This venue was supposed to be the third of three venues meant to be performed Wednesday night, but it turned out to be the second, as the intended second was canceled because the host was sick. I say that because I want you to be aware you can do 3 venues on a Wednesday in the San Diego area. The Salty Bar is a bar only. No food served. However, you are allowed to bring in food from somewhere else if you haven’t eaten before open mic starts. Inside and to the left is a platform stage with two mics. Wherever you sit, you can see the stage. There is one pool table in a second room, and people do play while open mic is going on. On various walls are 7 televisions, all muted. Parking is on the street. The room is hosted by Alan Henderson, one of the most affable emcees I have met in my travels. Open mic has been going on four years, and Alan has been the host for the last six months. The signup sheet came out 8:45pm. It’s first come first choice. This room is comedy only. Talent gets 6 minutes, the light at 5, and there are no language restrictions. The night started at 9:10pm. Alan opened to an audience of 17 peeps, a mixture of civilians, staff, and comics. I sat at the bar, having taken the second spot. My friend took the third spot. As the evening progressed, more people came in, an additional mixture of civilians and comics. The audience was very good about listening to the talent, I must say. When people wanted to talk they stepped outside, had a cigarette. Yes, sometimes the pool table was in use, but anyone who stayed in the central bar was there for the show, drink in hand. I had a very good experience at The Salty Bar. Alan friended me on Facebook before my friend and I left. He connects with people. I attribute that to the room connecting with the show. The audience isn’t just there to see open mic. They’re there to see Alan, who was very clever about cracking jokes between talents. Sadly, because we had a long drive, we could not stay the whole night, leaving around 10pm. Guys, do this room because it’s full of energy and the support is strong. They respect the talent on stage. But do this room for a second reason. This venue is about as Southern California as you can get. South of Imperial Beach is Tijuana River National Estuary, then the border. But to romanticize the experience, do the room, so you can say you did the very southern corner of California. In all your travels doing shows – open mics, showrooms, comedy rooms – you have literally performed at one of the four corners of the United States. Wherever you’re traveling from, believe me, you’ll sound experienced and cool when you say that. “Bob, where were you last night?” “I was travelling to the farthest corners of the United States, perfecting my comedic abilities. You?” “I watched reruns of The Big Bang Theory.”
This venue was supposed to be the third of three venues meant to be performed Wednesday night, but it turned out to be the second, as the intended second was canceled because the host was sick. I say that because I want you to be aware you can do 3 venues on a Wednesday in the San Diego area.
ReplyDeleteThe Salty Bar is a bar only. No food served. However, you are allowed to bring in food from somewhere else if you haven’t eaten before open mic starts. Inside and to the left is a platform stage with two mics. Wherever you sit, you can see the stage. There is one pool table in a second room, and people do play while open mic is going on. On various walls are 7 televisions, all muted. Parking is on the street.
The room is hosted by Alan Henderson, one of the most affable emcees I have met in my travels. Open mic has been going on four years, and Alan has been the host for the last six months. The signup sheet came out 8:45pm. It’s first come first choice. This room is comedy only. Talent gets 6 minutes, the light at 5, and there are no language restrictions.
The night started at 9:10pm. Alan opened to an audience of 17 peeps, a mixture of civilians, staff, and comics. I sat at the bar, having taken the second spot. My friend took the third spot. As the evening progressed, more people came in, an additional mixture of civilians and comics. The audience was very good about listening to the talent, I must say. When people wanted to talk they stepped outside, had a cigarette. Yes, sometimes the pool table was in use, but anyone who stayed in the central bar was there for the show, drink in hand.
I had a very good experience at The Salty Bar. Alan friended me on Facebook before my friend and I left. He connects with people. I attribute that to the room connecting with the show. The audience isn’t just there to see open mic. They’re there to see Alan, who was very clever about cracking jokes between talents. Sadly, because we had a long drive, we could not stay the whole night, leaving around 10pm.
Guys, do this room because it’s full of energy and the support is strong. They respect the talent on stage. But do this room for a second reason.
This venue is about as Southern California as you can get. South of Imperial Beach is Tijuana River National Estuary, then the border. But to romanticize the experience, do the room, so you can say you did the very southern corner of California. In all your travels doing shows – open mics, showrooms, comedy rooms – you have literally performed at one of the four corners of the United States. Wherever you’re traveling from, believe me, you’ll sound experienced and cool when you say that.
“Bob, where were you last night?”
“I was travelling to the farthest corners of the United States, perfecting my comedic abilities. You?”
“I watched reruns of The Big Bang Theory.”