Working an open mic night

New open mic night, and working an open mic night

I was involved in, what we call in the comedy business, an Open Mic Night. These are set up for a few reasons. To bring patrons in for support of that particular establishment, and give a place for comedians to work their new material.

For those who have never been to a place like this before here is a run down. You come in at a certain time, sign your name on a sheet of paper and wait out your night until they call your name. As you find yourself in this period of waiting you'll get a chance to watch “favorites” bypass that list all together. Oddly, it makes sense, those recurring favorites put their time in therefore they deserve that respect. Are they good comedians? That's not the point, them going every week is reason enough. Sitting there you study comedians, hopefully you're watching your craft be performed. Then in your head you rehearse your lines to hopefully not make a fool of yourself on stage. After all is said and done, you're given your 5 minutes of time (common) then lite to get off the stage. GET OFF THE STAGE WHEN THEY LIGHT YOU!!! If you don't you do two things... Comics get mad at you, and the club will not let you up again. RESPECT THE LIGHT!

So there you have it, but let me tell you of my night in this new environment.

I showed up to this place only to find myself sitting in my car for a little while. Not out of fear. I was put off that there appeared to be no one there. It so happened that was the case. It was suppose to start around 9 pm, but I didn't see anyone walk in until around 9:30 pm. At this time, they were just getting there to set up that dreaded list. My first impression on my entrance. I loved how clean it was. I really appreciated that. I thought it had a wonderful vibe too. If you had seen this place, its layout was weird but not deterring. There was no stage just an area where a mic accompanied by speakers were placed. You could see a bar filled with about 10 people ending with some douche from Kentucky. I was pleased that this place had a list that followed its number placement. The lottery set up is a little discouraging. I believe in first come first served, or even hand raising. “You want to go up? Great, now coming to the stage...”

So I signed up for 2^nd place. I believe there were about 7 comics there that night. I would also say this show ran smoothly, wasn't drawn out, and really was a breath of fresh air. So I see their host go up and do his thing. Not the “host” thing, since that is about working with a crowd, getting them pumped up and really showing that crowd “Hey, there's a show starting.” Instead he basically did his set. Which is fine, it is after all, an open mic night. The audience was completely not interested in both that host and their first comedian. I heard a lot of, this crowd sucks, they are not getting it, my set sucked. I went up firing quick jokes out, talked to them, and really got down to work some of my more advanced versions of material that night. I did well. At minimum; got a laugh at everything I said. I also got laugh breaks where I had to stop talking. I even had opportunities to riff with my jokes, and play with a heckler who got mad at something I said. Though this crowd laughed at what I said, this gentleman didn't approve and made it known. I joked with him and got him to shut up. All in all, this was a good worked set. I had a nice performance.

I got off... stage... floor? And walked back to my seat. Finished my cold water and relaxed. Now, I would say that was the night. I have some commentary about that night. This blog is a demonstration of how I improve through my growth, but also an example of what should be done for those trying to get in the business.

I want to start saying I am not a fan of Open Mic Nights though I have nothing against Open Mic Nights as a place for practice. I am known for working new jokes at “real shows” while staying away from open mic nights. I can be found at them though I am not a fan of them. I will explain why below.

If you are going to use an Open Mic Night for its purpose, this should be your direction. You don't have to do it this way, but it helps. First rule, who cares what other people think at these things. You are there to help yourself speak your words. To feel comfortable on stage, holding not holding the mic, moving around the stage or even just breathing correctly. If you are there and feel uncomfortable then what is the point. I, personally, have never felt uncomfortable at a “real show” but have felt deterred from some few Open Mic Nights because some places just show so much hate. Hate is not comedy, embracing, laughter, and teasing, joking or even making friends are all forms of a real comedic world. Hate doesn't sound funny, it isn't funny.

That's first off, second, listen to what everyone is saying on stage, how they are saying, why they are saying it, see how they move, why they move, study them. NOT TO STEAL, but to learn your craft. This is an important part of growing.

Third, record your set however you can. Why? Good question. So you can later go back and review your set. To hear how you said the joke, did you add anything, did you get a laugh, no laugh. (Though at an open mic night a no laugh doesn't really matter... more below) To get better you have to be able to see where you came from. You may have the greatest memory in the world, but there is nothing wrong with being safe. This after all is your “career” wanted life, right?

Fourth, though most important. DON'T DEVALUE YOURSELF!!! or the crowd. There is no reason to react to that particular crowd not laughing at your joke. They are just there, you're suppose to be up their working your jokes, not paying attention to an open mic audience. If they laugh or not, this is not the place to judge your jokes. Ripping yourself apart after each joke will only make that audience care less for you, and it will sway your drive in a negative way. “That joke sucked.” “That was a thinking joke people.” “Moving right along because that didn't go well.” “Scratch that one off.” Etc. And please, please don't say you are new or starting out when you get the mic in your hand. That just kills your audience right there and then.

Five has to be, stop blaming the crowd. I've seen comedians bomb one right after the other. Finally there is that one comedian that makes “that” crowd cry laughing. Sometimes it just isn't your night. It is not your jokes at an Open Mic Night, it is just YOU. You were not on that night. Something was different, you just were not aware. You could play the greatest song in the world, or tell your best “A” joke and if your off that night, no one will care.

Finally... Comedians at these Open Mic Nights don't care about you. If you get a comedian to laugh, great, but that doesn't mean they are laughing at you. It could, but it might not be the case. It is nice to get laughs, don't get me wrong, but that is not why you're there. They're more interested in getting up to do their set. Oh yeah and of course judge you... Sometimes they don't, but most of the time, if you are thinking it, they are thinking it.

Open mic nights are really a place to go and work on your jokes. This is not a “real show” where you have an audience there to laugh at jokes. Besides, comedians at Open Mic Nights are not going to laugh because they are analyzing what just happened. Don't let anything that night throw you off. Take that “awkward” feeling and build your strength against it. So when you are really performing you won't be thrown off. Also, enjoy the night, enjoy what you have going... YOU ARE ON STAGE DOING WHAT YOU LOVE. What is the problem?

In closing, remember to have fun, remember to talk to everyone there, and remember it is not about killing other comedians but uniting with them to make this world of laughter less cutthroat. Over all, I gave Brew Garden Open Mic Night first experience for me a 7 out of 10.

Be of peace, until again...

~ Thomas J Bellezza

PS If you're starting out in comedy, please don't do these following jokes. They have been done too many times. Very “hack”...

“So I'm new up here. I get nervous so people told me to just picture the crowd naked... (Insert Punchline)”

(Any masturbation joke...) *unless witty*

“That joke don't work, let me try something else”

Oh yeah, and just because you have something wrong with you doesn't mean that has to be your whole set. You are fat, we get it. You are retarded looking, okay we get. You are Jewish... OKAY, we get it.

Lesson over...