As late as open mic at Mad House is, parking on the street will be free. They also validate if you park in the mall. Yes, mall. Mad House is located on the fifth floor of Horton Mall – a very big mall -- and the escalators were not working after the third floor the night I was there. Give yourself time to park and walk. I learned that signup is not walk-in. As it turns out, signup begins on Sunday at noon to 4pm. You go on their website and submit yourself, telling them which day – open mic happens Monday and Wednesday – or either day you’d like to perform. The list is displayed on their Facebook page on Monday, so you know where you are in the lineup and on what day. Evidently, from what I saw when the hard copy list came out, it’s a drop-in then two random signups, then another drop-in and two more random signups and so on for the rest of the night. The printout of the lineup can be found inside Mad House and at the bottom are open spaces for comedians to write-in their name, hoping there is a no-show, and then they get that spot. Comedians who made the cut but show up late go to the end of the lineup. That printout comes out 8:30 to 8:45pm the night of an open mic. I arrived 9:06pm, intending to have dinner at Mad House. Turns out the kitchen closes about 8:45pm, halfway through the first booked show, I am told. The guy at the door asked me if I was here for open mic or booked show, and when I said open mic, he let me through with no charge. I saw the second half of a booked show was going on, so I chose to sit by the bar, leave the patrons alone to enjoy their money’s worth. As it turns out, you can sit almost anywhere and see the acts on stage via their broadcast on their TVs. But if you were to see the show, of course, because the business is about comedy, the stage is tailored to just that: a nice stage, a single mic and a stool. Tables and chairs face the stage; everyone has a good view. When I saw the printed lineup there were already five names written in the Alt-List. The first booked show ended 9:39pm, and it was announced open mic would start soon. The evening started promptly at 9:45pm. About 21 people made up the room. Other comedians sat much farther back, too far to enjoy the show, so I don’t count them. The guest host’s name was Matt, who, after telling the audience there is no heckling, opened with a few minutes. The first talent went up 9:59pm. Music plays between talent, and a big red light lets talent know they have a minute left. The complement of the room stayed relatively the same; 21 people by 10:30pm. Applause between talent was not strong. I don’t know if that’s because it was an off night or a roomful of people just waiting their turn. Guys, this is a room to do. I’m not writing to San Diego or even L.A. comedians; I know they’ve done this room. But to all visiting talent, this room should be done. Learn from my mistakes and signup online when you know you’re visiting the area. Don’t take a chance being a walk-in alternative. The business is professional. Respect the light and the room will respect you. They don’t tolerate heckling, and neither should you have to deal with it. Even if the energy was low, attendance stayed faithful. Sure, towards the very end the room thins, but even comedians have to work the next day, and the last open micer goes up after 11:30pm. But if you have some time off and you’re visiting, make an effort to see how a professional business all about comedy is done in San Diego.
As late as open mic at Mad House is, parking on the street will be free. They also validate if you park in the mall. Yes, mall. Mad House is located on the fifth floor of Horton Mall – a very big mall -- and the escalators were not working after the third floor the night I was there. Give yourself time to park and walk.
ReplyDeleteI learned that signup is not walk-in. As it turns out, signup begins on Sunday at noon to 4pm. You go on their website and submit yourself, telling them which day – open mic happens Monday and Wednesday – or either day you’d like to perform. The list is displayed on their Facebook page on Monday, so you know where you are in the lineup and on what day. Evidently, from what I saw when the hard copy list came out, it’s a drop-in then two random signups, then another drop-in and two more random signups and so on for the rest of the night. The printout of the lineup can be found inside Mad House and at the bottom are open spaces for comedians to write-in their name, hoping there is a no-show, and then they get that spot. Comedians who made the cut but show up late go to the end of the lineup. That printout comes out 8:30 to 8:45pm the night of an open mic.
I arrived 9:06pm, intending to have dinner at Mad House. Turns out the kitchen closes about 8:45pm, halfway through the first booked show, I am told. The guy at the door asked me if I was here for open mic or booked show, and when I said open mic, he let me through with no charge. I saw the second half of a booked show was going on, so I chose to sit by the bar, leave the patrons alone to enjoy their money’s worth. As it turns out, you can sit almost anywhere and see the acts on stage via their broadcast on their TVs. But if you were to see the show, of course, because the business is about comedy, the stage is tailored to just that: a nice stage, a single mic and a stool. Tables and chairs face the stage; everyone has a good view.
When I saw the printed lineup there were already five names written in the Alt-List. The first booked show ended 9:39pm, and it was announced open mic would start soon. The evening started promptly at 9:45pm. About 21 people made up the room. Other comedians sat much farther back, too far to enjoy the show, so I don’t count them. The guest host’s name was Matt, who, after telling the audience there is no heckling, opened with a few minutes. The first talent went up 9:59pm. Music plays between talent, and a big red light lets talent know they have a minute left. The complement of the room stayed relatively the same; 21 people by 10:30pm. Applause between talent was not strong. I don’t know if that’s because it was an off night or a roomful of people just waiting their turn.
Guys, this is a room to do. I’m not writing to San Diego or even L.A. comedians; I know they’ve done this room. But to all visiting talent, this room should be done. Learn from my mistakes and signup online when you know you’re visiting the area. Don’t take a chance being a walk-in alternative. The business is professional. Respect the light and the room will respect you. They don’t tolerate heckling, and neither should you have to deal with it. Even if the energy was low, attendance stayed faithful. Sure, towards the very end the room thins, but even comedians have to work the next day, and the last open micer goes up after 11:30pm. But if you have some time off and you’re visiting, make an effort to see how a professional business all about comedy is done in San Diego.
Disorganized mess with lots of employees doing depressing weeded up lame sets - more of an employees only 35 clowns go up and bomb it’s just lame
ReplyDeleteOh My
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