Oak Creek Brewing Company shares a parking lot, but where I stayed the night, I could walk to the brewery. But I don’t imagine you’ll have a problem. Inside, the business serves beer and wine, and they have Happy Hour till 7pm. $4 14oz. beers! The business also offers free peanuts, popcorn, and you can help yourself to water from a dispenser. Two muted TVs were playing, and the room seats 25. Four mics could be found to the immediate right of the entrance, and while there was no stage, they had room for a drum set. The open mic is called “Pass the Jam Open Mic” and is run by a gentleman named James. It’s been going on for five years. The signup sheet is an eraser board with markers, and there are 15 spots. Talent gets 20 to 30 minutes, as long as the audience likes you. If you’re tanking, James will come up, thank you, and you’re done. There are no language restrictions. Signup is first come first choice. A tip jar is poised at the front of the stage area. All forms of talent welcome. I arrived at 6:55pm. No one had signed up yet. I took the third spot. James was here when I arrived. The room went a little different than normal that evening. Open mic started at 8:12pm with James and an invited guest performing something special for a local artist and friend who had just passed away. Coincidentally, I learned only earlier that same day that a comedian friend of mine had passed away as well, but didn’t share that with the room. It was their night, their special friend’s eulogy in music and song. Upon the conclusion of that tribute, James performed with four other artists and did a few songs. There were 19 people in the room, five performers on stage and the bartender by 8:20pm. James did a final song by himself, then I went up. I did 14 minutes then got myself off. I will say the audience was good about listening, but one woman, having too good a time, thought the evening would be better if she inserted her two cents worth in my piggy bank of comedy. I had a little fun with her, but after a while, I wish she had quieted herself down. Comedy is timing and interruptions – however well meaning – displace that timing. I left the evening feeling good about the experience. Had there not been a somber aura about the room – both the locals feeling the loss of their friend and me feeling my own loss – I would have done a lot better and probably would have done more stage time. Considering you may get as much as 30 (if the audience likes you) that’s headlining stage time! I’d say come do this room but only when you’re ready to do a solid 20 to 30.
Oak Creek Brewing Company shares a parking lot, but where I stayed the night, I could walk to the brewery. But I don’t imagine you’ll have a problem. Inside, the business serves beer and wine, and they have Happy Hour till 7pm. $4 14oz. beers! The business also offers free peanuts, popcorn, and you can help yourself to water from a dispenser. Two muted TVs were playing, and the room seats 25. Four mics could be found to the immediate right of the entrance, and while there was no stage, they had room for a drum set.
ReplyDeleteThe open mic is called “Pass the Jam Open Mic” and is run by a gentleman named James. It’s been going on for five years. The signup sheet is an eraser board with markers, and there are 15 spots. Talent gets 20 to 30 minutes, as long as the audience likes you. If you’re tanking, James will come up, thank you, and you’re done. There are no language restrictions. Signup is first come first choice. A tip jar is poised at the front of the stage area. All forms of talent welcome.
I arrived at 6:55pm. No one had signed up yet. I took the third spot. James was here when I arrived. The room went a little different than normal that evening. Open mic started at 8:12pm with James and an invited guest performing something special for a local artist and friend who had just passed away. Coincidentally, I learned only earlier that same day that a comedian friend of mine had passed away as well, but didn’t share that with the room. It was their night, their special friend’s eulogy in music and song.
Upon the conclusion of that tribute, James performed with four other artists and did a few songs. There were 19 people in the room, five performers on stage and the bartender by 8:20pm. James did a final song by himself, then I went up. I did 14 minutes then got myself off. I will say the audience was good about listening, but one woman, having too good a time, thought the evening would be better if she inserted her two cents worth in my piggy bank of comedy. I had a little fun with her, but after a while, I wish she had quieted herself down. Comedy is timing and interruptions – however well meaning – displace that timing.
I left the evening feeling good about the experience. Had there not been a somber aura about the room – both the locals feeling the loss of their friend and me feeling my own loss – I would have done a lot better and probably would have done more stage time. Considering you may get as much as 30 (if the audience likes you) that’s headlining stage time! I’d say come do this room but only when you’re ready to do a solid 20 to 30.