The staff here at the Black Pug received incredibly shocking news last night. The owner of the business has closed the cafe doors permanently, with no warning or proper explanation.
ReplyDeleteThe rest of us, the staff here, would like to thank each and every one of you for your support, your kind words, your encouragement, your critiques, feedback, your art, your music, your performances, your dedication to us. We are still quite shocked and still trying to process that this place, our second home, is now no longer a place for us, or for our community. We will sorely miss it, and you all as well.
Most sincerely,
Shannon Marsden and the rest of the staff at the BPC.