Open mic at El Sarape is for comedy only and takes place the third Tuesday of the month. There are no language restrictions, and talent gets four minutes on stage. The room has been going on since February of 2024 and is produced by a woman named Claudia. Parking is in their lot, which is shared with other businesses in the strip mall. This is an informal room. When my friend and I arrived just after 6pm, Claudia approached us and asked what spots on the list we wanted. We took first and second. The mic takes place in a room separate from the main bar, which is good. Not as many distractions. A pool table and shuffleboard are near the area of performance, but, thankfully, people stopped playing when the mic began. There is no stage. A mic, stand and stool are set up to one side of the room, and it seats 27 who can see the “stage” just fine. The business is a Mexican restaurant and full bar. A ginger beer and 22 oz. beer ran $12.84. Their street tacos were pretty good, too. We had a guest host, Richard, who made his debut hosting at El Sarape the night we were there. The room started at 7:01pm, with Claudia welcoming everyone and doing a couple of minutes then bringing up the guest host who did about four minutes. I counted 14 people in the room when we started, but by the time I went up first we had 23 watching the show. El Sarape should be thankful for having open mic at their business. When I went out to the bar to get a drink, I noticed there were only a few patrons. It was in the room with the mic that everyone gathered to see. I did my four minutes, getting Richard’s cell phone light at three. My friend also did four, and the evening went mostly smoothly thereafter. Yes, a few comedians went over their time, one well over their time, as they didn’t pay attention, didn’t look for the light at all. It was as though he was facing the audience but looking down, as though he was reflecting on something while talking. Attendance increased to 28 at 8:25pm that I saw, but I think it was at 28 for most of the evening. Because I sat close to the front, I didn’t see the additional people filter in. The mic ended at 8:37pm but can go till as late as 9pm. Guys, this is a very good room to do. I appreciated the fact that people did not play pool or shuffleboard, knowing the mic was going on. Anyone attending was there for the show and nothing else. Yes, two or three comedians went over their time, but we still ended the evening early, so it’s not like the host had to cut down the stage time for comedians performing later in the evening. Four minutes is not a lot of stage time, but it’s standard. Most rooms give three to five minutes, and Claudia told me if signups are scant, talent can do more stage time. I would say we had just as many people there to watch the mic than there were people performing. It’s great to perform for a general audience. Make an effort to do this monthly mic if you are visiting the Olympia area. Even if you’re a Tacoma-based comic, make the drive to do this mic, if only once. You may find yourself coming back.
Open mic at El Sarape is for comedy only and takes place the third Tuesday of the month. There are no language restrictions, and talent gets four minutes on stage. The room has been going on since February of 2024 and is produced by a woman named Claudia. Parking is in their lot, which is shared with other businesses in the strip mall.
ReplyDeleteThis is an informal room. When my friend and I arrived just after 6pm, Claudia approached us and asked what spots on the list we wanted. We took first and second.
The mic takes place in a room separate from the main bar, which is good. Not as many distractions. A pool table and shuffleboard are near the area of performance, but, thankfully, people stopped playing when the mic began. There is no stage. A mic, stand and stool are set up to one side of the room, and it seats 27 who can see the “stage” just fine.
The business is a Mexican restaurant and full bar. A ginger beer and 22 oz. beer ran $12.84. Their street tacos were pretty good, too.
We had a guest host, Richard, who made his debut hosting at El Sarape the night we were there. The room started at 7:01pm, with Claudia welcoming everyone and doing a couple of minutes then bringing up the guest host who did about four minutes. I counted 14 people in the room when we started, but by the time I went up first we had 23 watching the show. El Sarape should be thankful for having open mic at their business. When I went out to the bar to get a drink, I noticed there were only a few patrons. It was in the room with the mic that everyone gathered to see.
I did my four minutes, getting Richard’s cell phone light at three. My friend also did four, and the evening went mostly smoothly thereafter. Yes, a few comedians went over their time, one well over their time, as they didn’t pay attention, didn’t look for the light at all. It was as though he was facing the audience but looking down, as though he was reflecting on something while talking. Attendance increased to 28 at 8:25pm that I saw, but I think it was at 28 for most of the evening. Because I sat close to the front, I didn’t see the additional people filter in. The mic ended at 8:37pm but can go till as late as 9pm.
Guys, this is a very good room to do. I appreciated the fact that people did not play pool or shuffleboard, knowing the mic was going on. Anyone attending was there for the show and nothing else. Yes, two or three comedians went over their time, but we still ended the evening early, so it’s not like the host had to cut down the stage time for comedians performing later in the evening. Four minutes is not a lot of stage time, but it’s standard. Most rooms give three to five minutes, and Claudia told me if signups are scant, talent can do more stage time. I would say we had just as many people there to watch the mic than there were people performing. It’s great to perform for a general audience. Make an effort to do this monthly mic if you are visiting the Olympia area. Even if you’re a Tacoma-based comic, make the drive to do this mic, if only once. You may find yourself coming back.