Manchester Pub is divided into three rooms, not to mention their outdoor seating: There is the room with the bar and two muted TVs; there is the second room with a pool table and pinball machine and a single muted TV; and there is the third room with a big screen TV next to the corner where open mic takes place. There is no stage -- and there is no need for a stage, so intimate is the room --just enough space in the corner for two mics to be set up. Be conscientious to move the mic so you are illuminated well enough where you stand. The second mic left the talent in a bit of shade at times. The third room seats about 14, and some of the seating in the second room allows people to see the show if they want. A tip jar sits on one table, hungry for the occasional donation. Run by a gentleman named Harmonica Dave, open mic has been going on for close to ten years, one of four rooms Dave produces and hosts. At this location, it’s first come first choice. There are no language restrictions. Talent gets 20 minutes, and the room goes till 10pm. All genres of talent are welcome, but this place chiefly attracts musicians. Dave tells me he has had poets and comedians before but very infrequently, adding he wished more variety acts showed up to perform on his mic. Manchester Pub is very accommodating to open mic. The big screen TV, despite football on this Sunday night, was turned off. (The other TVs were left on but muted.) Also, the pub turns off the music meant for the whole bar to enjoy, so everyone has the potential to focus and listen to the talent performing. On Sundays, Manchester Pub also offers some delicious seafood specials like oyster Rockefeller, crab cakes, and shrimp Louie. On all days, the pub serves “Make your own pizzas”, hot dogs, and chicken wings. In addition, all talent who perform are comped a beer or well drink. (Who says comedy doesn’t pay?) Dave was at the pub when I arrived at 6:15pm. The signup sheet came out 6:30, and being the only talent there, I signed up for the third spot, letting Dave know I’d be doing standup comedy. His name was on the first spot. At 7pm, Dave started playing both guitar and harmonica, and treated the audience to a few songs. No introduction, he just started playing and singing. During that time, a second talent showed up and took the second spot. Two more people signed up for spots four and five, and that constituted the entire lineup for the evening. As it would turn out, one of the later signups ended up leaving before going up. Dave finished his playing, welcomed everyone and then brought up the first talent. I, myself, was on stage by 8pm, performing for maybe eight people. I ended up doing about 15 minutes. Guys, admittedly the turnout was not high that evening. Dave tells me on a good night he’ll get six or more signups, and the general audience can be more involved as well. But I have to say, for the people who were there and paying attention, both they and myself had a great time. I got huge laughs and even an applause break. A variation from an evening of music, my comedy was a welcomed deviation. I suggest any comedian make a point to do this room. The amount of stage time alone makes it worthwhile: 20 minutes! And the people who are there for open mic, whether just to watch or perform themselves, do respect the talent on stage. Dave is a very encouraging and gracious host, and the business itself supports open micers with a free drink. You may want to visit this room in a month when Sunday night football is not happening. That is my only suggestion, as the sport can keep people at home or by the TVs at the bar two rooms over. Otherwise, where the terrain allows comedy, this room is a treasure waiting to be discovered.
Manchester Pub is divided into three rooms, not to mention their outdoor seating: There is the room with the bar and two muted TVs; there is the second room with a pool table and pinball machine and a single muted TV; and there is the third room with a big screen TV next to the corner where open mic takes place. There is no stage -- and there is no need for a stage, so intimate is the room --just enough space in the corner for two mics to be set up. Be conscientious to move the mic so you are illuminated well enough where you stand. The second mic left the talent in a bit of shade at times. The third room seats about 14, and some of the seating in the second room allows people to see the show if they want. A tip jar sits on one table, hungry for the occasional donation.
ReplyDeleteRun by a gentleman named Harmonica Dave, open mic has been going on for close to ten years, one of four rooms Dave produces and hosts. At this location, it’s first come first choice. There are no language restrictions. Talent gets 20 minutes, and the room goes till 10pm. All genres of talent are welcome, but this place chiefly attracts musicians. Dave tells me he has had poets and comedians before but very infrequently, adding he wished more variety acts showed up to perform on his mic.
Manchester Pub is very accommodating to open mic. The big screen TV, despite football on this Sunday night, was turned off. (The other TVs were left on but muted.) Also, the pub turns off the music meant for the whole bar to enjoy, so everyone has the potential to focus and listen to the talent performing. On Sundays, Manchester Pub also offers some delicious seafood specials like oyster Rockefeller, crab cakes, and shrimp Louie. On all days, the pub serves “Make your own pizzas”, hot dogs, and chicken wings. In addition, all talent who perform are comped a beer or well drink. (Who says comedy doesn’t pay?)
Dave was at the pub when I arrived at 6:15pm. The signup sheet came out 6:30, and being the only talent there, I signed up for the third spot, letting Dave know I’d be doing standup comedy. His name was on the first spot. At 7pm, Dave started playing both guitar and harmonica, and treated the audience to a few songs. No introduction, he just started playing and singing. During that time, a second talent showed up and took the second spot. Two more people signed up for spots four and five, and that constituted the entire lineup for the evening. As it would turn out, one of the later signups ended up leaving before going up. Dave finished his playing, welcomed everyone and then brought up the first talent. I, myself, was on stage by 8pm, performing for maybe eight people. I ended up doing about 15 minutes.
Guys, admittedly the turnout was not high that evening. Dave tells me on a good night he’ll get six or more signups, and the general audience can be more involved as well. But I have to say, for the people who were there and paying attention, both they and myself had a great time. I got huge laughs and even an applause break. A variation from an evening of music, my comedy was a welcomed deviation. I suggest any comedian make a point to do this room. The amount of stage time alone makes it worthwhile: 20 minutes! And the people who are there for open mic, whether just to watch or perform themselves, do respect the talent on stage. Dave is a very encouraging and gracious host, and the business itself supports open micers with a free drink. You may want to visit this room in a month when Sunday night football is not happening. That is my only suggestion, as the sport can keep people at home or by the TVs at the bar two rooms over. Otherwise, where the terrain allows comedy, this room is a treasure waiting to be discovered.