Open mic at Axe & Fiddle is the most informal mic I had done. Bar none. Doesn’t make it a bad room. Just a lax room. Parking is on the street, and it is free. My friend and I showed up at 6:30, believing the mic started at 7pm. Turns out it started at 6pm and goes to 8pm, but we were the first signups. I met the gentleman, Bradley, who runs the room; he sat behind the sound system. He said we could go up anytime. I responded that we wanted to settle, get a drink and then go up. The stage is large and well lit. Red curtains gave it that showmanship look. Two mics on stands are set up, but there is no stool on stage. The room seats about 50 who can see the stage well. Signup is at 5:30pm. It’s first come first choice. There are no language restrictions. All genres are welcome. The mic has been going on for four months. When I signaled I was ready to go on stage, Bradley made sure the music playing in the room was turned off and announced from a mic at the sound system that a comedian was going to perform. I had to introduce myself on stage. I did about ten minutes then introduced my friend, giving her a proper introduction. “Coming to the stage next. . .” and all that. We both got reasonable laughs, but it was clear people were not there for standup. A third talent, a poet, did some material and that was the night. I never talked to Bradley after that. Didn’t see him leave. Wanted to thank him. We spoke to the poet for a little bit, but that was it. After dinner we left. Guys, especially Eugene-based talent, give this room a try when you have ten minutes at least of solid material and you want a challenge of winning your audience over. My friend and I got peeps to stop talking and pay attention at times. We heard laughs. But I classify this room as a reasonably tough room. They won’t heckle you, but you have to win them over, since they are mostly used to music.
Open mic at Axe & Fiddle is the most informal mic I had done. Bar none. Doesn’t make it a bad room. Just a lax room.
ReplyDeleteParking is on the street, and it is free. My friend and I showed up at 6:30, believing the mic started at 7pm. Turns out it started at 6pm and goes to 8pm, but we were the first signups. I met the gentleman, Bradley, who runs the room; he sat behind the sound system. He said we could go up anytime. I responded that we wanted to settle, get a drink and then go up.
The stage is large and well lit. Red curtains gave it that showmanship look. Two mics on stands are set up, but there is no stool on stage. The room seats about 50 who can see the stage well. Signup is at 5:30pm. It’s first come first choice. There are no language restrictions. All genres are welcome. The mic has been going on for four months.
When I signaled I was ready to go on stage, Bradley made sure the music playing in the room was turned off and announced from a mic at the sound system that a comedian was going to perform. I had to introduce myself on stage. I did about ten minutes then introduced my friend, giving her a proper introduction. “Coming to the stage next. . .” and all that. We both got reasonable laughs, but it was clear people were not there for standup. A third talent, a poet, did some material and that was the night. I never talked to Bradley after that. Didn’t see him leave. Wanted to thank him. We spoke to the poet for a little bit, but that was it. After dinner we left.
Guys, especially Eugene-based talent, give this room a try when you have ten minutes at least of solid material and you want a challenge of winning your audience over. My friend and I got peeps to stop talking and pay attention at times. We heard laughs. But I classify this room as a reasonably tough room. They won’t heckle you, but you have to win them over, since they are mostly used to music.