Pacific Plate Brewing is the most current location that The Joke Gym resides, with a history that spans ten years, but its current location has only been happening for five months. Two persons run the room: Paula and Scott. Both are comedians and producers of the show. Paula emcees and Scott runs the light, at some point going up himself in the lineup. The room is for standup only, and talent gets five minutes, the red light abundantly clear at four. There are no language restrictions unless children are present. Signup is first come first choice and there are 20 slots available. As a bonus, performers get a comped drink. As a bonus bonus, after going through the list, if time permits, talent is welcomed back to do an additional two minutes. The business is all about beer, though they do offer some sodas and bottled water. To eat they offer bags of chips. Know that pizza can be delivered here, and I think I even saw people bringing in outside food without objection. Parking is in a shared lot, and most of the businesses have closed, so there are quite a few spaces. Outside they offer foosball, and inside, while there is a large projector TV, it is turned off during the open mic. Beers are $5 a pint. The room seats about 48 who can see the stage. The “stage” is an area farthest from the entrance with a mic and stand. Unless you are sitting in a booth on the side with your back to the mic, everyone can see the performers easily. I arrived 6:30pm. Paula was just pulling up. Before learning of the comped drink, I purchased a beer then introduced myself to Paula. She answered my questions, and then she brought out the signup sheet. I took the third spot, knowing I had to leave about 8:45pm. By 7:20pm we had seven signups. We had about 17 people in the room when we started on time. Paula opened with a few, introduced Scott as per co-producer, who sat in the front row with a timer clock and big red light. Attendance increased rapidly. By 7:45pm, we had 24 people watching the show, not counting the host or one staff, who worked the bar just around the corner of the main portion of the room where the mic takes place. People sitting at the bar cannot see the mic, save maybe for the first seat. I ended up going second, as no one took the second spot. The audience received me quite well. From my vantage point, I could see everyone there was listening. People know it’s open mic comedy at Pacific Plate and come for the show. Certainly, Paula emceed like the open mic was a showroom, tagging the comedians on stage with a quick blurb, then keeping the energy going, bringing up the next comic, one after the other. Attendance stayed consistent. As I left at 8:45pm, I did a quick head count: 24. I imagine the second round would go just as briskly and hitch-free as the first round. Comedians respected the light and some of them even finished their sets before getting the light. Guys, this is a very good room to do. It’s all about standup. The talent and audience know that and they are there for that and stay for that. Admittedly, these are locals attending, and for a comedian from O.C. or the west side of the greater L.A. area to make the drive is a commitment. Knowing there is a second round keeps the talent staying and supporting, which is smart. I only left because I had a second room to do, otherwise, I would have stayed to do two more minutes. Especially to a room primed for comedy. If you’re a visitor from out of town, no doubt there are rooms closer to L.A. where most people stay. But if you have the time, maybe are visiting the Pasadena area and all its splendor, I strongly recommend dropping in and doing a set. Or two. The locals welcome out-of-towners because they welcome comedy. This room happens only once a month, so schedule accordingly. Come work out your material here. After all, it’s a joke gym.
Pacific Plate Brewing is the most current location that The Joke Gym resides, with a history that spans ten years, but its current location has only been happening for five months. Two persons run the room: Paula and Scott. Both are comedians and producers of the show. Paula emcees and Scott runs the light, at some point going up himself in the lineup. The room is for standup only, and talent gets five minutes, the red light abundantly clear at four. There are no language restrictions unless children are present. Signup is first come first choice and there are 20 slots available. As a bonus, performers get a comped drink. As a bonus bonus, after going through the list, if time permits, talent is welcomed back to do an additional two minutes.
ReplyDeleteThe business is all about beer, though they do offer some sodas and bottled water. To eat they offer bags of chips. Know that pizza can be delivered here, and I think I even saw people bringing in outside food without objection. Parking is in a shared lot, and most of the businesses have closed, so there are quite a few spaces. Outside they offer foosball, and inside, while there is a large projector TV, it is turned off during the open mic. Beers are $5 a pint. The room seats about 48 who can see the stage. The “stage” is an area farthest from the entrance with a mic and stand. Unless you are sitting in a booth on the side with your back to the mic, everyone can see the performers easily.
I arrived 6:30pm. Paula was just pulling up. Before learning of the comped drink, I purchased a beer then introduced myself to Paula. She answered my questions, and then she brought out the signup sheet. I took the third spot, knowing I had to leave about 8:45pm. By 7:20pm we had seven signups.
We had about 17 people in the room when we started on time. Paula opened with a few, introduced Scott as per co-producer, who sat in the front row with a timer clock and big red light. Attendance increased rapidly. By 7:45pm, we had 24 people watching the show, not counting the host or one staff, who worked the bar just around the corner of the main portion of the room where the mic takes place. People sitting at the bar cannot see the mic, save maybe for the first seat.
I ended up going second, as no one took the second spot. The audience received me quite well. From my vantage point, I could see everyone there was listening. People know it’s open mic comedy at Pacific Plate and come for the show. Certainly, Paula emceed like the open mic was a showroom, tagging the comedians on stage with a quick blurb, then keeping the energy going, bringing up the next comic, one after the other. Attendance stayed consistent. As I left at 8:45pm, I did a quick head count: 24. I imagine the second round would go just as briskly and hitch-free as the first round. Comedians respected the light and some of them even finished their sets before getting the light.
Guys, this is a very good room to do. It’s all about standup. The talent and audience know that and they are there for that and stay for that. Admittedly, these are locals attending, and for a comedian from O.C. or the west side of the greater L.A. area to make the drive is a commitment. Knowing there is a second round keeps the talent staying and supporting, which is smart. I only left because I had a second room to do, otherwise, I would have stayed to do two more minutes. Especially to a room primed for comedy.
If you’re a visitor from out of town, no doubt there are rooms closer to L.A. where most people stay. But if you have the time, maybe are visiting the Pasadena area and all its splendor, I strongly recommend dropping in and doing a set. Or two. The locals welcome out-of-towners because they welcome comedy. This room happens only once a month, so schedule accordingly.
Come work out your material here. After all, it’s a joke gym.