Open mic at Unlimited has been going on for a year. However, the current host running the room, Colin, has only been doing it for the last few months, taking over from the previous host who started the room. Called The RIFF Mic, it is quite different from typical open mics. Signup is first come first choice, and talent gets 5 minutes, the cell light at 4. There are no language restrictions, and parking is on the street, but it is free. The business sells beer mostly, but they have an assortment of wines and non-alcoholic drinks as well. There is no food service, but you are allowed to bring in or order food and have it delivered. Beers run $7 a pint. In addition to all the libations, Unlimited also sells vinyl albums. I’d say the place seats about 43 who can see the stage clearly. A mic and stand are set up on a platform stage against the wall furthest away from the entrance and bar. A portable speaker and sound system were brought in by Colin, who started setting up around 6:20pm. Callon is the bartender and an aficionado of vinyl albums. The room had the A/C turned off earlier in the day and relied on the front door being left open to welcome a slight breeze inside. Funny, in previous rooms I have done on this trip, they were quite chilly, and I was glad I brought my windbreaker to those rooms. Here, though, it’s not necessary. Maybe in the winter? All the chairs and benches are made of wood, and not one seat had a backrest. You might feel a little antsy, if you plan to stay the whole time. Don’t hesitate to stand and stretch once in a while. The mic works like this: talent signs up, then takes a slip of paper with a topic written on it. The host and even the talent can write whatever subject matter they see fit to submit. For example, someone wrote something like, “Are beavers gay if they eat wood?”, and you are asked to make up material in the time you have till your name is called. You can spend all your time on the drawn topic, or after a bit, do your own material. And that’s the room. Colin kept the evening rolling along, not knowing himself what topic talent has picked. The signup sheet came out 6:30pm. We had 12 signups by 6:50pm, and there were 20 people in the room when the mic started at 7:06pm. All the comics knew one another, although there was one other comic besides me, visiting from out of state, specifically Texas. Attendance trimmed some by 8pm with 11 watching, and seven in the room by 8:10pm, six by 8:30pm, and the evening ended at 8:53pm. Guys, if you only want to do your own material, spend the first minute on the subject you drew, then do your set. If you want to test your mettle, see if you can be funny in the half hour or so you have to come up with material on a subject, that’ fine, too. I’m only sorry the comedians often went outside and stayed there, smoking weed, till it was their turn. I stayed in the room the entire time to support, and I felt bad for the comics performing to hardly anyone at the end of the night. If you’re not doing a second room, sure, smoke your weed, but once done, come inside and support. Make a purchase to support the business. I bought Colin a beer as a “thank you” for running the room. Even simply watching the mic the whole evening is showing support. It doesn’t ask a lot of you.
Open mic at Unlimited has been going on for a year. However, the current host running the room, Colin, has only been doing it for the last few months, taking over from the previous host who started the room. Called The RIFF Mic, it is quite different from typical open mics. Signup is first come first choice, and talent gets 5 minutes, the cell light at 4. There are no language restrictions, and parking is on the street, but it is free.
ReplyDeleteThe business sells beer mostly, but they have an assortment of wines and non-alcoholic drinks as well. There is no food service, but you are allowed to bring in or order food and have it delivered. Beers run $7 a pint. In addition to all the libations, Unlimited also sells vinyl albums. I’d say the place seats about 43 who can see the stage clearly. A mic and stand are set up on a platform stage against the wall furthest away from the entrance and bar. A portable speaker and sound system were brought in by Colin, who started setting up around 6:20pm. Callon is the bartender and an aficionado of vinyl albums.
The room had the A/C turned off earlier in the day and relied on the front door being left open to welcome a slight breeze inside. Funny, in previous rooms I have done on this trip, they were quite chilly, and I was glad I brought my windbreaker to those rooms. Here, though, it’s not necessary. Maybe in the winter? All the chairs and benches are made of wood, and not one seat had a backrest. You might feel a little antsy, if you plan to stay the whole time. Don’t hesitate to stand and stretch once in a while.
The mic works like this: talent signs up, then takes a slip of paper with a topic written on it. The host and even the talent can write whatever subject matter they see fit to submit. For example, someone wrote something like, “Are beavers gay if they eat wood?”, and you are asked to make up material in the time you have till your name is called. You can spend all your time on the drawn topic, or after a bit, do your own material. And that’s the room. Colin kept the evening rolling along, not knowing himself what topic talent has picked.
The signup sheet came out 6:30pm. We had 12 signups by 6:50pm, and there were 20 people in the room when the mic started at 7:06pm. All the comics knew one another, although there was one other comic besides me, visiting from out of state, specifically Texas. Attendance trimmed some by 8pm with 11 watching, and seven in the room by 8:10pm, six by 8:30pm, and the evening ended at 8:53pm.
Guys, if you only want to do your own material, spend the first minute on the subject you drew, then do your set. If you want to test your mettle, see if you can be funny in the half hour or so you have to come up with material on a subject, that’ fine, too.
I’m only sorry the comedians often went outside and stayed there, smoking weed, till it was their turn. I stayed in the room the entire time to support, and I felt bad for the comics performing to hardly anyone at the end of the night. If you’re not doing a second room, sure, smoke your weed, but once done, come inside and support. Make a purchase to support the business. I bought Colin a beer as a “thank you” for running the room. Even simply watching the mic the whole evening is showing support. It doesn’t ask a lot of you.