While open mic at Great Notion allows standup comedy, it was not for me. I don’t say that to disparage the room. Not at all. Quite the opposite. Let me explain. But first the stats. Parking at Great Notion is on the street. The business is a brewery, but they have a back room with 12 seats for talent and a general audience, and additional seats in need be. Know the seats are not the most comfortable. A platform stage that fits a mic and stand are set up to one side. Everyone can see just fine. If you’re in that room, you’re there for the mic. No distractions at all. Talent gets five to eight minutes, and there are no language restrictions, though the host included no hate material. A woman named Jasmine runs the mic, and it has been going on since November of 2024. The room is meant for storytelling, not necessarily standup. Thus, not a room for me, because the majority of my material are one-liners. I don’t often tell stories. And while I did get laughs and smiles throughout my set, I sensed I did not belong there for the very reason my jokes do not depend on one another. They are singular. My friend, however, linked her material together such that it came across as a story filled with jokes, and she killed it. Someone approached her after the mic ended and asked to book her. This person wanted comedic stories, and my friend did just that, segueing from one joke to another seamlessly. We started at 6:37pm. I counted 11 people in the room. The host told an anecdote, then brought up the first talent who did the same. Maybe the story had a comedic moment, but many stories throughout the evening were not trying for laughs. It’s about the story. Three judges sat to one side and gave feedback for those who told stories. I did not get any. Their laughter was my feedback. Also, the chairs the judges sat in were far more comfortable. I played to 15 people when it was my turn, and my friend went up eighth. After my set we had a featured storyteller. We had one more sign-up after my friend, then the mic ended at 8:40pm. Guys, I want to emphasize. If you’re a one-line comic, do not do this room. I thanked Jasmine for allowing me to perform, but it’s not what the room is about. If you’re a comedian who tells stories, or if you can link your material together like my friend did (talking about ex-boyfriends to ex-husbands, to dick picks to sex) in a story-like fashion, then I recommend doing this room. Beers run $6 to $9, and they have nonalcoholic drinks as well. Jasmine is a friendly and fine host, and I don’t want her room to be anything other than storytelling, comedic or otherwise. There is another monthly mic at Great Notion that is more conducive for one-liner comedians.
While open mic at Great Notion allows standup comedy, it was not for me. I don’t say that to disparage the room. Not at all. Quite the opposite. Let me explain. But first the stats.
ReplyDeleteParking at Great Notion is on the street. The business is a brewery, but they have a back room with 12 seats for talent and a general audience, and additional seats in need be. Know the seats are not the most comfortable. A platform stage that fits a mic and stand are set up to one side. Everyone can see just fine. If you’re in that room, you’re there for the mic. No distractions at all. Talent gets five to eight minutes, and there are no language restrictions, though the host included no hate material. A woman named Jasmine runs the mic, and it has been going on since November of 2024.
The room is meant for storytelling, not necessarily standup. Thus, not a room for me, because the majority of my material are one-liners. I don’t often tell stories. And while I did get laughs and smiles throughout my set, I sensed I did not belong there for the very reason my jokes do not depend on one another. They are singular. My friend, however, linked her material together such that it came across as a story filled with jokes, and she killed it. Someone approached her after the mic ended and asked to book her. This person wanted comedic stories, and my friend did just that, segueing from one joke to another seamlessly.
We started at 6:37pm. I counted 11 people in the room. The host told an anecdote, then brought up the first talent who did the same. Maybe the story had a comedic moment, but many stories throughout the evening were not trying for laughs. It’s about the story. Three judges sat to one side and gave feedback for those who told stories. I did not get any. Their laughter was my feedback. Also, the chairs the judges sat in were far more comfortable. I played to 15 people when it was my turn, and my friend went up eighth. After my set we had a featured storyteller. We had one more sign-up after my friend, then the mic ended at 8:40pm.
Guys, I want to emphasize. If you’re a one-line comic, do not do this room. I thanked Jasmine for allowing me to perform, but it’s not what the room is about. If you’re a comedian who tells stories, or if you can link your material together like my friend did (talking about ex-boyfriends to ex-husbands, to dick picks to sex) in a story-like fashion, then I recommend doing this room. Beers run $6 to $9, and they have nonalcoholic drinks as well. Jasmine is a friendly and fine host, and I don’t want her room to be anything other than storytelling, comedic or otherwise. There is another monthly mic at Great Notion that is more conducive for one-liner comedians.