Open mic at Harrigan’s is for standup only. Parking is on the street. Signup is first come first choice, and there are 20 slots on the signup sheet. There are no language restrictions, and talent gets four minutes, the light at three. I don’t know how long the room has been going on, nor for that matter who runs the room. I did not see when the sheet came out, and when the host started the room, he did not identify himself. He didn’t even say how much stage time talent got; I had to time the comedians myself and learned it’s a four-minute set. The platform stage is just to the left of the entrance. It contains a mic and stand, and the backdrop is a black wall with small lights shining. The stage is poorly lit. Even if you sit close, it’s not always easy to see the talent. Four TVs adorn the premises, three of which were on but muted when I arrived. When the signup sheet did come out, I saw 14 signups by 8:25pm. The business is a full bar, and beers run $7 a pint. The room started at 8:32pm. All TVs had been turned off before then. Good. I counted 20 people when we started; the room seats about 32. I thought 20 is a healthy number to perform for. That did not last long. I spoke to the person next to me and asked if they were going up, and she said, no, that she was here to support the comedians. I thought that was nice. However, when the first comedian finished their set, he left, along with the woman I spoke to, and I noticed a number of comedians leave after their set. By 9:05pm I counted ten people in the room. A co-host, Joe, went up on stage and hosted the second half of the room. We had 16 signups total, yet ten in the room at 9:05pm. Yeah, people left after their set. I guess there was another mic they wanted to hit. Not the best support for this room, but, oh well. Joe at one point even berated the room, saying if you can get one person to laugh in this room, that joke is a keeper. The energy was not high, and the night ended at 9:48pm. Guys, I don’t know. I think if the stage was better lit, the room would do much better. If there are other mics comedians leave this room to go to, maybe changing the time of this room (or day) might get people to stay longer, if there wasn’t another room right away to go to. I’m assuming comedians left for that reason. I mean, if there wasn’t another mic, why not stay and support? I appreciate the two men who take time out of their lives to run this room, but such things as the host introducing themselves when we started, going over the rules, announcing how much stage time a comedian gets, rather than assume everyone knows how the room works, even if you attract the same talent each week, looks more professional, and maybe talent will take this room more serious. Know that this is not a bad room. But it could be better.
Open mic at Harrigan’s is for standup only. Parking is on the street. Signup is first come first choice, and there are 20 slots on the signup sheet. There are no language restrictions, and talent gets four minutes, the light at three. I don’t know how long the room has been going on, nor for that matter who runs the room. I did not see when the sheet came out, and when the host started the room, he did not identify himself. He didn’t even say how much stage time talent got; I had to time the comedians myself and learned it’s a four-minute set.
ReplyDeleteThe platform stage is just to the left of the entrance. It contains a mic and stand, and the backdrop is a black wall with small lights shining. The stage is poorly lit. Even if you sit close, it’s not always easy to see the talent.
Four TVs adorn the premises, three of which were on but muted when I arrived. When the signup sheet did come out, I saw 14 signups by 8:25pm.
The business is a full bar, and beers run $7 a pint.
The room started at 8:32pm. All TVs had been turned off before then. Good. I counted 20 people when we started; the room seats about 32. I thought 20 is a healthy number to perform for. That did not last long.
I spoke to the person next to me and asked if they were going up, and she said, no, that she was here to support the comedians. I thought that was nice. However, when the first comedian finished their set, he left, along with the woman I spoke to, and I noticed a number of comedians leave after their set. By 9:05pm I counted ten people in the room.
A co-host, Joe, went up on stage and hosted the second half of the room. We had 16 signups total, yet ten in the room at 9:05pm. Yeah, people left after their set. I guess there was another mic they wanted to hit. Not the best support for this room, but, oh well. Joe at one point even berated the room, saying if you can get one person to laugh in this room, that joke is a keeper. The energy was not high, and the night ended at 9:48pm.
Guys, I don’t know. I think if the stage was better lit, the room would do much better. If there are other mics comedians leave this room to go to, maybe changing the time of this room (or day) might get people to stay longer, if there wasn’t another room right away to go to. I’m assuming comedians left for that reason. I mean, if there wasn’t another mic, why not stay and support?
I appreciate the two men who take time out of their lives to run this room, but such things as the host introducing themselves when we started, going over the rules, announcing how much stage time a comedian gets, rather than assume everyone knows how the room works, even if you attract the same talent each week, looks more professional, and maybe talent will take this room more serious.
Know that this is not a bad room. But it could be better.