Open mic at Kimball is run by four persons who take turns hosting the weekly mic. The night I was there, a gentleman named Glenn ran the room. The amount of stage time depends on the number of signups. If there are more than 12, talent gets ten minutes on stage. If there are less signups, it can be 12 to 14 minutes of stage time. Signup is first come, first choice. There are language restrictions when persons under 18 are present. The room has been going on a year and is open to all genres of talent. The business obviously emphasizes selling coffee. But they also offer various teas, smoothies, and even some beers at $7 a pint, and to eat they serve sandwiches, pizza and salads. They have their own parking lot. Inside, the place seats close to 40. The stage is a six-inch carpeted platform stage that housed two mics and a keyboard. The backdrop is blue curtains, and the lighting is very good. The sound system is remarkable. Looking at the stage, I couldn’t help but feel like I was going to be watching a showcase, so nice did the stage appear. The signup sheet was out when I arrived at 5:30pm. Three names were already printed in type on the sheet. I was the first talent to hand write his name. I took slot number four. The evening started at 7:05pm with 27 people total in the room, including three staff and host. Minutes later that number rose to 30. Glenn announced that talent got between ten and 12 minutes. The room peaked at 8pm with 41 people attending, but that number barely wavered as I counted 40 people at 8:30. I ended up going up third and played to 30 people. While open to all talent, I think I was the first comedian this room had ever had. Glenn told me he once tried poetry that he wrote one week when he was hosting, but could not recall a time anyone else ever did poetry. This room is all about music. That said, guys, I can’t remember a room where everyone was so attentive to the talent. Predominantly a music venue, I would think people became accustomed to talking while enjoying music in the background, but from where I sat, no one talked. Everybody was watching the talent play. They gave me the same courtesy when I performed. With no TVs or pool tables or other distractions, everyone who came to this place was there for the mic, even if only to watch and not perform. This was live entertainment on a Saturday night in this small community. Gig Harbor is the kind of small town where you think they elect their mayor by show of hands. But it is in these overlooked communities that some of the best mics can be found. This is one of those mics. Part of the reason I think everyone watches the show is because the stage has that showroom feel. The business is one, big room, so in a way it was somewhat intimate in that you definitely were aware if someone talked while a performer was on stage, and that helped to keep people quiet and focused. People congratulated me afterwards, and I felt very much appreciated. I encourage more comics to venture to this room. Same with poets. This place will be receptive to both, even though for one year they’ve only known music. Yes, you may be asked to refrain from language, but if there are no children present, it’s okay to be a little R rated.
Open mic at Kimball is run by four persons who take turns hosting the weekly mic. The night I was there, a gentleman named Glenn ran the room.
ReplyDeleteThe amount of stage time depends on the number of signups. If there are more than 12, talent gets ten minutes on stage. If there are less signups, it can be 12 to 14 minutes of stage time. Signup is first come, first choice. There are language restrictions when persons under 18 are present. The room has been going on a year and is open to all genres of talent.
The business obviously emphasizes selling coffee. But they also offer various teas, smoothies, and even some beers at $7 a pint, and to eat they serve sandwiches, pizza and salads. They have their own parking lot. Inside, the place seats close to 40. The stage is a six-inch carpeted platform stage that housed two mics and a keyboard. The backdrop is blue curtains, and the lighting is very good. The sound system is remarkable. Looking at the stage, I couldn’t help but feel like I was going to be watching a showcase, so nice did the stage appear.
The signup sheet was out when I arrived at 5:30pm. Three names were already printed in type on the sheet. I was the first talent to hand write his name. I took slot number four. The evening started at 7:05pm with 27 people total in the room, including three staff and host. Minutes later that number rose to 30. Glenn announced that talent got between ten and 12 minutes. The room peaked at 8pm with 41 people attending, but that number barely wavered as I counted 40 people at 8:30. I ended up going up third and played to 30 people.
While open to all talent, I think I was the first comedian this room had ever had. Glenn told me he once tried poetry that he wrote one week when he was hosting, but could not recall a time anyone else ever did poetry. This room is all about music.
That said, guys, I can’t remember a room where everyone was so attentive to the talent. Predominantly a music venue, I would think people became accustomed to talking while enjoying music in the background, but from where I sat, no one talked. Everybody was watching the talent play. They gave me the same courtesy when I performed. With no TVs or pool tables or other distractions, everyone who came to this place was there for the mic, even if only to watch and not perform. This was live entertainment on a Saturday night in this small community.
Gig Harbor is the kind of small town where you think they elect their mayor by show of hands. But it is in these overlooked communities that some of the best mics can be found. This is one of those mics. Part of the reason I think everyone watches the show is because the stage has that showroom feel. The business is one, big room, so in a way it was somewhat intimate in that you definitely were aware if someone talked while a performer was on stage, and that helped to keep people quiet and focused. People congratulated me afterwards, and I felt very much appreciated.
I encourage more comics to venture to this room. Same with poets. This place will be receptive to both, even though for one year they’ve only known music. Yes, you may be asked to refrain from language, but if there are no children present, it’s okay to be a little R rated.