First of all, don’t let the fact that open mic takes place in a library throw you off. Music and singing is allowed, and you don’t have to whisper what you say. In fact, they provide a mic. Open mic typically takes place in a large room, devoid of windows, but completely shut off from the rest of the library. Signup is first come first choice, and the signup sheet comes out at 5:30pm. The mic runs only for an hour, stopping at 7pm, and the signup sheet is restricted to ten spots, five minutes each. That may vary, depending on the number of signups. Potentially, you could do 15 or more minutes if not many people have put their names down. Also, this is a clean room, not just in language but in subject matter. Respect that. Conversely, it is expected of the audience to be supportive as well. No heckling or interrupting, and everyone is encouraged to stay and support the other talent. Not a difficult thing to do when it's only a one-hour open mic. The library, of course, has plenty of parking. I thought I had arrived at 5pm. I drove from Vegas, and it said the drive was two hours, and I left at 3pm. What I failed to take into account was that once I crossed into Utah, the hour advanced one. I was on central time. So, in effect, I arrived a couple minutes late. Don't make that same mistake. Give yourself that extra hour just to get there on time. As it turned out, a special event was taking place in the very room that open mic normally would. This month, open mic happened outside in a shaded area, collapsible chairs arranged in two rows. There were already three signups when I arrived just as open mic started, so I took the fourth spot. Overall, 15 people were in attendance, over half of them under 21. Remember, watch the language. The woman who puts this together each month is Molly. She started open mic in January of this year. Mostly, this room draws musicians/singers and some poets. I was the first comedian they ever had. There was no mic this month, the room being held outside. But that was okay. As intimate as the setting was, everyone could hear talent performing just fine. And this was an exception, open mic happening outside. Molly provides bottled water and cookies each open mic, which, in this weather, was received thankfully. I went up last, and since there were only four signups, Molly informed me I could do 15 or more or until the audience had had enough of me. I compromised and did about ten. I must say I had a great time. Molly allows persons as young as the ninth grade to watch and perform. It was such a treat, making so many young people laugh. I mean, the child in these teens came out, cackling away, one young man covering his mouth with his hand to stifle himself. Laughter is joyous abandonment; I was so happy to be reminded of that. As the room grows in popularity, no promises that you’ll get 15 or more minutes, if that’s your intent. And I admit while driving two hours from Vegas is not a bad drive in terms of time and distance, for me it was an extension of a drive from Los Angeles (over six hours), even though I had arrived in Vegas two days earlier. I get that you want a good chunk of stage time for that kind of drive. But if you’re flying to Vegas from anywhere and renting a car, and you’re looking for an open mic to start the evening, with the time change, you can do this mic and make it back to Las Vegas for another in plenty good time. And as is currently happening, you’re more likely to get those 15 or more, until this room builds a following. Who knows how popular this room will be when it celebrates its one-year anniversary. Molly runs a great room, and any comedian should be up to the task of trying to win over a youthful audience with clean material. Molly fosters a supportive environment, reminding both adults and children that we're in this world together, so let's encourage one another, listen to and be listened to, and leave all the negativity at the front door before entering any dwelling. This room deserves recognition.
First of all, don’t let the fact that open mic takes place in a library throw you off. Music and singing is allowed, and you don’t have to whisper what you say. In fact, they provide a mic. Open mic typically takes place in a large room, devoid of windows, but completely shut off from the rest of the library.
ReplyDeleteSignup is first come first choice, and the signup sheet comes out at 5:30pm. The mic runs only for an hour, stopping at 7pm, and the signup sheet is restricted to ten spots, five minutes each. That may vary, depending on the number of signups. Potentially, you could do 15 or more minutes if not many people have put their names down. Also, this is a clean room, not just in language but in subject matter. Respect that. Conversely, it is expected of the audience to be supportive as well. No heckling or interrupting, and everyone is encouraged to stay and support the other talent. Not a difficult thing to do when it's only a one-hour open mic.
The library, of course, has plenty of parking. I thought I had arrived at 5pm. I drove from Vegas, and it said the drive was two hours, and I left at 3pm. What I failed to take into account was that once I crossed into Utah, the hour advanced one. I was on central time. So, in effect, I arrived a couple minutes late. Don't make that same mistake. Give yourself that extra hour just to get there on time.
As it turned out, a special event was taking place in the very room that open mic normally would. This month, open mic happened outside in a shaded area, collapsible chairs arranged in two rows. There were already three signups when I arrived just as open mic started, so I took the fourth spot. Overall, 15 people were in attendance, over half of them under 21. Remember, watch the language.
The woman who puts this together each month is Molly. She started open mic in January of this year. Mostly, this room draws musicians/singers and some poets. I was the first comedian they ever had. There was no mic this month, the room being held outside. But that was okay. As intimate as the setting was, everyone could hear talent performing just fine. And this was an exception, open mic happening outside. Molly provides bottled water and cookies each open mic, which, in this weather, was received thankfully. I went up last, and since there were only four signups, Molly informed me I could do 15 or more or until the audience had had enough of me. I compromised and did about ten.
I must say I had a great time. Molly allows persons as young as the ninth grade to watch and perform. It was such a treat, making so many young people laugh. I mean, the child in these teens came out, cackling away, one young man covering his mouth with his hand to stifle himself. Laughter is joyous abandonment; I was so happy to be reminded of that.
As the room grows in popularity, no promises that you’ll get 15 or more minutes, if that’s your intent. And I admit while driving two hours from Vegas is not a bad drive in terms of time and distance, for me it was an extension of a drive from Los Angeles (over six hours), even though I had arrived in Vegas two days earlier. I get that you want a good chunk of stage time for that kind of drive. But if you’re flying to Vegas from anywhere and renting a car, and you’re looking for an open mic to start the evening, with the time change, you can do this mic and make it back to Las Vegas for another in plenty good time. And as is currently happening, you’re more likely to get those 15 or more, until this room builds a following. Who knows how popular this room will be when it celebrates its one-year anniversary.
Molly runs a great room, and any comedian should be up to the task of trying to win over a youthful audience with clean material. Molly fosters a supportive environment, reminding both adults and children that we're in this world together, so let's encourage one another, listen to and be listened to, and leave all the negativity at the front door before entering any dwelling.
This room deserves recognition.