Open mic at Downpour Brewery is one of two rooms they have open mic in the little town of Kingston, which is a population of only a couple thousand. Neighboring communities come to these mics for the same reason, it’s the only live entertainment around on this side of Puget Sound. Know that in the four years this mic has been going on, the gentleman who runs the room, Michael, told me they have had maybe six comedians in that time. This is a nearly undiscovered room in the comedy community in the greater Seattle area. The business has limited parking, the majority of which is a gravel lot behind the business. The business itself is a full bar, and they do offer pretzels and other snacks, but they don’t serve substantial food items. I was told that people can bring outside food in, which I saw happened often: submarine sandwiches, Chinese food, even pizza can be delivered to Downpour, so you don’t have to miss any of the entertainment. Signup is on a dry-eraser board, and it is first come first choice. There are definitely language restrictions, and for a good reason. Plenty of children were in the room. There is no stage. A single mic is set up to one end of the room, around the corner from where the bar is. The room goes from 6pm to whenever the last talent has gone up, which can be 10pm or later. Talent gets 15 minutes. The room seats about 36, all on wooden picnic benches, who can see the mic. Two muted TVs in the room playing sports were on when I showed up, one located directly behind the stage area. That TV is turned off, thankfully, while the other stays on. Michael was setting up when I arrived at 5:30pm. I bought a $6 pint of beer to support the business and introduced myself to Michael, learning about the history of the room from him. At 6pm, the signup sheet was out, and I took the first spot. No one else was in the room to sign up. That changed as the evening progressed. The room started about 6:09pm with Michael welcoming everyone and starting off with four songs. We had 19 people in the room, not counting the children. I learned pets are allowed inside, and sure enough, we had two or three dogs ambling about on very long leashes. They were about as scattered as the children. People were talking throughout Michael’s set, but, as with music, you can still enjoy the talent while also talking to your family or friends. I went up right after Michael, playing to 22 people, maybe six people I could see were actually listening to me, one sitting at the very back of the room. That told me I could be heard throughout the room. I was just competing with busy parents and noisy and restless kids, and some tables just had adults talking, every now and then one of them looking up at me and either laughing or smiling. After about seven minutes I got myself off. Those people listening to me enjoyed my set thoroughly, and Michael liked me so much, he bought me a beer. Overall, we had 12 signups before 7pm and 27 people in the room by 7:15pm. Signups peaked at 14 by 8:15pm, and attendance was at its maximum with 31 adults at 8:05pm. I’m glad I went up early. Guys, this was actually a good room to do. As noisy as it was, that the one guy sitting farthest from the stage area could hear me told me the noise was not so much that I couldn’t be heard, and those that were listening certainly enjoyed the rarity that is standup at Downpour Brewery. I suspect that as more comedians venture to this room, the audience, as accustomed as they were to hearing music only, will eventually learn to quiet down and listen. Asking parents to silence their children is unrealistic, so no matter what week you go, you’re probably going to have chatter while performing. But so what? Those that want to listen will hear you. Plus, it’s good practice if you’re trying to win over an audience in a room not used to comedy. For the amount of stage time, that, too, is a perk.
Open mic at Downpour Brewery is one of two rooms they have open mic in the little town of Kingston, which is a population of only a couple thousand. Neighboring communities come to these mics for the same reason, it’s the only live entertainment around on this side of Puget Sound. Know that in the four years this mic has been going on, the gentleman who runs the room, Michael, told me they have had maybe six comedians in that time. This is a nearly undiscovered room in the comedy community in the greater Seattle area.
ReplyDeleteThe business has limited parking, the majority of which is a gravel lot behind the business. The business itself is a full bar, and they do offer pretzels and other snacks, but they don’t serve substantial food items. I was told that people can bring outside food in, which I saw happened often: submarine sandwiches, Chinese food, even pizza can be delivered to Downpour, so you don’t have to miss any of the entertainment.
Signup is on a dry-eraser board, and it is first come first choice. There are definitely language restrictions, and for a good reason. Plenty of children were in the room. There is no stage. A single mic is set up to one end of the room, around the corner from where the bar is. The room goes from 6pm to whenever the last talent has gone up, which can be 10pm or later. Talent gets 15 minutes. The room seats about 36, all on wooden picnic benches, who can see the mic. Two muted TVs in the room playing sports were on when I showed up, one located directly behind the stage area. That TV is turned off, thankfully, while the other stays on.
Michael was setting up when I arrived at 5:30pm. I bought a $6 pint of beer to support the business and introduced myself to Michael, learning about the history of the room from him. At 6pm, the signup sheet was out, and I took the first spot. No one else was in the room to sign up. That changed as the evening progressed.
The room started about 6:09pm with Michael welcoming everyone and starting off with four songs. We had 19 people in the room, not counting the children. I learned pets are allowed inside, and sure enough, we had two or three dogs ambling about on very long leashes. They were about as scattered as the children. People were talking throughout Michael’s set, but, as with music, you can still enjoy the talent while also talking to your family or friends. I went up right after Michael, playing to 22 people, maybe six people I could see were actually listening to me, one sitting at the very back of the room. That told me I could be heard throughout the room. I was just competing with busy parents and noisy and restless kids, and some tables just had adults talking, every now and then one of them looking up at me and either laughing or smiling.
After about seven minutes I got myself off. Those people listening to me enjoyed my set thoroughly, and Michael liked me so much, he bought me a beer. Overall, we had 12 signups before 7pm and 27 people in the room by 7:15pm. Signups peaked at 14 by 8:15pm, and attendance was at its maximum with 31 adults at 8:05pm. I’m glad I went up early.
Guys, this was actually a good room to do. As noisy as it was, that the one guy sitting farthest from the stage area could hear me told me the noise was not so much that I couldn’t be heard, and those that were listening certainly enjoyed the rarity that is standup at Downpour Brewery. I suspect that as more comedians venture to this room, the audience, as accustomed as they were to hearing music only, will eventually learn to quiet down and listen. Asking parents to silence their children is unrealistic, so no matter what week you go, you’re probably going to have chatter while performing. But so what? Those that want to listen will hear you. Plus, it’s good practice if you’re trying to win over an audience in a room not used to comedy. For the amount of stage time, that, too, is a perk.