Dave and Mark do an excellent job with this open mic. It is well run, goes quickly and it's a good room for beginning comics (or anybody). I do think comics don't always appreciate what it takes to keep a good open mic going. The random draw system is really the only fair way to run one of these things. You can always do what I do. If your name is drawn too far down, just come back another night.
Cool place to do an open mic. Intimate and erotic. Make sure the bathroom door is locked or else someone might see your naughty bits. But I'll still be there tonight.
I went there once only and the host ( I can't remember his name ) was a pain. I agree with most of the posted comments YES he did spend alot of time on stage AND he is not funny at all. What he is capable of is killing the mood of the crowd, and that is something someone should look into. I went there with Four of my friends who drink like crazy, and can afford it - but after 30 minutes they said let's get the helllll out of here. i did not go up or sign up - it was just a test trial for me. This was about 6 to 8 months ago, and I still have not gone back there. I do want to admit that it is a great location, stage, sound and atmosphere is great - if only the host would be a bit nicer, fair, I don't know him & never seen him before - but he acts like a total ASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Thanks for the review 6 to 8 months later... the mic has been moved and the hosting format has been changed.
If you didn't like the host on a particular night and you didn't perform there, why would you trash a mic based on one night ? I guess that's what the internet brings out in people
This open MIC is great, it was my first time on stage and I loved it. What a high - I have been attending open MIC for almost a year and never had the ( BALLS) to go up. Thanks to MARK PLACEK the host that night, the comedians present who also gave me a push, and the AWESOME audiance. I actualy did well for my first time , but I owe it all to the help from the crowd and Mark pushing me to just do it and get it over with. i would recommend this open to anyone new coming to Stand Up - this place just has a great VIBE. ( Wayne The comedian )
I liked this place alright, the crowd was pretty receptive and the hosts kept things moving pretty well. I'd come back if i wasn't kicked out for being under 21. They didn't post that here, but after my set the bartender told me to leave. I asked why, he said "it's a bar." Which makes it seems like he thinks that's the law, and it's out of his hands. But that's obviously not true. SO, i'd like this place a lot better if i was permitted to be there.
Dan, if you want a bar to turn their head at you being underage, I would suggest not doing jokes on stage about how you are only 18 years old. You kinda left the bar tender no choice.
I'm gonna put in a good review of this open mic. First time tonight, and I couldn't be happier about it. A good amount of people and a good atmosphere. I really had no idea what to expect, but it's run very well, and I'm fairly certain I'll be back (the nerves never really go away, do they?).
I have been to a couple open mics and this one was a bit disappointing. It probably didn't run regularly since a fight broke out in the beginning. I will admit that the guys thrown out where big d-bags but the one host kept egging them on. I feel like if you are going to be a neutral party as a host then you can't fuel a d-bag fire. Also, it seemed to create a very VERY negative vibe for the room. No one laughed at any of the jokes. Everyone was super judgmental. I have to agree with the comments above that say the hosts put their buddies up first. It is suppose to be a random draw but somehow "randomly" all their butt buddies got up there first. Hmm... It seemed like it was a group of good hipster friends that didn't welcome new comers. They didn't want to be called hipsters, but if it walks like a fish and talks like a fish... it's probably a fish. There were some random comics that were friendly but just seemed like a very negative, unwelcoming vibe. Probably will never go back but it would be interesting to see how a night without a fight runs like. Also, they have no limits on comics so each comic got only 3 minutes. That is a very very short time to develop any decent bit. Unless this open mic gets an overhaul, I vote it the worst open mic I have been to yet. It would be good if you want to try out a tough crowd, which every comic is bound to run across.
In response to the above comment.. Last night was not indicative of how the mic usually is. To those that weren't there, there was a group of belligerent audience members who loudly and obnoxiously talked throughout the co-hosts opening set. The host rightfully fired back to shut the guys up and create an environment conducive to comedy. It's his job to be "neutral," it's his job to "neutralize" them. Unfortunately, the guys were complete assholes. The host left the stage and the guys confronted him. Things escalated and a fight broke out.
This created a tense vibe in the room.. No one did really well last night---from new comers to veterans. It's unfortunate that the incident took place, but it did. Believe me, had those guys stayed, the mic would have been much worse.
Now let's address the random draw. Kyle and I pull the list in peoples PLAIN SIGHT--many times with people annoyingly breathing over our shoulders trying to get a good spot. It's all done at random, and we take pride in that. We both have a lot of friends that go to the mic--and Yes, some friends do pull good spots and some friends pull bad spots. It's all at random. If you would go there every week and you saw a pattern, then by all means call us out. I personally invite you there next week to watch us draw.
You were there once, and you are just assuming. You shouldn't trash a mic based on one bad night--you are not helping the comedy scene by posting this. You are hurting it.
The intent of this mic is to be welcoming to new comers and I feel it's safe to say, that it's one of the best mics in the city for new comers.
Comics get 4 minutes. If we have over 40 comics we cut it down to 3:30. If we have over 50 (rare), we cut it to 3:00 minutes. Last night comics got 3:30.
In short--last night was a tough crowd. There's no shenanigans with the list, and you probably shouldn't judge based on one night. The greatest mics in the world will have bad nights, and the worst mics in the world will have great nights. It's all about consistency.
Mark Placek
PS: And yes, unfortunately there are a lot of hipsters in Chicago :)
u fuckin pussys, if u cant handle a dave odd show get out of chicago, dont come to la though, will put u in a fryin pan and share u to the dwellers of skid row, if u cant do 3 mins how ru gonna b able to do 5 mins??? stay in the friendly confgines of shit city and cry about how the open mics hinder "your" comedy show and if u had more time u would be the best, hipsters??? their already out of style out west...get a new view, the only thing hipsters are good for is recycling skinny jeans, losers
This Mic has been moved to 1501 N. Dayton Chicago IL 60640 (Located upstairs of the bar Sully's House)
ReplyDeleteDave and Mark do an excellent job with this open mic. It is well run, goes quickly and it's a good room for beginning comics (or anybody). I do think comics don't always appreciate what it takes to keep a good open mic going. The random draw system is really the only fair way to run one of these things. You can always do what I do. If your name is drawn too far down, just come back another night.
ReplyDeleteCool place to do an open mic. Intimate and erotic. Make sure the bathroom door is locked or else someone might see your naughty bits. But I'll still be there tonight.
ReplyDeleteI went there once only and the host ( I can't remember his name ) was a pain. I agree with most of the posted comments YES he did spend alot of time on stage AND he is not funny at all. What he is capable of is killing the mood of the crowd, and that is something someone should look into. I went there with Four of my friends who drink like crazy, and can afford it - but after 30 minutes they said let's get the helllll out of here. i did not go up or sign up - it was just a test trial for me. This was about 6 to 8 months ago, and I still have not gone back there. I do want to admit that it is a great location, stage, sound and atmosphere is great - if only the host would be a bit nicer, fair, I don't know him & never seen him before - but he acts like a total ASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review 6 to 8 months later... the mic has been moved and the hosting format has been changed.
ReplyDeleteIf you didn't like the host on a particular night and you didn't perform there, why would you trash a mic based on one night ?
I guess that's what the internet brings out in people
This open MIC is great, it was my first time on stage and I loved it. What a high - I have been attending open MIC for almost a year and never had the ( BALLS) to go up. Thanks to MARK PLACEK the host that night, the comedians present who also gave me a push, and the AWESOME audiance. I actualy did well for my first time , but I owe it all to the help from the crowd and Mark pushing me to just do it and get it over with. i would recommend this open to anyone new coming to Stand Up - this place just has a great VIBE. ( Wayne The comedian )
ReplyDeleteI liked this place alright, the crowd was pretty receptive and the hosts kept things moving pretty well. I'd come back if i wasn't kicked out for being under 21. They didn't post that here, but after my set the bartender told me to leave. I asked why, he said "it's a bar." Which makes it seems like he thinks that's the law, and it's out of his hands. But that's obviously not true. SO, i'd like this place a lot better if i was permitted to be there.
ReplyDeleteDan, if you want a bar to turn their head at you being underage, I would suggest not doing jokes on stage about how you are only 18 years old. You kinda left the bar tender no choice.
DeleteI'm gonna put in a good review of this open mic. First time tonight, and I couldn't be happier about it. A good amount of people and a good atmosphere. I really had no idea what to expect, but it's run very well, and I'm fairly certain I'll be back (the nerves never really go away, do they?).
ReplyDeleteI have been to a couple open mics and this one was a bit disappointing. It probably didn't run regularly since a fight broke out in the beginning. I will admit that the guys thrown out where big d-bags but the one host kept egging them on. I feel like if you are going to be a neutral party as a host then you can't fuel a d-bag fire. Also, it seemed to create a very VERY negative vibe for the room. No one laughed at any of the jokes. Everyone was super judgmental. I have to agree with the comments above that say the hosts put their buddies up first. It is suppose to be a random draw but somehow "randomly" all their butt buddies got up there first. Hmm... It seemed like it was a group of good hipster friends that didn't welcome new comers. They didn't want to be called hipsters, but if it walks like a fish and talks like a fish... it's probably a fish. There were some random comics that were friendly but just seemed like a very negative, unwelcoming vibe. Probably will never go back but it would be interesting to see how a night without a fight runs like. Also, they have no limits on comics so each comic got only 3 minutes. That is a very very short time to develop any decent bit. Unless this open mic gets an overhaul, I vote it the worst open mic I have been to yet. It would be good if you want to try out a tough crowd, which every comic is bound to run across.
ReplyDeleteall open mics
DeleteIn response to the above comment..
ReplyDeleteLast night was not indicative of how the mic usually is. To those that weren't there, there was a group of belligerent audience members who loudly and obnoxiously talked throughout the co-hosts opening set. The host rightfully fired back to shut the guys up and create an environment conducive to comedy. It's his job to be "neutral," it's his job to "neutralize" them. Unfortunately, the guys were complete assholes. The host left the stage and the guys confronted him. Things escalated and a fight broke out.
This created a tense vibe in the room.. No one did really well last night---from new comers to veterans.
It's unfortunate that the incident took place, but it did.
Believe me, had those guys stayed, the mic would have been much worse.
Now let's address the random draw. Kyle and I pull the list in peoples PLAIN SIGHT--many times with people annoyingly breathing over our shoulders trying to get a good spot. It's all done at random, and we take pride in that. We both have a lot of friends that go to the mic--and Yes, some friends do pull good spots and some friends pull bad spots. It's all at random. If you would go there every week and you saw a pattern, then by all means call us out.
I personally invite you there next week to watch us draw.
You were there once, and you are just assuming. You shouldn't trash a mic based on one bad night--you are not helping the comedy scene by posting this. You are hurting it.
The intent of this mic is to be welcoming to new comers and I feel it's safe to say, that it's one of the best mics in the city for new comers.
Comics get 4 minutes. If we have over 40 comics we cut it down to 3:30. If we have over 50 (rare), we cut it to 3:00 minutes. Last night comics got 3:30.
In short--last night was a tough crowd. There's no shenanigans with the list, and you probably shouldn't judge based on one night. The greatest mics in the world will have bad nights, and the worst mics in the world will have great nights. It's all about consistency.
Mark Placek
PS: And yes, unfortunately there are a lot of hipsters in Chicago :)
PSS: That should read: "it's NOT his job to be neutral..."
ReplyDeleteAnonymous sounds like a dumb bitch to me. Can I get an amen?
ReplyDeleteYeah you're right.
Deleteu fuckin pussys, if u cant handle a dave odd show get out of chicago, dont come to la though, will put u in a fryin pan and share u to the dwellers of skid row, if u cant do 3 mins how ru gonna b able to do 5 mins??? stay in the friendly confgines of shit city and cry about how the open mics hinder "your" comedy show and if u had more time u would be the best, hipsters??? their already out of style out west...get a new view, the only thing hipsters are good for is recycling skinny jeans, losers
ReplyDelete