Open mic at Luckeys has been going on a year and is run by a gentleman named Nathan. It is for standup only. Signup is online, but they have a bucket draw for walk-ins, which my friend and I were. There are no language restrictions, and talent gets five minutes of stage time. Parking is on the street. The business is a full bar, but they offer chips, candy, even noodles in a cup. Upon arriving, I saw someone at a table with a burger and fries, so I believe outside food is allowed. The mic takes place in a giant room. About 37 seats can see the stage well. The stage is huge and well lit. All can see just fine. Several mics were on stage, but the one closest to the edge of the stage was meant for the talent to use. A stool next to it was handy to put your notes on. In that same large room, however, are three pool tables and two pinball machines. They can be distracting if in use while the mic is happening. Moscow mules run $9.50 and beers run $7.50 a pint. The room started extraordinarily late. When we arrived at 7:20 there were a group of people on stage wearing clown makeup and clothes. I learned it was the finale of a webisode, and they went way, way late. Instead of starting at 8pm, the mic began at 8:57pm. I counted 14 in the room when two men went on stage and played music: one on a keyboard, the other playing base guitar. Then Nathan came on stage and welcomed everyone. Wow, live music, I thought. Nathan did some stage time then brought up the first talent. But it wasn’t to do standup. The comedian went to the mic and Nathan sat at a table and talked into a second mic and interviewed the comedian. Not an interview like, “How did you get started” but questions that, I guess, the comedian was supposed to be funny and say funny things about it. This happened with three comedians then Nathan drew names from the bucket who were actually there do standup. Since my friend and I were the only two walk-ins, we went up back to back and did five minutes each. Everyone was good about paying attention. After we finished, for the rest of the evening, it was back to interviewing. The musicians made an attempt to chime in, offering backup, but I found it distracting. It’s not like they knew when to do ba-duh-bum. Guys, this is not what I thought an open mic was. I mean, my participation in the room was that of an open mic: to perform material and generate a response from the audience to gauge what worked and what was not strong. That the majority of this mic is to interview talent like a podcast, well, maybe that’s what should be posted on the flyer. I wondered if those interviewed were talent who submitted online, whereas my friend and I were walk-ins, so no interview for us. Did those signing up online have to request an interview, or are they doing stage time like my friend and I did? Let us know what we are getting in to. I’m glad I got to do standup. I would have passed on the interview. Depending on how you want to promote yourself, by performing or by being interviewed, either way, may the mic make that clear on their flyer and calendar. Currently, the flyer bills it as a standup open mic, sometimes variety show and radical experience.
Open mic at Luckeys has been going on a year and is run by a gentleman named Nathan. It is for standup only. Signup is online, but they have a bucket draw for walk-ins, which my friend and I were. There are no language restrictions, and talent gets five minutes of stage time. Parking is on the street.
ReplyDeleteThe business is a full bar, but they offer chips, candy, even noodles in a cup. Upon arriving, I saw someone at a table with a burger and fries, so I believe outside food is allowed. The mic takes place in a giant room. About 37 seats can see the stage well. The stage is huge and well lit. All can see just fine. Several mics were on stage, but the one closest to the edge of the stage was meant for the talent to use. A stool next to it was handy to put your notes on. In that same large room, however, are three pool tables and two pinball machines. They can be distracting if in use while the mic is happening. Moscow mules run $9.50 and beers run $7.50 a pint.
The room started extraordinarily late. When we arrived at 7:20 there were a group of people on stage wearing clown makeup and clothes. I learned it was the finale of a webisode, and they went way, way late. Instead of starting at 8pm, the mic began at 8:57pm. I counted 14 in the room when two men went on stage and played music: one on a keyboard, the other playing base guitar. Then Nathan came on stage and welcomed everyone. Wow, live music, I thought. Nathan did some stage time then brought up the first talent. But it wasn’t to do standup.
The comedian went to the mic and Nathan sat at a table and talked into a second mic and interviewed the comedian. Not an interview like, “How did you get started” but questions that, I guess, the comedian was supposed to be funny and say funny things about it. This happened with three comedians then Nathan drew names from the bucket who were actually there do standup. Since my friend and I were the only two walk-ins, we went up back to back and did five minutes each. Everyone was good about paying attention. After we finished, for the rest of the evening, it was back to interviewing. The musicians made an attempt to chime in, offering backup, but I found it distracting. It’s not like they knew when to do ba-duh-bum.
Guys, this is not what I thought an open mic was. I mean, my participation in the room was that of an open mic: to perform material and generate a response from the audience to gauge what worked and what was not strong. That the majority of this mic is to interview talent like a podcast, well, maybe that’s what should be posted on the flyer. I wondered if those interviewed were talent who submitted online, whereas my friend and I were walk-ins, so no interview for us. Did those signing up online have to request an interview, or are they doing stage time like my friend and I did? Let us know what we are getting in to. I’m glad I got to do standup. I would have passed on the interview. Depending on how you want to promote yourself, by performing or by being interviewed, either way, may the mic make that clear on their flyer and calendar. Currently, the flyer bills it as a standup open mic, sometimes variety show and radical experience.