My experience at Bird and Beckett was quite unique, but that’s in large part because B and B is a unique venue. While all genres of talent are welcome, this room is almost exclusively poetry. I wouldn’t be surprised if I was the first comedian they’ve had in many, many months, if not years. Bird and Beckett is a bookstore. They allow outside food and drink to the open mic. They also offer Pellegrino water by a donation jar, as well as a few other beverages. There is no mic, but talent does perform on a nice stage. Rows of collapsible chairs face the stage, and the room overall seats about 21. Parking is on the street. Give yourself plenty of time to find parking. It’s a pill. The signup sheet was out by 6:30pm. Twelve spots are offered. When I signed up there were already two names on it. I took the second spot. There are no language restrictions. Also, there is no light. If you haven’t gotten yourself off after the third poem, the host may say, “Thank you”, and you’re done. The room has been going on since 2000 and is hosted by the same gentleman, Jerry. It was a slow night from what I heard from the regulars who grace this room. Jerry started the room a little late, hoping more talent would show. When the room did start at 7:10pm, ten people plus the host composed the room. Two featured poets started the evening. When they finished, we had a five minute break and then open mic started. All poetry except for me. After my set, six more poets went up, and the evening ended around 8:35pm. I went up and did probably six or seven minutes. It was an awkward experience. Much of the poetry during the evening was political. My opening joke is about reading an article in a health magazine about taking in too much water can lead to death. Our very host decides to interrupt my joke (or make it his own, though he was serious) and says something about Trump’s handling of Puerto Rico. Of course, my opening joke tanked, and I never recovered. The room itself is a quiet room. They are used to poetry. They don’t even use a mic. Because it’s a bookstore, the ambiance is that of no noise, be quiet. I wouldn’t be surprised if the audience kept their laughs muffled, ‘cause that’s what you do at a weekly poetry jam, you sit quietly and listen. Interestingly enough, I did almost the same routine to a room two days later, and some of the same poets were there, and I killed. But that room, while having a lot of poetry as well, was more festive. Guys, I don’t mean to knock this room. I don’t. The host asked if I would come back. I knew from the beginning I did not win the audience over, and the interruption of a political comment did not add to the joviality that I wanted to bring to the room. I did hear the occasional chuckle, and I saw a lot of smiles, but this room is used to silence, and not in a bad way. I say to any comedian, do this room, but know that while you may have the mother lode of a routine based on a performance in another room, here you’re panning for silver. It’s not you. It’s not the audience. It’s the environment. It’s a bookstore.
My experience at Bird and Beckett was quite unique, but that’s in large part because B and B is a unique venue. While all genres of talent are welcome, this room is almost exclusively poetry. I wouldn’t be surprised if I was the first comedian they’ve had in many, many months, if not years. Bird and Beckett is a bookstore. They allow outside food and drink to the open mic. They also offer Pellegrino water by a donation jar, as well as a few other beverages. There is no mic, but talent does perform on a nice stage. Rows of collapsible chairs face the stage, and the room overall seats about 21. Parking is on the street. Give yourself plenty of time to find parking. It’s a pill.
ReplyDeleteThe signup sheet was out by 6:30pm. Twelve spots are offered. When I signed up there were already two names on it. I took the second spot. There are no language restrictions. Also, there is no light. If you haven’t gotten yourself off after the third poem, the host may say, “Thank you”, and you’re done. The room has been going on since 2000 and is hosted by the same gentleman, Jerry.
It was a slow night from what I heard from the regulars who grace this room. Jerry started the room a little late, hoping more talent would show. When the room did start at 7:10pm, ten people plus the host composed the room. Two featured poets started the evening. When they finished, we had a five minute break and then open mic started. All poetry except for me. After my set, six more poets went up, and the evening ended around 8:35pm.
I went up and did probably six or seven minutes. It was an awkward experience. Much of the poetry during the evening was political. My opening joke is about reading an article in a health magazine about taking in too much water can lead to death. Our very host decides to interrupt my joke (or make it his own, though he was serious) and says something about Trump’s handling of Puerto Rico. Of course, my opening joke tanked, and I never recovered. The room itself is a quiet room. They are used to poetry. They don’t even use a mic. Because it’s a bookstore, the ambiance is that of no noise, be quiet. I wouldn’t be surprised if the audience kept their laughs muffled, ‘cause that’s what you do at a weekly poetry jam, you sit quietly and listen.
Interestingly enough, I did almost the same routine to a room two days later, and some of the same poets were there, and I killed. But that room, while having a lot of poetry as well, was more festive.
Guys, I don’t mean to knock this room. I don’t. The host asked if I would come back. I knew from the beginning I did not win the audience over, and the interruption of a political comment did not add to the joviality that I wanted to bring to the room. I did hear the occasional chuckle, and I saw a lot of smiles, but this room is used to silence, and not in a bad way. I say to any comedian, do this room, but know that while you may have the mother lode of a routine based on a performance in another room, here you’re panning for silver. It’s not you. It’s not the audience. It’s the environment. It’s a bookstore.