You’ll be parking on the street to do open mic at Downlo, but the venue itself is located beneath city street level. A giant of a room, this is what I call a recreational bar: 11 pool tables, dart boards, air hockey, soccer table, shuffle board, pinball, video game. Also, six muted TVs, three behind the bar, three on the opposite wall, a ways away from where open mic takes place. The room seats about 48 near the platform stage. Some seats at the bar may have their view impeded by the beams that support the room. Downlo is a full bar, but also serves comfort food like burgers and sandwiches, and some appetizers and a whole lotta fried foods: wings, fries, tots of all types, onion rings, even deep fried pickles. Great news, though: $4 beers! I arrived 6:25pm. Two men were setting up equipment by 6:35pm. Tito runs the room, and it goes till midnight. Talent gets 10 to 15 minutes. All genres of talent are welcome. There are no language restrictions unless children are present. Persons under 21 are allowed on the premises till 10pm. Tito is a guitarist himself, running the open mic since April of 2017. I learned people can sign up by phone email. Walk-ins are okay too. I introduced myself to Tito and he gave me the 8pm slot. The evening starts at 7:30pm, but the night I was there, we started at 7:25pm with Tito bringing up the first talent. I was told the place averages one comedian a week. I guess because I was a surprise out-of-towner, there were two comedians that night. Maybe 11 people were watching the show, even though over 30 people were in the room, some playing pool, others playing darts. The second talent went up 7:48pm. By then there were 19 people watching the show and over 40 people in the business. The second talent finished by 8pm, then I went up. I did 13 minutes, playing to a good audience. I only needed one of the three mics on stage. Except for the other comic, all the other talent played music. Guys, this is a good room to do. Even with all the recreational activities going on, surprisingly, those wanting to see the show could hear it well enough. The room appreciates comedy, as they don’t get a lot of it. Even the bar staff had a good time. The amount of stage time is pretty hefty, and with other open mics in the Chico area, you may very well be able to plan a trip out here and stay a few days.
You’ll be parking on the street to do open mic at Downlo, but the venue itself is located beneath city street level. A giant of a room, this is what I call a recreational bar: 11 pool tables, dart boards, air hockey, soccer table, shuffle board, pinball, video game. Also, six muted TVs, three behind the bar, three on the opposite wall, a ways away from where open mic takes place.
ReplyDeleteThe room seats about 48 near the platform stage. Some seats at the bar may have their view impeded by the beams that support the room. Downlo is a full bar, but also serves comfort food like burgers and sandwiches, and some appetizers and a whole lotta fried foods: wings, fries, tots of all types, onion rings, even deep fried pickles. Great news, though: $4 beers!
I arrived 6:25pm. Two men were setting up equipment by 6:35pm. Tito runs the room, and it goes till midnight. Talent gets 10 to 15 minutes. All genres of talent are welcome. There are no language restrictions unless children are present. Persons under 21 are allowed on the premises till 10pm. Tito is a guitarist himself, running the open mic since April of 2017. I learned people can sign up by phone email. Walk-ins are okay too.
I introduced myself to Tito and he gave me the 8pm slot. The evening starts at 7:30pm, but the night I was there, we started at 7:25pm with Tito bringing up the first talent. I was told the place averages one comedian a week. I guess because I was a surprise out-of-towner, there were two comedians that night. Maybe 11 people were watching the show, even though over 30 people were in the room, some playing pool, others playing darts. The second talent went up 7:48pm. By then there were 19 people watching the show and over 40 people in the business.
The second talent finished by 8pm, then I went up. I did 13 minutes, playing to a good audience. I only needed one of the three mics on stage. Except for the other comic, all the other talent played music.
Guys, this is a good room to do. Even with all the recreational activities going on, surprisingly, those wanting to see the show could hear it well enough. The room appreciates comedy, as they don’t get a lot of it. Even the bar staff had a good time. The amount of stage time is pretty hefty, and with other open mics in the Chico area, you may very well be able to plan a trip out here and stay a few days.