Okay, yes...Liquid Zoo is a totally dive and is in a bad part of town. They literally lock the door to stop hookers from coming in, buuuut it's also a good room to get some work done. Ron Swallow runs the show. He took over about a year ago and is a comedian that gets it. It also starts around 9pm which is nice if you want to hit two in a night. There is a one drink min, but whatever. The crowd is sometimes a bit rough with neighborhood regulars but good practice for hecklers. If your in the Valley, do it.
Located in a bad part of Van Nuys in a complete dive bar. It has an elevated stage big enough for a full bad and a decent sound system. The place has "flavor" let's say. Career drunks line the bar and sometimes can heckle. Ron is usually pretty good at handling it. The show starts at 9pm and goes until everyone gets on. It's a sign up first come first serve. No favoritism or bumping. Something to note... this room has a weird fluctuation to it every night. There's no bad or good nights here. EVERY night goes from amazing to bad to amazing to bad to amazing all in one night - EVERY show. It will be empty with 5 people then a surge of comedians with friends will show and the place is packed then 10 minutes later its back to 5 people then a NEW wave of comics or people will show then it's rocking again. You can't pick to go on later to get a better spot because it's all completely random when it will be great that time of night. It's worth doing this gig. Great work out room. Love that it's later to get two in one night. - Brett Gilbert
I mean the room is what it is and it's what you make of it. If you go in there thinking ICM and APA are their scouting you'll be pretty disappointed. However if you go in there realizing this is a known low brow hooker hangout with a few drunks at the bar then you'll leave happy with a few chuckles considered a successful evening. Ron runs a good show and tight so you can get in an out in a decent amount of time. Not sure if it's the best place to judge new jokes based on the usually apathetic audience that's pounding cheap drinks but if you just need to work on the structure and working of the joke I recommenced the room as the stage and sound system are of comedy club quality.
I think this is a fun room to do. The comedy hasn't been terrible when I've gone and the guys there don't take themselves too seriously, a nice breath of fresh air. Where's the good part of Van Nuys?
I went here for the first time this week and had a great time. Ron is a good host; he is funny and deals with the hecklers. The other comics were funny and supportive, too.
Ron's a great host and the crowd is willing to go along with you. Bring friends (a general open mic rule) and stay a few comics after you go up. Don't be a dick and the Liquid Zoo can be fun.
The Wednesday mic at Liquid Zoo is the most stage time you're going to get at any open mic in the LA area (8 minutes!). Everyone else in this thread has been pretty spot-on. Ron is, indeed, a great host. The tone of the room can fluctuate but it is your room to own if you so choose. Get there at 8. Everyone gets long sets, so you wanna be there early or be prepared to be there REALLY late. Liquid Zoo is certainly on the shortlist of my favorite mics in L.A.
"Liquid Zoo is certainly on the shortlist of my favorite mics in L.A."
You're one bold motherfucker. I've been in the comedy game for 2 1/2 years, but I've never gone to this mic. I know that it was in "I Am Comic," and I recently listened to an interview in which Ritch Shydner described his "comeback" set here. The interviewer said, "it's the shittiest open mic in L.A." to which Shydner responded, "I knew what the deal was from the moment I drove into the parking lot."
I parked a block or so away from it, and as I walked to it I passed three guys who looked like they were taken straight from "Boyz N The Hood," and four guys who stood outside of the bar looked exactly like 17th century pirates minus the eye patches. For any comic who has knowledge of an ideal comedy situation, the inside looks like the stuff of nightmares -- pool, games, talking at the bar, etc. I came. I saw. I left. If I were getting paid to perform there, cool. But I'm not going to pay for it.
Shithole. As someone said to me about this place recently, "it's like Arby's-- you try it once then never again." The last time I was here a couple of months ago I went up first. 23 of maybe 25 people were staring at their phones. I immediately raged at them then wrapped it up early. Shit. Hole.
Place sucks. Nobody pays attention... douche bags from car dealers come up to do a set on dare... no jokes, just ranty shit they think is relevant... PASS
I singed up at 845 and did not leave until after midnight. All the host's people came in at random and he would just put them on ahead of me. I just sat back and said nothing. All the comics were turned to the bar writing jokes while the comics were on stage getting no love. I waited patiently, did my shit, and left. I was there so long they actually had another host come on. If you go bring a friend for support and a book cause you're gonna be there a while. I appreciate that it was free but it was a spirit killing experience. It's a sad room.
Okay, yes...Liquid Zoo is a totally dive and is in a bad part of town. They literally lock the door to stop hookers from coming in, buuuut it's also a good room to get some work done. Ron Swallow runs the show. He took over about a year ago and is a comedian that gets it. It also starts around 9pm which is nice if you want to hit two in a night. There is a one drink min, but whatever. The crowd is sometimes a bit rough with neighborhood regulars but good practice for hecklers. If your in the Valley, do it.
ReplyDeleteLocated in a bad part of Van Nuys in a complete dive bar. It has an elevated stage big enough for a full bad and a decent sound system. The place has "flavor" let's say. Career drunks line the bar and sometimes can heckle. Ron is usually pretty good at handling it. The show starts at 9pm and goes until everyone gets on. It's a sign up first come first serve. No favoritism or bumping. Something to note... this room has a weird fluctuation to it every night. There's no bad or good nights here. EVERY night goes from amazing to bad to amazing to bad to amazing all in one night - EVERY show. It will be empty with 5 people then a surge of comedians with friends will show and the place is packed then 10 minutes later its back to 5 people then a NEW wave of comics or people will show then it's rocking again. You can't pick to go on later to get a better spot because it's all completely random when it will be great that time of night. It's worth doing this gig. Great work out room. Love that it's later to get two in one night. - Brett Gilbert
ReplyDeleteI mean the room is what it is and it's what you make of it. If you go in there thinking ICM and APA are their scouting you'll be pretty disappointed. However if you go in there realizing this is a known low brow hooker hangout with a few drunks at the bar then you'll leave happy with a few chuckles considered a successful evening. Ron runs a good show and tight so you can get in an out in a decent amount of time. Not sure if it's the best place to judge new jokes based on the usually apathetic audience that's pounding cheap drinks but if you just need to work on the structure and working of the joke I recommenced the room as the stage and sound system are of comedy club quality.
ReplyDeleteinexpensive mixed drinks and free food keeps me comming back. Comedy wise, its hit or miss. . . with mostly misses. .
ReplyDeleteI think this is a fun room to do. The comedy hasn't been terrible when I've gone and the guys there don't take themselves too seriously, a nice breath of fresh air. Where's the good part of Van Nuys?
ReplyDeleteI went here for the first time this week and had a great time. Ron is a good host; he is funny and deals with the hecklers. The other comics were funny and supportive, too.
ReplyDeleteRon's a great host and the crowd is willing to go along with you. Bring friends (a general open mic rule) and stay a few comics after you go up. Don't be a dick and the Liquid Zoo can be fun.
ReplyDeleteSign up is at 8:30 but a BIG crowd of comics get there by 8pm. You also have to buy a drink. Cheapest thing is bottled water for $5.
ReplyDeleteRon is great, y'all
ReplyDeleteBottled water is not the cheapest drink. Sodas are $3.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's posted somewhere and I just didn't see it, but how much time do you get?
ReplyDeleteThe Wednesday mic at Liquid Zoo is the most stage time you're going to get at any open mic in the LA area (8 minutes!). Everyone else in this thread has been pretty spot-on. Ron is, indeed, a great host. The tone of the room can fluctuate but it is your room to own if you so choose. Get there at 8. Everyone gets long sets, so you wanna be there early or be prepared to be there REALLY late. Liquid Zoo is certainly on the shortlist of my favorite mics in L.A.
ReplyDelete"Liquid Zoo is certainly on the shortlist of my favorite mics in L.A."
ReplyDeleteYou're one bold motherfucker.
I've been in the comedy game for 2 1/2 years, but I've never gone to this mic. I know that it was in "I Am Comic," and I recently listened to an interview in which Ritch Shydner described his "comeback" set here. The interviewer said, "it's the shittiest open mic in L.A." to which Shydner responded, "I knew what the deal was from the moment I drove into the parking lot."
I parked a block or so away from it, and as I walked to it I passed three guys who looked like they were taken straight from "Boyz N The Hood," and four guys who stood outside of the bar looked exactly like 17th century pirates minus the eye patches. For any comic who has knowledge of an ideal comedy situation, the inside looks like the stuff of nightmares -- pool, games, talking at the bar, etc.
I came. I saw. I left.
If I were getting paid to perform there, cool. But I'm not going to pay for it.
What a vagina hole you sound like.
DeleteEh. I would tear your trachea out with my bare hands if you said that yo my face.
DeleteI just prefer nicer settings, moron.
What's your name anonymous queef factory?
DeleteShithole. As someone said to me about this place recently, "it's like Arby's-- you try it once then never again."
ReplyDeleteThe last time I was here a couple of months ago I went up first. 23 of maybe 25 people were staring at their phones. I immediately raged at them then wrapped it up early.
Shit. Hole.
Place sucks. Nobody pays attention... douche bags from car dealers come up to do a set on dare... no jokes, just ranty shit they think is relevant... PASS
ReplyDeleteI singed up at 845 and did not leave until after midnight. All the host's people came in at random and he would just put them on ahead of me. I just sat back and said nothing. All the comics were turned to the bar writing jokes while the comics were on stage getting no love. I waited patiently, did my shit, and left. I was there so long they actually had another host come on. If you go bring a friend for support and a book cause you're gonna be there a while. I appreciate that it was free but it was a spirit killing experience. It's a sad room.
ReplyDelete