NoHo Fourth Wall is located in a mini strip mall, and even though there are parking spots, people attending the open mic are not allowed to park anywhere on the premises. Street parking only. But it’s free. The business is a studio with 19 chairs facing the platform stage, which housed a mic and stand. A black wall and the logo of Fourth Wall painted in white serves as the backdrop, and best of all, there are no distractions. People are asked to use the bathroom before the room starts. Talent gets five minutes, the light at four. People who are signed up to perform are required to come on time and must stay the whole hour. All other people attending – any general audience – may enter and exit as they need to. The gentleman who hosted is named Travis. His partner, who wasn’t present, is Joe. The room has been going on three years, and it is for standup only. When I signed up on the Wednesday before Saturday’s time and slot, there was already one name on the nine open slots written down. At 12:30pm the day of the show, all the slots were taken save for the last one, and my name had gone from the second signup to the first. Sure enough, it was in that order that the lineup was introduced the day and time of our show. Talent gets five minutes, and with only nine slots, and maybe a few minutes for the host to open, you’re outta there in less than an hour. There are no language restrictions, and you will definitely be playing to an audience, even if it’s your peers alone. There is a $5 admission to perform. We had eight people in the room when Travis opened on time. I saw my name was first on the sheet, so I knew I was going first. One after the other we all got to do five and play to our fellow comics, supporting everyone in the room as they supported us when it was our turn. One more person came in, and I came to realize the room had eight signups that hour, and with our emcee, a total of nine in the room. A fellow comedian told me sometimes a general audience will come in, support their boyfriend or who have you, but that’s not often. Guys, these types of rooms are popping up all over the greater Los Angeles and Orange County area, rooms that go on only an hour, have limited slots to perform, and you’re required to stay the whole hour. That can be a plus in every way in that you can get three rooms like this in a night easily, or you can do the same room all day if you have the cash each hour, and you’re guaranteed an audience that doesn’t bolt after their set. You have to judge what you want in a room. I have heard fellow comics both chastise and praise these types of rooms. They are not free, but neither are quite a few other open mic rooms, and you aren’t committing a whole night to the mic, as you might with one that is a lottery and popular, having your name drawn last or close to the end. You must decide for yourself if this type of room is for you. I’m going to continue to do them.
NoHo Fourth Wall is located in a mini strip mall, and even though there are parking spots, people attending the open mic are not allowed to park anywhere on the premises. Street parking only. But it’s free.
ReplyDeleteThe business is a studio with 19 chairs facing the platform stage, which housed a mic and stand. A black wall and the logo of Fourth Wall painted in white serves as the backdrop, and best of all, there are no distractions. People are asked to use the bathroom before the room starts. Talent gets five minutes, the light at four. People who are signed up to perform are required to come on time and must stay the whole hour. All other people attending – any general audience – may enter and exit as they need to. The gentleman who hosted is named Travis. His partner, who wasn’t present, is Joe. The room has been going on three years, and it is for standup only.
When I signed up on the Wednesday before Saturday’s time and slot, there was already one name on the nine open slots written down. At 12:30pm the day of the show, all the slots were taken save for the last one, and my name had gone from the second signup to the first. Sure enough, it was in that order that the lineup was introduced the day and time of our show.
Talent gets five minutes, and with only nine slots, and maybe a few minutes for the host to open, you’re outta there in less than an hour. There are no language restrictions, and you will definitely be playing to an audience, even if it’s your peers alone. There is a $5 admission to perform.
We had eight people in the room when Travis opened on time. I saw my name was first on the sheet, so I knew I was going first. One after the other we all got to do five and play to our fellow comics, supporting everyone in the room as they supported us when it was our turn. One more person came in, and I came to realize the room had eight signups that hour, and with our emcee, a total of nine in the room. A fellow comedian told me sometimes a general audience will come in, support their boyfriend or who have you, but that’s not often.
Guys, these types of rooms are popping up all over the greater Los Angeles and Orange County area, rooms that go on only an hour, have limited slots to perform, and you’re required to stay the whole hour. That can be a plus in every way in that you can get three rooms like this in a night easily, or you can do the same room all day if you have the cash each hour, and you’re guaranteed an audience that doesn’t bolt after their set.
You have to judge what you want in a room. I have heard fellow comics both chastise and praise these types of rooms. They are not free, but neither are quite a few other open mic rooms, and you aren’t committing a whole night to the mic, as you might with one that is a lottery and popular, having your name drawn last or close to the end.
You must decide for yourself if this type of room is for you. I’m going to continue to do them.