The history of open mic at Shelton Timberland library is a bit uneven. At one time it was happening monthly for 13 months. Then there was a hiatus, as attendance was dwindling. Now they are trying it seasonal, taking place only during the summer months. It is very possible that will change, depending on attendance and interest. As of this writing, it is happening June through August, just three months at a time, taking place the third Wednesdays. The library, of course, has a parking lot. Once you step inside the library to the immediate right is the room where the mic takes place. There is no stage. A single mic and chair are set up close to the center of the room, with 11 chairs set up in a sort of semi-circle. The room goes from 6pm to 7:30pm. Talent gets three songs or fifteen minutes. If there are too many signups, the amount of stage time is lessened. There are no language restrictions unless children are present. Signup is first come first choice. The room is open to all genres of art. The signup sheet came out at 5:35pm. I took the fifth spot. The room offers comped water bottles and some sweet treats. A gentleman named Blake ran the room that night, but I think the room is overseen by someone else whose name I did not get, and Blake was guest hosting. In as much as this mic had a lengthy absence, this is the first time since November of 2018 that open mic has taken place again at Shelton library. As such, attendance was not very much. We only had two signups when the room started at 6:05pm. We had four people in the room, including the host. The gentleman who went up before me played three songs, then at the encouragement of everyone in the room, he played a fourth song, before asking me if I would like to go up before he would go up again. I did over 15 minutes myself, and actually had one of the best sets on this trip. Here I was playing to three men, and while I was hoping for smiles and the occasional nodding of the head, I got huge laughs and a couple applause breaks. At one time I asked if the room would like to see the first performer again, but I was encouraged to keep going till finally after 15 I stopped performing. The first musician did a couple more songs and that was when the evening ended. Guys, there is not much to report on this room. No doubt as this is the first open mic after half a year on hiatus, attendance was not high because people have forgotten about the mic. I think it will pick up by the second mic, but unfortunately, any momentum they build will end the month after that. Again, their dates could change, depending on attendance. As it is, they are only scheduled to have the mic during the summer. Of course, call the library ahead of time to check on their open mic agenda, in case it has extended. But I recommend for the comedians who live in the Olympia/Tacoma area to give this place a try, especially once you’ve established a lengthy set and want to practice it on an audience.
The history of open mic at Shelton Timberland library is a bit uneven. At one time it was happening monthly for 13 months. Then there was a hiatus, as attendance was dwindling. Now they are trying it seasonal, taking place only during the summer months. It is very possible that will change, depending on attendance and interest. As of this writing, it is happening June through August, just three months at a time, taking place the third Wednesdays.
ReplyDeleteThe library, of course, has a parking lot. Once you step inside the library to the immediate right is the room where the mic takes place. There is no stage. A single mic and chair are set up close to the center of the room, with 11 chairs set up in a sort of semi-circle. The room goes from 6pm to 7:30pm. Talent gets three songs or fifteen minutes. If there are too many signups, the amount of stage time is lessened. There are no language restrictions unless children are present. Signup is first come first choice. The room is open to all genres of art.
The signup sheet came out at 5:35pm. I took the fifth spot. The room offers comped water bottles and some sweet treats. A gentleman named Blake ran the room that night, but I think the room is overseen by someone else whose name I did not get, and Blake was guest hosting.
In as much as this mic had a lengthy absence, this is the first time since November of 2018 that open mic has taken place again at Shelton library. As such, attendance was not very much. We only had two signups when the room started at 6:05pm. We had four people in the room, including the host.
The gentleman who went up before me played three songs, then at the encouragement of everyone in the room, he played a fourth song, before asking me if I would like to go up before he would go up again. I did over 15 minutes myself, and actually had one of the best sets on this trip. Here I was playing to three men, and while I was hoping for smiles and the occasional nodding of the head, I got huge laughs and a couple applause breaks. At one time I asked if the room would like to see the first performer again, but I was encouraged to keep going till finally after 15 I stopped performing. The first musician did a couple more songs and that was when the evening ended.
Guys, there is not much to report on this room. No doubt as this is the first open mic after half a year on hiatus, attendance was not high because people have forgotten about the mic. I think it will pick up by the second mic, but unfortunately, any momentum they build will end the month after that. Again, their dates could change, depending on attendance. As it is, they are only scheduled to have the mic during the summer.
Of course, call the library ahead of time to check on their open mic agenda, in case it has extended. But I recommend for the comedians who live in the Olympia/Tacoma area to give this place a try, especially once you’ve established a lengthy set and want to practice it on an audience.