Open mic at Output has been going on a year and a half and is run by a gentleman named Ed. Signup is first come first choice, but if you buy $30 of food or drink from the business, you get to pick whatever slot you want. When we arrived at 9:06pm – believing signup was 9pm and room started 9:45 – we learned that the room actually starts at 10:30pm. However, the signup sheet was out, and Ed was setting up the room. He said to go ahead and signup. I saw quite a few names already on the signup sheet, which I learned were carry-overs from last week who did not get to go up. The first spot was available, so I told my friend to put her name down, and I still honored the $30 purchase necessary to take whatever spot a person wanted. Parking is on the street. The room is for standup only, and there are no language restrictions. The first six or so spots get six minutes, but if the list is very full, each talent gets four, the light at three. A mic and stand are set up to one part of the room, and I noticed people can sit behind where the mic is, if you want to see talent from the back. The host sits atop a platform stage and runs a sound system, which plays sound effects and other stuff during a comedian’s performance. I think it was supposed to add humor, a sort of bah-duh bum. I saw when my friend performed it distracted her a bit. The room where the mic takes place seats about 60. The host told me his mic is the last mic comedians can do that night, so it often attracts a large turnout. The business is a full bar, and they also offer comfort food. Moscow Mules run $11. Thankfully, the room the mic takes place is separate from the bar and other distractions like TVs turned on, even if muted. Anyone in the room is there for the mic. There are TVs in that room; they were not on, though. People started showing up at 10:20pm. We had a couple of hosts, James being the first one. We got a late start: 10:58pm. I counted 15 people in the room. A few minutes later, I saw 19 peeps. In addition to sound effects, the host would comment here and there on the talent’s material. Attendance continued to increase, with 21 in the room at 11:14pm, and there were 26 in the room when my friend and I left at 11:27pm. Guys, this is quite the interesting room to do. That the host interrupts the performer by talking into a second mic may throw you off, but it is not mean-spirited, like he is trying to flub you up. For the locals who know each other, I think they enjoyed it. For a visiting comedian, I’m not sure if they will feel the same. But, again, it’s not done to ruin a person’s set. This room can be the last of three mics to do that night, from what I can see, so why not give it a try? Plus, if the room ends before you go up, you’re guaranteed an early performance for the following week. If you are a visitor, I recommend letting the host know. I suspect he’ll get you up the night you are visiting.
Open mic at Output has been going on a year and a half and is run by a gentleman named Ed. Signup is first come first choice, but if you buy $30 of food or drink from the business, you get to pick whatever slot you want. When we arrived at 9:06pm – believing signup was 9pm and room started 9:45 – we learned that the room actually starts at 10:30pm. However, the signup sheet was out, and Ed was setting up the room. He said to go ahead and signup. I saw quite a few names already on the signup sheet, which I learned were carry-overs from last week who did not get to go up. The first spot was available, so I told my friend to put her name down, and I still honored the $30 purchase necessary to take whatever spot a person wanted.
ReplyDeleteParking is on the street. The room is for standup only, and there are no language restrictions. The first six or so spots get six minutes, but if the list is very full, each talent gets four, the light at three. A mic and stand are set up to one part of the room, and I noticed people can sit behind where the mic is, if you want to see talent from the back. The host sits atop a platform stage and runs a sound system, which plays sound effects and other stuff during a comedian’s performance. I think it was supposed to add humor, a sort of bah-duh bum. I saw when my friend performed it distracted her a bit. The room where the mic takes place seats about 60. The host told me his mic is the last mic comedians can do that night, so it often attracts a large turnout.
The business is a full bar, and they also offer comfort food. Moscow Mules run $11. Thankfully, the room the mic takes place is separate from the bar and other distractions like TVs turned on, even if muted. Anyone in the room is there for the mic. There are TVs in that room; they were not on, though.
People started showing up at 10:20pm. We had a couple of hosts, James being the first one. We got a late start: 10:58pm. I counted 15 people in the room. A few minutes later, I saw 19 peeps. In addition to sound effects, the host would comment here and there on the talent’s material. Attendance continued to increase, with 21 in the room at 11:14pm, and there were 26 in the room when my friend and I left at 11:27pm.
Guys, this is quite the interesting room to do. That the host interrupts the performer by talking into a second mic may throw you off, but it is not mean-spirited, like he is trying to flub you up. For the locals who know each other, I think they enjoyed it. For a visiting comedian, I’m not sure if they will feel the same. But, again, it’s not done to ruin a person’s set. This room can be the last of three mics to do that night, from what I can see, so why not give it a try? Plus, if the room ends before you go up, you’re guaranteed an early performance for the following week. If you are a visitor, I recommend letting the host know. I suspect he’ll get you up the night you are visiting.