Unhappily, I have to report that open mic at Parlor Live did not take place in its normal room. So, a brief description of that room, then the actual place we had it. It was not worth counting all the chairs in the room where open mic typically happens. A couple hundred seats and change. The sound system is nice. The stage looks like something you might see on television at an awards ceremony. There are no distractions to interfere with standup at Parlor Live. All attention is on the stage. Truly, a great looking room. On booked shows they can get some huge names in here. Where open mic did take place the night I was there, the stage was large, and only one entrance to the side. Be already at the steps when it’s your turn. With a plethora of tables below and before the stage, and a line of chairs at the counter on the side of the stage, and even some sofa seating behind the tables, the room sat over 40. One thing, though, the light on the stage is ultra-blinding. I mean, damn. I felt my eyes tearing up those first few seconds addressing the audience, my pupils a near pinhead in size. Some comedians had to step to the side to do their act, too intense was the light for them. Know that. Parking is underground. It will say the first three hours are free, but when we left, the gates were open, and we never had to make use of the ticket. Parlor Live is located on the third floor. The amount of stage time the talent gets can vary, depending on the number of signups. Out-of-towners get additional time, however. The night we performed, talent received four minutes and we got seven, the light at six. The signup sheet came out at 6pm. We were the first ones there and met the producer of the show, Manny Martin, who brought out the signup sheet. It’s first come first choice, so we took the third and fourth spot. Signup goes till 7pm, the show starting at 7:30. The room goes till the last comedian has gone up. Behind the tables, more where the sofas are, a large multi-screen TV played sports, but it was muted. You could hear the pool tables maybe 30 feet away, but even that was not a distraction. The sound system at the open mic was strong enough that you’re going to hear the talent no matter what. The business has a full bar, and the food there looked very good. I didn’t have anything to eat, but what plates I saw being served around me, yes, it looked very good. There were 15 signups by 7pm. A gentleman named R.J. (or was it J.R.?) was the guest host. The evening started on time, and sitting or standing in the audience was 15 people. By 7:45pm the number increased to 24, and even higher to 28 by 8:15pm. The night went smoothly for the most part. A couple of the comedians ignored the light and went over time, but there was no music to play them off, and as blinding as the lights shining on the stage were, it’s possible they did not see the light, though R.J. gave it from the side, and. . .well, I could see it, anyway. Guys, this is a good room to do. Visiting from out of state, I like that the producer gives extra time, whereas locals enjoy the room weekly. I boast about the room, having done it on their fallback stage. Had the evening taken place in their true open mic room, which is so much better in every aspect, all the better the experience would have been. Record your set visually, not audibly only, when doing this room. Yes, it’s that good a room worth taping.
Unhappily, I have to report that open mic at Parlor Live did not take place in its normal room. So, a brief description of that room, then the actual place we had it.
ReplyDeleteIt was not worth counting all the chairs in the room where open mic typically happens. A couple hundred seats and change. The sound system is nice. The stage looks like something you might see on television at an awards ceremony. There are no distractions to interfere with standup at Parlor Live. All attention is on the stage. Truly, a great looking room. On booked shows they can get some huge names in here.
Where open mic did take place the night I was there, the stage was large, and only one entrance to the side. Be already at the steps when it’s your turn. With a plethora of tables below and before the stage, and a line of chairs at the counter on the side of the stage, and even some sofa seating behind the tables, the room sat over 40. One thing, though, the light on the stage is ultra-blinding. I mean, damn. I felt my eyes tearing up those first few seconds addressing the audience, my pupils a near pinhead in size. Some comedians had to step to the side to do their act, too intense was the light for them. Know that.
Parking is underground. It will say the first three hours are free, but when we left, the gates were open, and we never had to make use of the ticket. Parlor Live is located on the third floor. The amount of stage time the talent gets can vary, depending on the number of signups. Out-of-towners get additional time, however. The night we performed, talent received four minutes and we got seven, the light at six. The signup sheet came out at 6pm. We were the first ones there and met the producer of the show, Manny Martin, who brought out the signup sheet. It’s first come first choice, so we took the third and fourth spot. Signup goes till 7pm, the show starting at 7:30. The room goes till the last comedian has gone up.
Behind the tables, more where the sofas are, a large multi-screen TV played sports, but it was muted. You could hear the pool tables maybe 30 feet away, but even that was not a distraction. The sound system at the open mic was strong enough that you’re going to hear the talent no matter what. The business has a full bar, and the food there looked very good. I didn’t have anything to eat, but what plates I saw being served around me, yes, it looked very good.
There were 15 signups by 7pm. A gentleman named R.J. (or was it J.R.?) was the guest host. The evening started on time, and sitting or standing in the audience was 15 people. By 7:45pm the number increased to 24, and even higher to 28 by 8:15pm. The night went smoothly for the most part. A couple of the comedians ignored the light and went over time, but there was no music to play them off, and as blinding as the lights shining on the stage were, it’s possible they did not see the light, though R.J. gave it from the side, and. . .well, I could see it, anyway.
Guys, this is a good room to do. Visiting from out of state, I like that the producer gives extra time, whereas locals enjoy the room weekly. I boast about the room, having done it on their fallback stage. Had the evening taken place in their true open mic room, which is so much better in every aspect, all the better the experience would have been. Record your set visually, not audibly only, when doing this room. Yes, it’s that good a room worth taping.