I learned the night I performed at Sophia’s that this room is seasonal, because it takes place outside on the deck, and that this was the last night of the season (last Wednesday of October). While I did not get a specific number, this open mic has been going on for years. Sophia’s Thai Kitchen is just that: Thai food. Plus, they have a nice bar, and you can pretty much get anything not blended. Parking is on the street. The signup sheet was already out when I showed up at 7:45pm, and ten spots were already taken. I took the ninth slot. All genres are welcome. There are no language restrictions. Outside, the place seats about 31. There is no stage, just two mics to one side of the room. Musicians get two songs, other talent ten minutes (or less if you’re bombing). A gentleman named Drew runs the room. By 8:15pm he and a friend were testing the sound system, as more people gathered to perform and watch. I could tell this room was a happening place. It filled up fast once the room started. This is also a dedicated room to open mic. The one TV playing the World Series was promptly turned off just as the Dodgers-Houston game went into extra innings and no one complained. The evening started at 8:33pm. There were 19 people in the room. Drew opened with three songs then brought up the first talent. In that short period, the room packed. By 8:40, 32 people were on the outside deck; by 8:55pm we had over 40 people watching the open mic. Every table was filled. People were standing to see the show. Drew doesn’t really go by the lineup, I found out. The first portion of the open mic is dedicated to music. As the evening went on, Drew asked if I wanted to be the first talent in the comedy section of the show. I said yes. By 9:20pm over 50 people were enjoying the open mic. With those kinds of numbers, how could I not want to open the comedy portion of the evening? As it turns out, there were two drop-ins who went up before me. I went up at 10:25pm and did close to ten minutes before Drew gave me the light. I performed to maybe over 30 people, which was a nice size in itself. Also, they did quiet down to listen to comedy, which was nice. I think after the music portion of the room ended, the numbers started to drop. Guys, this is a hot room. It’s possible the room was so crowded because it was the last night of the year, but my thinking is that Drew just puts on a hell of a show, and people are coming out every week anyway. The energy was high. Drew is a very personable fellow, and it was easy to see that most of the talent are repeat performers. There’s a reason they keep coming back. You’ll have to experience this room to see what I mean when it starts up again in March.
I learned the night I performed at Sophia’s that this room is seasonal, because it takes place outside on the deck, and that this was the last night of the season (last Wednesday of October). While I did not get a specific number, this open mic has been going on for years. Sophia’s Thai Kitchen is just that: Thai food. Plus, they have a nice bar, and you can pretty much get anything not blended.
ReplyDeleteParking is on the street. The signup sheet was already out when I showed up at 7:45pm, and ten spots were already taken. I took the ninth slot. All genres are welcome. There are no language restrictions. Outside, the place seats about 31. There is no stage, just two mics to one side of the room. Musicians get two songs, other talent ten minutes (or less if you’re bombing). A gentleman named Drew runs the room. By 8:15pm he and a friend were testing the sound system, as more people gathered to perform and watch. I could tell this room was a happening place. It filled up fast once the room started. This is also a dedicated room to open mic. The one TV playing the World Series was promptly turned off just as the Dodgers-Houston game went into extra innings and no one complained.
The evening started at 8:33pm. There were 19 people in the room. Drew opened with three songs then brought up the first talent. In that short period, the room packed. By 8:40, 32 people were on the outside deck; by 8:55pm we had over 40 people watching the open mic. Every table was filled. People were standing to see the show.
Drew doesn’t really go by the lineup, I found out. The first portion of the open mic is dedicated to music. As the evening went on, Drew asked if I wanted to be the first talent in the comedy section of the show. I said yes. By 9:20pm over 50 people were enjoying the open mic. With those kinds of numbers, how could I not want to open the comedy portion of the evening?
As it turns out, there were two drop-ins who went up before me. I went up at 10:25pm and did close to ten minutes before Drew gave me the light. I performed to maybe over 30 people, which was a nice size in itself. Also, they did quiet down to listen to comedy, which was nice. I think after the music portion of the room ended, the numbers started to drop.
Guys, this is a hot room. It’s possible the room was so crowded because it was the last night of the year, but my thinking is that Drew just puts on a hell of a show, and people are coming out every week anyway. The energy was high. Drew is a very personable fellow, and it was easy to see that most of the talent are repeat performers. There’s a reason they keep coming back. You’ll have to experience this room to see what I mean when it starts up again in March.