Sallal Grange Hall is the community center of North Bend. In talking with a number of people who put the venue together, the person who normally hosts weekly, Nels, was not present. However, I have all the facts for this place, and, boy, is there a lot to share. Open mic has been going on since 2009, and every month except August they have open mic here. In August it’s at another location, so if you’re planning on doing open mic that month, you may want to call them to get the address for that month’s mic. The signup sheet was out at 6:30pm when I arrived. Depending on number of signups determines amount of stage time. Tonight, we got 15 minutes or 3 songs. The mic is open to all genres of talent, but chiefly attracts musicians. Families are encouraged to attend, so keep the material PG or thereabouts. The stage is very nice, holding five mics, 2 stools and a piano. About 40 collapsible chairs are arranged all facing the stage, but most of the audience preferred to sit along the walls on either side and in the back. Signup is first come first choice and there is a featured artist who does 30 minutes from 8pm to 8:30pm. Parking is out front on a large gravel opening. As a point of interest, Sallal Grange Hall was used to film some scenes from the 90s TV show Twin Peaks, and the actual peaks in the opening credits are just a couple minute’s drive away, I am told. There were six signups by 6:45pm. Before the mic begins, in the spirit of being a community, a potluck is offered first, and the hall also sells sodas, bottled water and coffee. No alcohol is served. The sound guy plays music before the show to start the ambiance. The evening started at 7:35pm. A guest host, Monty, opened with a few songs. In the audience I counted 25 peeps when we started. I went up second in the lineup. At a certain point, if talent shows up late to sign up they get less stage time. Like tonight, after the first seven signups, anyone after that received ten minutes. The room goes to 9 to 10pm but has gone as late as midnight. By 8:25pm we still had 25 peeps in the audience, and still more people in the other room where the potluck and drinks are. In the audience, only four people sat in the collapsible chairs. Everyone else sat in the back or on the sides. I performed and did pretty well. The room is not used to comedy. Rarely do they get comics on stage. Attendance increased as the evening progressed: 30 peeps by 8:45pm; 32 peeps by 9:10pm. Made me wish I had taken a later spot. Over all, we had 12 signups and the evening ended about 10:15pm. Guys, this is a good room to do. It’s a once-a-month event, so plan accordingly. Fifteen minutes is a good amount of stage time, and if you’re clean enough, you should have a good set. I did, and people congratulated me afterwards. Again, they weren’t used to standup, so it was a treat for them to have it. Admittedly, North Bend is a bit of a drive from Seattle (but closer to SeaTac). Still, with not a lot of open mics on a Friday, at least this option is offered once a month.
Sallal Grange Hall is the community center of North Bend. In talking with a number of people who put the venue together, the person who normally hosts weekly, Nels, was not present. However, I have all the facts for this place, and, boy, is there a lot to share.
ReplyDeleteOpen mic has been going on since 2009, and every month except August they have open mic here. In August it’s at another location, so if you’re planning on doing open mic that month, you may want to call them to get the address for that month’s mic. The signup sheet was out at 6:30pm when I arrived. Depending on number of signups determines amount of stage time. Tonight, we got 15 minutes or 3 songs. The mic is open to all genres of talent, but chiefly attracts musicians. Families are encouraged to attend, so keep the material PG or thereabouts. The stage is very nice, holding five mics, 2 stools and a piano. About 40 collapsible chairs are arranged all facing the stage, but most of the audience preferred to sit along the walls on either side and in the back. Signup is first come first choice and there is a featured artist who does 30 minutes from 8pm to 8:30pm. Parking is out front on a large gravel opening. As a point of interest, Sallal Grange Hall was used to film some scenes from the 90s TV show Twin Peaks, and the actual peaks in the opening credits are just a couple minute’s drive away, I am told.
There were six signups by 6:45pm. Before the mic begins, in the spirit of being a community, a potluck is offered first, and the hall also sells sodas, bottled water and coffee. No alcohol is served.
The sound guy plays music before the show to start the ambiance. The evening started at 7:35pm. A guest host, Monty, opened with a few songs. In the audience I counted 25 peeps when we started. I went up second in the lineup. At a certain point, if talent shows up late to sign up they get less stage time. Like tonight, after the first seven signups, anyone after that received ten minutes. The room goes to 9 to 10pm but has gone as late as midnight. By 8:25pm we still had 25 peeps in the audience, and still more people in the other room where the potluck and drinks are. In the audience, only four people sat in the collapsible chairs. Everyone else sat in the back or on the sides.
I performed and did pretty well. The room is not used to comedy. Rarely do they get comics on stage. Attendance increased as the evening progressed: 30 peeps by 8:45pm; 32 peeps by 9:10pm. Made me wish I had taken a later spot. Over all, we had 12 signups and the evening ended about 10:15pm.
Guys, this is a good room to do. It’s a once-a-month event, so plan accordingly. Fifteen minutes is a good amount of stage time, and if you’re clean enough, you should have a good set. I did, and people congratulated me afterwards. Again, they weren’t used to standup, so it was a treat for them to have it.
Admittedly, North Bend is a bit of a drive from Seattle (but closer to SeaTac). Still, with not a lot of open mics on a Friday, at least this option is offered once a month.