Open mic experiences

[MarkAgee]

Jim(Gym) is right. (And great story. I also learned the "no rhetorical questions" lesson early on.)

Brian J, don't worry about joke-theft. Especially at an open-mic. Is the douchebag who steals it going to do it at another open-mic? Who cares. You shouldn't care, for your own sanity. If you start worrying about that at this level, you'll so creatively crippled that you might as well quit.

Besides, when/if you are ever successful, you will not be doing any of the material you're doing now. The material isn't the project -- you are. The guy who steals your joke is missing the point by such a wide-margin that it's proof he doesn't get it and is no competition for you in the long run.

Lastly, I've seen people do that same road head misidrection joke. ("You gotta set the cruise control, bitch!") In order for that to be stealing, you'd have to find the first guy who wrote it. Good luck.

[Gene George]

Lastly, I've seen people do that same road head misidrection joke. ("You gotta set the cruise control, bitch!") In order for that to be stealing, you'd have to find the first guy who wrote it. Good luck.

It might just be "parallel invention or discovery" too, hacky jokes often are.

[Brian J.]

Yeah, I see that I need to work on inserting my own personality. I guess that's what the open mic is for. I hope that it will develop over time.

I'm amazed by Patton's descriptions and word choice and for that reason stealing his jokes is impossible. I feel that's what I'm lacking, as many of my jokes feel like they could be said by anybody.

[scamboogah]

The only drawback to hosting an open mic (apart from actually having to watch everything) is that half the comics in town will secretly hate you for putting your 'buddies' in the choice slots (regardless of whether or not you actually do), and the other half will secretly hate you because you won't give them the 'respect' they've earned and let them choose their own spot (regardless of how impossible this is just in a logistic sense and that this will give legitimacy to group A's hatred).

That said, I've only guest hosted a couple open mics, and loved it. It's great practice for crowd work, and as soon as you lay a clunker, it's on to the next guy!

[Gene George]

The only drawback to hosting an open mic (apart from actually having to watch everything) is that half the comics in town will secretly hate you for putting your 'buddies' in the choice slots (regardless of whether or not you actually do), and the other half will secretly hate you because you won't give them the 'respect' they've earned and let them choose their own spot (regardless of how impossible this is just in a logistic sense and that this will give legitimacy to group A's hatred).

I like the UCB open mic method. Lottery draw for slots and then the comics choose their slots in order drawn. Bingo bango.

[Gene George]

For those that are interested. I'm trying to keep a blog of my open mic experiences here on AST, for the record.

[teague]

hey, i'm teague hayes. from this post, someone sought me out and became my myspace friend. so thanks

[zgal]

For those that are interested. I'm trying to keep a blog of my open mic experiences here on AST, for the record.

I'd be interested in reading it! Is there a link?

[drieux]

I'd be interested in reading it! Is there a link?

Under his avatar and other information is a spot that says "Blog Entries," with a number highlighting how many Gene has written. Just click that.

At one of my favorite open mikes we've had a new person start showing up regularly to perform - a Robin-Williams-obsessed girl who shows signs of complete insanity. Her sets range from rambling, incoherent messes to occasionally being pretty funny. She even occasionally gets up during other people's sets and yells out, "I HAVE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM!" which is almost always hilarious. She's also quickly becoming somebody that all the comics want to watch, so everybody shuffles back into the room from wherever they are to watch her. After seeing people working on their material over and over again, everybody gets excited to see crazy be crazy.

[DrewSpears]

I did stand up for the first time ever on Friday! And I'm pretty happy with it. Granted, I was performing at a sports bar at the University of Miami and among a very generous, sort of buzzed, crowd consisting of my friends, but I'm still happy with it! Any criticism would be awesome!

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I know I stepped on some laughter and might have spoke too quickly. (I also know the "first time" bit was a bit hack, but I did it because it truly was my first time and I wanted to earn some laughs right off the bat.) This set has been from around four months of writing, so now I get to hone this down and write some more, as I tried out ever joke I though had the slightest chance of going over well.

I have cerebral palsy in my right hand, which is why I was holding my set list, to hopefully draw attention away from it. Unfortunately, I always sort of hold my arm in a clenched chicken wing sort of stance. Any suggestions to minimize its visibility? I've been thinking about writing it into my set but have found that in real life whenever I joke about it it emits a weird mix of uncomfort and pity.

Does anyone know of any open mics in Miami besides the Improv? I know Sweat Records has a new monthly comedy show, but I don't know if they're accepting amateurs.

[Catrel Stevens]

I have cerebral palsy in my right hand, which is why I was holding my set list, to hopefully draw attention away from it. Unfortunately, I always sort of hold my arm in a clenched chicken wing sort of stance. Any suggestions to minimize its visibility? I've been thinking about writing it into my set but have found that in real life whenever I joke about it it emits a weird mix of uncomfort and pity.

I would try really hard to embrace it and write some jokes about it. At the very least, since it is visible, write one or two responses to hecklers about it. If you have a hostile audience at some point, don't be surprised if a heckler goes right for it. If you have a couple great responses already worked out you can shut 'em down and keep going. There was a 15 year old kid I saw go on stage at Yuk Yuk's here in Vancouver, his first time doing stand-up, and he had cerebral palsy in the entire right side of his body. He did almost his whole 5 min. about it and he killed. Would you "taboo" any other topic just because when you tried to think about jokes on it, they were mostly uncomfortable? Just a suggestion.

On your set itself, though: Great job. That was pretty damn good, especially for your first time. Like you said, just try and work on your pacing, timing, and getting more comfortable up there. (Which will, of course, come with time and more sets.) Keep at it!

[Babs]

I am doing it tonight and I want to barf and I have like 9 hours to go.

[Hated Milk Machine]

Don't sweat is DandyFop. Good luck!

[Gene George]

I am doing it tonight and I want to barf and I have like 9 hours to go.

Break a leg! You'll be fine.

[Lil G]

Break someone else's leg and then tell a 9-minute story about it!

[CaptainBreakfast]

Take your performance anxiety as far as it can go before you get onstage. Sometimes, when you aggressively boost performance anxiety, you break a barrier, and you are able to go onstage without an ounce of fear. Doesn't always happen, though.

[DOOM]

yeah, im giving open mic a try here in about 3 weeks. im fucking terrified of public speaking, and on top of that, having to make people laugh is a bit daunting. but i know that if i dont do it soon the anxiety will do nothing but build.

[megalope]

Just pretend it's a job interview or a first date.

[Babs]

Take your performance anxiety as far as it can go before you get onstage. Sometimes, when you aggressively boost performance anxiety, you break a barrier, and you are able to go onstage without an ounce of fear. Doesn't always happen, though.

Maybe that's what happened, I dont know.I was nervous all during work but up on stage it wasn't that bad. I did the 50 cent open mic and I really think it went as well as it could have. I'm pretty happy with it. Just felt so great to finally do it after building it up for soooo long.

[Gene George]

Maybe that's what happened, I dont know.I was nervous all during work but up on stage it wasn't that bad. I did the 50 cent open mic and I really think it went as well as it could have. I'm pretty happy with it. Just felt so great to finally do it after building it up for soooo long.

Sorry I missed it.