The Rendezvous is a theater/bar, located downtown near the Space Needle. Parking is on the street or nearby lot, both paid. Inside, you are greeted by the bartender at the bar just to the right. It’s a full bar. Upon looking further into the room, you see seating and in the distance, the restrooms. But deeper inside this place, downstairs, in the bowels of this multi-roomed theater, open mic takes place in a little room that seats 22 when I took one of those chairs. Apart from the seating along the walls, three rows of chairs are set up, all facing a stage big enough for the mic, the stand and a stool. More than two people on stage and it might get tight. Signup takes place on FB on the Sunday before the show from noon to 4pm. Right at noon, I submitted myself and got an immediate reply. It was a detailed message how the room runs, what to expect, what it asks of you, and what the room is all about. Talent gets three minutes. There are no language restrictions, but you cannot make fun (hate) of people: gays, transgender, ethnic, women, minorities, handicapped. Insert as you see fit. This room encourages acceptance and understanding and wanting to connect in some way or another of one another. And standup is a great way to connect. The mic, called The Comedy Nest, is produced by a woman named Monissa (sp?) Brown. Upon arriving, you check in with her. The list of signups is posted on Facebook, so you know if you made the cut or not and where in the lineup you are. I sat in the room where the mic takes place, while all the comedians sat in the lobby, the designated green room, as the open mic filled quickly with people wanting to see the show. Additional chairs were brought in to accommodate the ever-filling room. By the time we started at 8:09pm, there were 28 in the room, and up to 32 by 8:30pm. I had a pint of beer with me, purchased for $6.50, and enjoyed the show till it came close to my turn. A guest emcee opened after Monissa thanked everyone for coming out. The emcee opened with three or four minutes and then started bringing up the talent. The light at two minutes is seen but from way off to the side. I saw some comedians never look at the light and go over their time. But for the most part, the evening went smooth. Without A/C, fans blew to help with the heat, but I suggest dressing light. At least during the summer months. The room had a cabaret look: a black stage with a black backdrop that looked like a wall of shale. No music played the talent on and off, but the walk was so short – three steps at most – there was not much dead air. By the time I went up, eleventh out of fifteen, while the room stayed full, the majority of the comedians had left. I supported the room till the end, being the last one to leave. The room ends with a featured act that is booked, doing 15 to 20. It was about 9:30 that the evening came to a close. Guys, this is a good room to do. I think other comedians left because they wanted to catch a second room, so it’s conceivable this can be the first of two mics you do that night. Even in the reply I received, it said if you have to leave early you may request an early spot. The room is very supportive. I did quite well on stage. Yes, three minutes is not a lot of time, but, again, this can be the first of two rooms to do for the evening, so for the sake of variety, do both. For local comedians, if you can only do one room, while other rooms may offer more time, at some point, do this room. Its look and location is unique, and you are playing to a room with people intent on seeing standup.
The Rendezvous is a theater/bar, located downtown near the Space Needle. Parking is on the street or nearby lot, both paid. Inside, you are greeted by the bartender at the bar just to the right. It’s a full bar. Upon looking further into the room, you see seating and in the distance, the restrooms. But deeper inside this place, downstairs, in the bowels of this multi-roomed theater, open mic takes place in a little room that seats 22 when I took one of those chairs. Apart from the seating along the walls, three rows of chairs are set up, all facing a stage big enough for the mic, the stand and a stool. More than two people on stage and it might get tight.
ReplyDeleteSignup takes place on FB on the Sunday before the show from noon to 4pm. Right at noon, I submitted myself and got an immediate reply. It was a detailed message how the room runs, what to expect, what it asks of you, and what the room is all about. Talent gets three minutes. There are no language restrictions, but you cannot make fun (hate) of people: gays, transgender, ethnic, women, minorities, handicapped. Insert as you see fit. This room encourages acceptance and understanding and wanting to connect in some way or another of one another. And standup is a great way to connect.
The mic, called The Comedy Nest, is produced by a woman named Monissa (sp?) Brown. Upon arriving, you check in with her. The list of signups is posted on Facebook, so you know if you made the cut or not and where in the lineup you are. I sat in the room where the mic takes place, while all the comedians sat in the lobby, the designated green room, as the open mic filled quickly with people wanting to see the show. Additional chairs were brought in to accommodate the ever-filling room. By the time we started at 8:09pm, there were 28 in the room, and up to 32 by 8:30pm.
I had a pint of beer with me, purchased for $6.50, and enjoyed the show till it came close to my turn. A guest emcee opened after Monissa thanked everyone for coming out. The emcee opened with three or four minutes and then started bringing up the talent. The light at two minutes is seen but from way off to the side. I saw some comedians never look at the light and go over their time. But for the most part, the evening went smooth. Without A/C, fans blew to help with the heat, but I suggest dressing light. At least during the summer months.
The room had a cabaret look: a black stage with a black backdrop that looked like a wall of shale. No music played the talent on and off, but the walk was so short – three steps at most – there was not much dead air. By the time I went up, eleventh out of fifteen, while the room stayed full, the majority of the comedians had left. I supported the room till the end, being the last one to leave. The room ends with a featured act that is booked, doing 15 to 20. It was about 9:30 that the evening came to a close.
Guys, this is a good room to do. I think other comedians left because they wanted to catch a second room, so it’s conceivable this can be the first of two mics you do that night. Even in the reply I received, it said if you have to leave early you may request an early spot. The room is very supportive. I did quite well on stage. Yes, three minutes is not a lot of time, but, again, this can be the first of two rooms to do for the evening, so for the sake of variety, do both. For local comedians, if you can only do one room, while other rooms may offer more time, at some point, do this room. Its look and location is unique, and you are playing to a room with people intent on seeing standup.