Chicago Open Mics

[Joe McAdam]

Figured it wouldn't be such a bad idea to set up a thread listing the open mics around town, and seeing which of these up and coming Chicago ASTers are going to be there.

Post your favorite open mics, questions, and and stories here.

I don't really know all the open mics, but I'll be going to the Edge this Wednesday. There's still an open mic at Schuba's on Sunday right? I'm going to try and make that one if I can get off work.

Dan, where did you get that list you had up here before the crash?

Maybe this will help.

[dan telfer]

Actually, I typed that up special for AST combining a few different listings.

I'd hoped to copy it and paste it elsewhere.

One of my top sadnesses with losing the old board(s) in the crash(es).

Your Sunday Best at Schuba's on Sundays is definitely the best attended in town, and the only one I make a point of going to anymore because it's the one my friends go to as well.

I've heard good things about Edge's Wednesday open mic, but I've never been. Pressure is hit or miss on Thursdays but I used to haunt it quite regularly. It's also run by "Edge". I've had a lot of fun at the Monday night open mic at the Globe Pub, but it is the roughest audience in town. Well attended, but lots of heckling, and I've had some near-fights break out near me while I waited to go up.

[Joe McAdam]

I'll have to check out the Globe open mic, I really need to get some experience with crowd work.

[dan telfer]

Don't go to the Globe for crowd work experience. They won't talk to you. Go to the Globe to thicken your skin and do high energy stuff.

Your Sunday Best is the best room for crowd work, because there's usually 6-10 nice non-performers sitting right up front. You won't really find that at another open mic, often because the comics scare them away with weird, angsty crowd work that amuses nobody, like "hey, you look like a whore". That shit don't fly at Schuba's. It's hosted regularly by two great comics, James Fritz and Prescott Tolk, and they set a very positive tone even if they are both occaisonal angry rant comics themselves.

[Joe McAdam]

I guess I mean that I could use help with both crowd work and being heckled. At this stage I'm not really sure how to tailor my routine for different crowds. Thanks for all the info, it's great to know what kind of situation I'd be getting into.

[Hated Milk Machine]

Don't go to the Globe for crowd work experience. They won't talk to you. Go to the Globe to thicken your skin and do high energy stuff.

Your Sunday Best is the best room for crowd work, because there's usually 6-10 nice non-performers sitting right up front. You won't really find that at another open mic, often because the comics scare them away with weird, angsty crowd work that amuses nobody, like "hey, you look like a whore". That shit don't fly at Schuba's. It's hosted regularly by two great comics, James Fritz and Prescott Tolk, and they set a very positive tone even if they are both occaisonal angry rant comics themselves.

*quietly scratches "hey, you look like a whore" off the top of his set list*

[bryan_champ]

Tuesday nights there is a great open mic at Wise Fool's Pub (2270 N. Lincoln) get there between 8 and 8:30pm to sign up because the list fills up fast, and if you go up toward the end of the list you are basically just telling jokes into the microphone because the crowd is gone or drunk ($1 bud lights) or gotten chatty.

Thursdays also has a great open mic at Whiskey Road (1935 N. Damen). Sign up at 8:30 show starts at 9pm. It's run by awesome chicago comic Adam Burke.

There is another open mic on Tuesday, but I cannot remember where it is at.

[Joe McAdam]

this isn't a real comedy open mic but, i've tried my hand there once or twice: Quencher's @ Fullerton & Western. The guy running the show and some morbidly obese drunk guy heckled me. I actually had a pretty fun time, they give you quite a bit of time because it's typically for music. A good place to be yelled at and talked over if that's your thing. Or try to win over the audience! It's on Mondays, if that endorsement compelled anyone to check it out.

[Daryl]

I made a copy of Dan's open mic list before that crash happened. I could repost it here if you guys are interested.

[dan telfer]

That would be great, Daryl!

50% of the content was on someone else's MySpace page, and they took the list down, so I couldn't recreate it as well as I did the first time.

[Daryl]

Chicago Open Mics

SUNDAY

Your Sunday Best
Schubas
3159 N. Southport
773-525-2508
9pm, 21+ FREE

MONDAY

Globe Pub
1934 W. Irving Park
773-871-3757
Every 2nd, 3rd & 4th Monday of the month
9pm (sign up at 8PM), 21+
hosted by Tony Blanco – FREE

TUESDAY

Phyllis’ Musical Inn
1800 W. Division
773-486-9862
hosted by Lee Kepraios
7:30pm (sign up at 7 PM), 21+

Silvies Lounge
1902 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago
9pm (sign up before 8:30), 21+

Jake Melnick’s
41E Superior, Chicago
10:30pm (sign up before 10), 21+

Wise Fools Pub
2270 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
773-929-1300
8pm (sign up at 7pm)

WEDNESDAY

Comedy Comedy
Walter Payton’s Round House
Route 25 (205 N. Broadway), Aurora, IL
Call (630) 906-2277 or email Bert at bert@comedycomedylive.com
Every other Wed 8:30pm

Hog Head McDunnas
1505 W. Fullerton, Chicago Il
773-929-0944
9pm
Apparently, this plaice is not running anymore

Big Fancy Open Mic
The Edge Comedy Club
At The Chicago Center for the Performing Arts
777 N. Green St., Chicago
8:30pm (sign up before 8:00)
All ages
www.theedgecomedyclub.com

Barrel of Laughs
10345 S. Central
Oak Lawn, IL
708-499-2969
seneseswinery.com/comedy_club.htm
New Talent Night showcase
8pm, $5 - $10, 2 drink minimum

Cigars and Stripes
6715 W. Ogden, Berwyn, IL
708-484-1043 or cigarsandstripes.com
9pm, $3

Jokes and Notes
4641 S. King 773-373-3390
Variety Nite for spoken word, music and comedy, hosted by Tony Sculfield
7:30pm, $10, 21+

THURSDAY

Pressure Café, 6318 N. Clark St., Chicago
8:30pm (sign up before 8:00pm)
All ages – FREE

Whiskey Road
1935 N. Damen Ave., Chicago
Tel: (773) 252-8531
Various Drink Specials for Comics
Hosted by Adam Burke
9pm - Free

[Daryl]

I think eveything is correct on the list but I'm not 100%.

[Joe McAdam]

Wow, i really feel like a got my ass kicked at Schuba's last night. I was certainly not at my most comfortable. The audience really listened, which was great, but then after a joke they just kept listening. It was a good experience, I can't wait to get back up there with better material and more confidence. Seems like a close knit crowd that hangs out there, I definitely felt like an outsider. But basically I've been active with stand up for a couple months really, so I kind of suck right now. Anyway, that's easily the most intimidating room I've done thus far. I'll be back though.

[CJ Toledano]

Schuba's is intimidating at first but the more and more you go, the more fun you'll have. It is a tight knit community of comedians that go but introduce yourself to some people and with time you'll be more comfortable around everyone. All my best friends are comedians and that came from bombing and doing well with the same people night after night.

Which one were you?

[KevinLee]

Thanks for that list Dan and Daryl.
Can you just show up at Schuba's?
Is it that easy,because I've been wanting to get up there since before the crash(B.C.)?

[CJ Toledano]

I'd say nowadays if you want to go up at a reasonable time to get there no later than 8:15.

[JKwac]

Yeah, Schuba's is great. CJ's right for the most part about getting there early if you want a reasonable slot (or one at all.) Although it's typically not done EXACTLY first come, first serve, it's still a reasonable system of placement.

I'm with CJ. Which one were you? I'm asking because I don't quite remember anyone bombing too badly, so I'd love to reassure you that you're probably just overanalyzing things. But boy will this be awkward if you DID indeed bomb and I'll have to eat my words. Anyway, I went up second to last, and CJ was the Asian fellow who WASN'T dressed like a roadie for Jimmy Buffett.

[Joe McAdam]

My name's Joe McAdam, I went up almost right in the middle of the show. Short bland looking white guy with a beard, white and blue striped shirt, did the "well traveled yet hard to impress redneck" character.

[CJ Toledano]

"Norway? More like Snore-Gay?" If so, really, really funny.

[Joe McAdam]

That was me, thanks. I probably am over analyzing, I just didn't commit to the material like I should have, I'll chalk that up to nerves.