Open mic at Onyx thankfully takes place in a large room separate from where the main bar is. In the room there is no stage, but a mic is set up to one wall, has terrific lighting and is visible to everyone sitting in the room that seats about 40. For a backdrop, they have two large mirrors. Parking is on the street, paid till 8pm, or park in a pay lot. To perform you have to make a purchase. They have Happy Hour, so you can get a beer as cheap as $4. They have food like mac and cheese, garlic fries, pork sliders and a bit more during Happy Hour, as well, and that goes till 8pm. There are no language restrictions. Talent gets five minutes. It is for comedy only. Signup is supposed to be first come first served, but it is not on the Honor System, more like the comic nearest the host bringing out the sheet signs their name and those nearest follow. Those of us doing the room for the first time, not knowing the host, ended up signing up towards the end. I got the ninth spot out of 17. The room started a bit late because the host arrived a bit late. It is supposed to go from 7:15 to 8:30, but we knew it was going to go past that time. At 7:19, a bit disheveled, the room began with our host, Cat, welcoming everyone. There were nine people in the room, mostly sitting near the back or to the side. Of three rows of chairs in front of the stage, the host and one other person sat in the third row. By 7:30, we had 13 in the room. Cat announces who is on deck. After only doing a couple jokes herself because of the late start, the first comic went up. Attendance never got above 13: 10 peeps by 8pm, 11 when I went up at 8:14pm and 12 when I left at 8:35pm. Five comics went up after me that I know of. Guys, I don’t think I can recommend this room with any enthusiasm. The energy was lacking, the interest even less, as I noted those sitting in the back were on their phones. Even when I was on stage I could see our emcee looking down on her phone, once in a while glancing up at me. The room was devoid of any support, really. No one comic did noteworthy material, or if they did, the room did not find its appeal. In talking to other comics, they felt a restlessness in the room. I guess no comedian commanded the stage that night to get the room focused on standup. Perhaps it was because it was the day after Memorial weekend. I don’t know. Maybe it was just this week was a lackluster one. I don’t know. I just left there feeling “whatever”. Not sorry I did it, not glad I did it. I just did it. You must decide how you want to spend your time.
Open mic at Onyx thankfully takes place in a large room separate from where the main bar is. In the room there is no stage, but a mic is set up to one wall, has terrific lighting and is visible to everyone sitting in the room that seats about 40. For a backdrop, they have two large mirrors. Parking is on the street, paid till 8pm, or park in a pay lot.
ReplyDeleteTo perform you have to make a purchase. They have Happy Hour, so you can get a beer as cheap as $4. They have food like mac and cheese, garlic fries, pork sliders and a bit more during Happy Hour, as well, and that goes till 8pm. There are no language restrictions. Talent gets five minutes. It is for comedy only. Signup is supposed to be first come first served, but it is not on the Honor System, more like the comic nearest the host bringing out the sheet signs their name and those nearest follow. Those of us doing the room for the first time, not knowing the host, ended up signing up towards the end. I got the ninth spot out of 17.
The room started a bit late because the host arrived a bit late. It is supposed to go from 7:15 to 8:30, but we knew it was going to go past that time. At 7:19, a bit disheveled, the room began with our host, Cat, welcoming everyone. There were nine people in the room, mostly sitting near the back or to the side. Of three rows of chairs in front of the stage, the host and one other person sat in the third row. By 7:30, we had 13 in the room.
Cat announces who is on deck. After only doing a couple jokes herself because of the late start, the first comic went up. Attendance never got above 13: 10 peeps by 8pm, 11 when I went up at 8:14pm and 12 when I left at 8:35pm. Five comics went up after me that I know of.
Guys, I don’t think I can recommend this room with any enthusiasm. The energy was lacking, the interest even less, as I noted those sitting in the back were on their phones. Even when I was on stage I could see our emcee looking down on her phone, once in a while glancing up at me. The room was devoid of any support, really. No one comic did noteworthy material, or if they did, the room did not find its appeal.
In talking to other comics, they felt a restlessness in the room. I guess no comedian commanded the stage that night to get the room focused on standup. Perhaps it was because it was the day after Memorial weekend. I don’t know. Maybe it was just this week was a lackluster one. I don’t know. I just left there feeling “whatever”. Not sorry I did it, not glad I did it. I just did it.
You must decide how you want to spend your time.