Open mic at Shanghai Room on Wednesdays has only been going on a couple of months, as of this posting. Their weekend open mic (Friday thru Sunday) has been in existence much, much longer. The layout of the room and mic is the same. Parking is on the street, and it is free. Give yourself time to find a spot. The room seats about 47 who can see the stage well. All other seats must watch the show on the projector screen on the other side of the bar at Shanghai. The stage is well-lit, the backdrop being mirrors and silver streamers and the Shanghai logo. On stage is a mic, stand and stool. Beers run $8 a pint, and they have a very good menu, if you’re hungry. The mic is for standup only. Signup is first come first choice. Talent gets five minutes, and you get yourself off when you see the timer to your right count up to five minutes. There are no language restrictions. The room goes to 9pm. I arrived 15 minutes early. Shanghai Room does not open till 6:30pm. However, Scott, who produced the show that night, came in and let me sign up first, knowing I arrived first. I took the fourth spot. There are 22 slots to choose from. We had nine signups by 6:50pm. The room started at 7:02pm with Scott welcoming everyone for showing up. The guest host, Jeff, arrived after the first signup went up. I counted about 14 people in the room, although by 7:45pm I saw 23 people watching the mic. I got to do six minutes, as there was not a full lineup. In fact, talent got to do a second round, if they wanted. Guys, I reviewed this room, even after reviewing all their other nights, because the dynamics on a weekday can be different than a weekend. For example, the list of signups was not nearly as full as I’ve seen on the weekend shows. The audience isn’t as full either. While the room is relatively new, I hope more people come to support comedy and enjoy a free show on Wed. I get the mindset during the week is to focus on work, and the weekend is the time to go out and enjoy yourself. But if you’ve just gotten off work at 6pm, why not reward yourself on Hump Day and stop in for a few laughs, maybe a drink, if not a sumptuous dinner? Maybe there are other rooms on a Wednesday that comedians prefer, but this mic is just as good as any of them. Five minutes, possibly more, is not a bad amount of stage time. Anyone attending is there for comedy. People paid attention to the talent when performers were on stage, and you get the laughs you’re looking for if your humor resonates with the audience.
Open mic at Shanghai Room on Wednesdays has only been going on a couple of months, as of this posting. Their weekend open mic (Friday thru Sunday) has been in existence much, much longer.
ReplyDeleteThe layout of the room and mic is the same. Parking is on the street, and it is free. Give yourself time to find a spot. The room seats about 47 who can see the stage well. All other seats must watch the show on the projector screen on the other side of the bar at Shanghai. The stage is well-lit, the backdrop being mirrors and silver streamers and the Shanghai logo. On stage is a mic, stand and stool. Beers run $8 a pint, and they have a very good menu, if you’re hungry.
The mic is for standup only. Signup is first come first choice. Talent gets five minutes, and you get yourself off when you see the timer to your right count up to five minutes. There are no language restrictions. The room goes to 9pm.
I arrived 15 minutes early. Shanghai Room does not open till 6:30pm. However, Scott, who produced the show that night, came in and let me sign up first, knowing I arrived first. I took the fourth spot. There are 22 slots to choose from.
We had nine signups by 6:50pm. The room started at 7:02pm with Scott welcoming everyone for showing up. The guest host, Jeff, arrived after the first signup went up. I counted about 14 people in the room, although by 7:45pm I saw 23 people watching the mic. I got to do six minutes, as there was not a full lineup. In fact, talent got to do a second round, if they wanted.
Guys, I reviewed this room, even after reviewing all their other nights, because the dynamics on a weekday can be different than a weekend. For example, the list of signups was not nearly as full as I’ve seen on the weekend shows. The audience isn’t as full either. While the room is relatively new, I hope more people come to support comedy and enjoy a free show on Wed. I get the mindset during the week is to focus on work, and the weekend is the time to go out and enjoy yourself. But if you’ve just gotten off work at 6pm, why not reward yourself on Hump Day and stop in for a few laughs, maybe a drink, if not a sumptuous dinner? Maybe there are other rooms on a Wednesday that comedians prefer, but this mic is just as good as any of them. Five minutes, possibly more, is not a bad amount of stage time. Anyone attending is there for comedy. People paid attention to the talent when performers were on stage, and you get the laughs you’re looking for if your humor resonates with the audience.