I came late to open mic at Catalina’s Sports Bar. I can report the facts, but not a full experience from beginning to end. This review will not be a long one, but a reasonably thorough one. Signup takes place from 7pm to 8pm. There are no language restrictions. Talent performs on a platform stage with one mic and one stool. The open mic is for comedy only, and is run by a gentleman named Derek. Talent gets five minutes, the light at four. The room goes till the last talent has gone up, and the venue has been going on three years. I met Derek just over a week before at another open mic, and thankfully so, because I did not know about his room at Catalina’s till I met him. I arrived at 9pm, having come from doing another room. There were 22 people watching the mic, some sitting in the room where the mic takes place, and some by the bar. Still others in the sports bar were watching the five muted TVs surrounding the bar area. Limited food offered included poppers, chicken tenders, wings and tacos. A guilty pleasure. As the evening went on, attendance thinned. There was a lot of camaraderie, as friendly heckling came from familiar faces, comedians having fun with one another as long as they knew each other. I didn’t feel justified showing up so late to put my name on the list. I hadn’t sat through many of the comedians’ sets, so I didn’t expect them to have to sit through mine. It was just as well. The evening ended 10:10pm. Normally, the room ends before 10pm. Signups was monumental, reaching almost 20. Typically, I am told, they get 10 to 12 comics. Derek was tired and had to work the next day. He told me afterwards I should have gone up, but I think he appreciated my reasons for not. I’ll be back to do the room another time. On a side note, Derek also produces a booked show, which you can ask him about when doing this open mic.
I came late to open mic at Catalina’s Sports Bar. I can report the facts, but not a full experience from beginning to end. This review will not be a long one, but a reasonably thorough one.
ReplyDeleteSignup takes place from 7pm to 8pm. There are no language restrictions. Talent performs on a platform stage with one mic and one stool. The open mic is for comedy only, and is run by a gentleman named Derek. Talent gets five minutes, the light at four. The room goes till the last talent has gone up, and the venue has been going on three years. I met Derek just over a week before at another open mic, and thankfully so, because I did not know about his room at Catalina’s till I met him.
I arrived at 9pm, having come from doing another room. There were 22 people watching the mic, some sitting in the room where the mic takes place, and some by the bar. Still others in the sports bar were watching the five muted TVs surrounding the bar area. Limited food offered included poppers, chicken tenders, wings and tacos. A guilty pleasure.
As the evening went on, attendance thinned. There was a lot of camaraderie, as friendly heckling came from familiar faces, comedians having fun with one another as long as they knew each other. I didn’t feel justified showing up so late to put my name on the list. I hadn’t sat through many of the comedians’ sets, so I didn’t expect them to have to sit through mine. It was just as well. The evening ended 10:10pm. Normally, the room ends before 10pm. Signups was monumental, reaching almost 20. Typically, I am told, they get 10 to 12 comics. Derek was tired and had to work the next day. He told me afterwards I should have gone up, but I think he appreciated my reasons for not.
I’ll be back to do the room another time. On a side note, Derek also produces a booked show, which you can ask him about when doing this open mic.