This will be one of the most unorthodox reviews I will ever leave, because this room is atypical of an open mic, yet it’s still an open mic. Bear with me. (Bare with me if it gets too hot.) At least, the stats. The gentleman who runs this room is Matt. He has no direct affiliation with Cowtrack Lounge, other than his wife works behind the bar. Though the open mic has been going on for 8 years, Matt only took over 7 months ago. Mostly musicians play at the open mic, but all talent is welcome. There are no language restrictions. There is no stage. A rug represents “the stage,” but anyone interested in seeing the show can if the performer is willing to stand. There are two mics, and “the stage” is reasonably lit. The one TV they have on is muted. There is plenty of parking, as this establishment shares a giant lot with other businesses. And while the full bar only offers chips and peanuts, there are restaurants that share the same lot. Also, the bar does not object if you bring outside food. Finally, the bartender comps one drink to all talent who perform. And now for something completely different. . . .(Monty Python) First, there is no signup sheet. This room is unbelievably lax. Just show up and let them know you want to perform. You can even call ahead and tell them you’re going to stop in and want to perform. Matt shows up faithfully every week, but the night I showed up, only one other person was there ready to perform. Matt was willing to set up, and I was ready to perform, till a better offer came my way. Your way as well. Let me explain. While the other performer, a regular at the bar, did go up without a mic, just played and sang and the room was quiet enough that you could hear him, when Matt learned I wanted to do standup, he told me talent can get up to an hour, if you’re good. I could have gone on that night, done 15 or 20. There were not a lot of people there, maybe 13 at its maximum, but they were eager for comedy. I had started to perform at the bar for 4 people, thinking there wasn’t going to be an open mic, when Matt showed up. Upon learning I could come back and do up to an hour, I decided to hold off on performing and arrange a date when I’d return and do however much up to a full hour. The room is a hit or miss. Some nights the place gets a healthy turnout. Other nights it’s not worth it for Matt to set up the sound system. I didn’t care. I just want stage time. So, my fellow comedians (and all other talented peeps), if you have in you a full show, enough that you can sustain an audience for an hour, this venue gives you that kind of stage time. If you’re good. My strongest recommendation is wait till you have that 30 or 45 or 60 minute set learned and practiced, and come here in a one-night-only performance. Understand, this is a very lax room. They can keep open mic going for hours, so even if other people show up and want to perform, you may very well get that hour. Just let them know in advance when you plan to come. Charlie owns the bar, but Matt runs the open mic. It’s him with whom you want to coordinate your performance.
This will be one of the most unorthodox reviews I will ever leave, because this room is atypical of an open mic, yet it’s still an open mic. Bear with me. (Bare with me if it gets too hot.)
ReplyDeleteAt least, the stats. The gentleman who runs this room is Matt. He has no direct affiliation with Cowtrack Lounge, other than his wife works behind the bar. Though the open mic has been going on for 8 years, Matt only took over 7 months ago. Mostly musicians play at the open mic, but all talent is welcome. There are no language restrictions. There is no stage. A rug represents “the stage,” but anyone interested in seeing the show can if the performer is willing to stand. There are two mics, and “the stage” is reasonably lit. The one TV they have on is muted. There is plenty of parking, as this establishment shares a giant lot with other businesses. And while the full bar only offers chips and peanuts, there are restaurants that share the same lot. Also, the bar does not object if you bring outside food. Finally, the bartender comps one drink to all talent who perform. And now for something completely different. . . .(Monty Python)
First, there is no signup sheet. This room is unbelievably lax. Just show up and let them know you want to perform. You can even call ahead and tell them you’re going to stop in and want to perform. Matt shows up faithfully every week, but the night I showed up, only one other person was there ready to perform. Matt was willing to set up, and I was ready to perform, till a better offer came my way. Your way as well. Let me explain.
While the other performer, a regular at the bar, did go up without a mic, just played and sang and the room was quiet enough that you could hear him, when Matt learned I wanted to do standup, he told me talent can get up to an hour, if you’re good. I could have gone on that night, done 15 or 20. There were not a lot of people there, maybe 13 at its maximum, but they were eager for comedy. I had started to perform at the bar for 4 people, thinking there wasn’t going to be an open mic, when Matt showed up. Upon learning I could come back and do up to an hour, I decided to hold off on performing and arrange a date when I’d return and do however much up to a full hour. The room is a hit or miss. Some nights the place gets a healthy turnout. Other nights it’s not worth it for Matt to set up the sound system. I didn’t care. I just want stage time.
So, my fellow comedians (and all other talented peeps), if you have in you a full show, enough that you can sustain an audience for an hour, this venue gives you that kind of stage time. If you’re good. My strongest recommendation is wait till you have that 30 or 45 or 60 minute set learned and practiced, and come here in a one-night-only performance.
Understand, this is a very lax room. They can keep open mic going for hours, so even if other people show up and want to perform, you may very well get that hour. Just let them know in advance when you plan to come. Charlie owns the bar, but Matt runs the open mic. It’s him with whom you want to coordinate your performance.