Not only is there open mic at Triangle Pub that welcomes music and standup, but I found out that this building is a historical landmark built in the 1920s. A full bar now, it also serves comfort food like burgers and sandwiches, and sides like fries, tots, rings and wings. (Their burger and tots are delicious, I found out.) Parking is on the street and it is free. Mostly, this room attracts musicians, but I learned from the owner of the bar, Christine, that she welcomes comedy as well. Turns out, I was not the first comic they ever had. Very infrequently, they have had standup here before. There are no language restrictions. Two gentlemen named Pablo and Craig run the mic, and it has been going on at least nine years. There is no signup sheet. In the past, musicians jam or do solos, taking turns. At one point we had six players rockin’ the place. Craig said he would open with three songs, accompanied by two other players, then I would go up. The place seats about 43. There is no stage. To one side of the room, visible to everyone in the bar, a keyboard and drum set are set up, the two instruments both hosts play. Pablo arrived at 8:40pm to do that. A piano, already in the room before the producers of the mic came in, sat in one corner but was never used. Other entertainment includes a dart board that the mic takes place in front of. A couple beams may prevent the audience from seeing you, as I learned while on stage, so sit accordingly if you want to see and not just hear the performers. Two TVs are on but muted behind the bar. The evening started at 9:15pm. There was no introduction, no welcoming of the audience. Pablo and Craig and a bass guitarist just started jammin’. Called “Open Mic Talent Tuesday”, this room rocked from beginning to end. Pints of beer are only $4.75, and attendance in the room pretty much stayed consistent at 18 peeps. That’s the number I counted when I went up about 9:30pm. I was the only comic they had that night, and Pablo made sure the audience knew I was doing standup before bringing me up. I must say, I had a great time. The room was a bit loud at first, some patrons at the bar commenting on my jokes (in a positive way) but still a bit distracting, as it may have interfered with my timing. One gentleman said to me after congratulating me after my set that if he thought I was a bad comic on stage, he would have heckled me till I got myself off. I ended up doing about ten or twelve minutes before thanking the room, and I received a huge applause as I thanked Pablo and Craig for the stage time. The owner, Christine, too, was delightfully happy with my set and encouraged me to tell other comics about the room. Well, I’m doing that now. Guys, this is a very good room to do. Yes, they are not used to standup. But they will afford you enough time to prove you can win them over, and everyone is along for the ride. As intimate as this one, big room is, a little noise goes a long way, so mostly the audience was good about allowing me my time without interruption, once they saw that offering their two cents worth, even in a positive way, did not help. I was competing with the TVs, but I saw most everyone watching me and not extreme sports. I saw Pablo and Craig off to one side, laughing and smiling, and I knew they were glad I was on their stage. After my set, it was back to music for the rest of the night, which was fine by me, as the players were quite good. I love live music like that. I stayed for another hour, had a second beer, then quietly left between sets, as not to take away from the current performer. As long as this mic has been running, it is not going anywhere any time soon. Like the landmark that it is, open mic is a staple of this pub. I recommend making a point one Tuesday to do this room, especially when you have ten or more minutes of material to offer.
Not only is there open mic at Triangle Pub that welcomes music and standup, but I found out that this building is a historical landmark built in the 1920s. A full bar now, it also serves comfort food like burgers and sandwiches, and sides like fries, tots, rings and wings. (Their burger and tots are delicious, I found out.) Parking is on the street and it is free.
ReplyDeleteMostly, this room attracts musicians, but I learned from the owner of the bar, Christine, that she welcomes comedy as well. Turns out, I was not the first comic they ever had. Very infrequently, they have had standup here before. There are no language restrictions. Two gentlemen named Pablo and Craig run the mic, and it has been going on at least nine years. There is no signup sheet. In the past, musicians jam or do solos, taking turns. At one point we had six players rockin’ the place. Craig said he would open with three songs, accompanied by two other players, then I would go up.
The place seats about 43. There is no stage. To one side of the room, visible to everyone in the bar, a keyboard and drum set are set up, the two instruments both hosts play. Pablo arrived at 8:40pm to do that. A piano, already in the room before the producers of the mic came in, sat in one corner but was never used. Other entertainment includes a dart board that the mic takes place in front of. A couple beams may prevent the audience from seeing you, as I learned while on stage, so sit accordingly if you want to see and not just hear the performers. Two TVs are on but muted behind the bar.
The evening started at 9:15pm. There was no introduction, no welcoming of the audience. Pablo and Craig and a bass guitarist just started jammin’. Called “Open Mic Talent Tuesday”, this room rocked from beginning to end. Pints of beer are only $4.75, and attendance in the room pretty much stayed consistent at 18 peeps. That’s the number I counted when I went up about 9:30pm. I was the only comic they had that night, and Pablo made sure the audience knew I was doing standup before bringing me up.
I must say, I had a great time. The room was a bit loud at first, some patrons at the bar commenting on my jokes (in a positive way) but still a bit distracting, as it may have interfered with my timing. One gentleman said to me after congratulating me after my set that if he thought I was a bad comic on stage, he would have heckled me till I got myself off. I ended up doing about ten or twelve minutes before thanking the room, and I received a huge applause as I thanked Pablo and Craig for the stage time. The owner, Christine, too, was delightfully happy with my set and encouraged me to tell other comics about the room.
Well, I’m doing that now. Guys, this is a very good room to do. Yes, they are not used to standup. But they will afford you enough time to prove you can win them over, and everyone is along for the ride. As intimate as this one, big room is, a little noise goes a long way, so mostly the audience was good about allowing me my time without interruption, once they saw that offering their two cents worth, even in a positive way, did not help.
I was competing with the TVs, but I saw most everyone watching me and not extreme sports. I saw Pablo and Craig off to one side, laughing and smiling, and I knew they were glad I was on their stage.
After my set, it was back to music for the rest of the night, which was fine by me, as the players were quite good. I love live music like that. I stayed for another hour, had a second beer, then quietly left between sets, as not to take away from the current performer.
As long as this mic has been running, it is not going anywhere any time soon. Like the landmark that it is, open mic is a staple of this pub. I recommend making a point one Tuesday to do this room, especially when you have ten or more minutes of material to offer.