Open mic at Ballard is going through some changes, I learned. This happened to another room in Olympia when I visited Washington State in April. The current producer of the show, Ron, is no longer going to run the room in another couple of weeks, as of this posting. The room will continue with a new producer, and the format, day and time will stay the same. Open to standup only, this room has been going on since November of 2018. The mic takes place in the room with the bar, not where general dining seating is, and the bar seats about 30. A very small stage but big enough for a mic and stool, is located in a part of the room where everyone can see the talent. Two muted TVs played, one behind the bar. Talent gets five minutes. There are no language restrictions. Signup is first come first choice. The signup sheet came out at 6:35pm. Before the night was over we had 12 signups. The business serves fried seafood and burgers, hence the name. They have their own parking lot. The bar is a full one, minus a blender, which is good, as blenders are pretty friggin’ noisy. A guest host, Carol, started the room at 7:06pm, welcoming everyone and opening with more than five minutes. I counted 23 people total in the room, mostly all comics. One after another talent went up and mostly everyone did a full five. I went up last, playing to 15 people. The evening ended at 8:15pm. I spoke with Ron after the show. I learned he is moving to Las Vegas and will start a room there (just like what the gentleman who ran the room in Olympia did). Ron is truly an avid supporter of comics. He wants to help them with dealing with heckling, sometimes gives extra time when a comedian may be practicing for a booked show later, and more. Ron’s enthusiasm for standup comedy was certainly evident. He wants to see comics succeed. He has even allowed talent to go up early, so they can do a second room, arguably the most popular room in Seattle. His belief is comics need as much stage time as possible, so doing a second room is fine with him, even if it means less attendance in his own. That’s not to say the rules of signup won’t be respected. I’m only saying there are incidental exceptions. And now that Ron is relocating, I don’t imagine that will be a thing to consider anymore. Guys, I can’t say how the new producers of the show are going to do after Ron leaves. The format will stay the same. But how they run it – respecting the lineup or moving it around to accommodate a comic – will be something we find out. I do know that the room the night I performed were focused on the talent and gave them their respect. Yes, some talent bounced to do another mic, but even going up last, I had a very attentive audience, and I am glad I did the room. I’m especially glad to have met Ron, and I look forward to visiting Las Vegas and doing his room there once he has started it. But certainly, this room in Seattle deserves a go, too. I suspect that while absent, Ron’s spirit will still be in part at Seafood and Burgers.
Open mic at Ballard is going through some changes, I learned. This happened to another room in Olympia when I visited Washington State in April. The current producer of the show, Ron, is no longer going to run the room in another couple of weeks, as of this posting. The room will continue with a new producer, and the format, day and time will stay the same.
ReplyDeleteOpen to standup only, this room has been going on since November of 2018. The mic takes place in the room with the bar, not where general dining seating is, and the bar seats about 30. A very small stage but big enough for a mic and stool, is located in a part of the room where everyone can see the talent. Two muted TVs played, one behind the bar. Talent gets five minutes. There are no language restrictions. Signup is first come first choice.
The signup sheet came out at 6:35pm. Before the night was over we had 12 signups. The business serves fried seafood and burgers, hence the name. They have their own parking lot. The bar is a full one, minus a blender, which is good, as blenders are pretty friggin’ noisy. A guest host, Carol, started the room at 7:06pm, welcoming everyone and opening with more than five minutes. I counted 23 people total in the room, mostly all comics. One after another talent went up and mostly everyone did a full five. I went up last, playing to 15 people. The evening ended at 8:15pm.
I spoke with Ron after the show. I learned he is moving to Las Vegas and will start a room there (just like what the gentleman who ran the room in Olympia did). Ron is truly an avid supporter of comics. He wants to help them with dealing with heckling, sometimes gives extra time when a comedian may be practicing for a booked show later, and more. Ron’s enthusiasm for standup comedy was certainly evident. He wants to see comics succeed. He has even allowed talent to go up early, so they can do a second room, arguably the most popular room in Seattle. His belief is comics need as much stage time as possible, so doing a second room is fine with him, even if it means less attendance in his own. That’s not to say the rules of signup won’t be respected. I’m only saying there are incidental exceptions. And now that Ron is relocating, I don’t imagine that will be a thing to consider anymore.
Guys, I can’t say how the new producers of the show are going to do after Ron leaves. The format will stay the same. But how they run it – respecting the lineup or moving it around to accommodate a comic – will be something we find out. I do know that the room the night I performed were focused on the talent and gave them their respect. Yes, some talent bounced to do another mic, but even going up last, I had a very attentive audience, and I am glad I did the room. I’m especially glad to have met Ron, and I look forward to visiting Las Vegas and doing his room there once he has started it.
But certainly, this room in Seattle deserves a go, too. I suspect that while absent, Ron’s spirit will still be in part at Seafood and Burgers.