Hey, are there any regular open mic nights where, say, a guy who thinks he has written some pretty funny stories can take to the mic for a few minutes? And not get surrounded by fat goth girls reading shape poems about middle school cutting incidents? (Actually, let me rethink that. I just don't want to go somewhere that is "deep" and/or annoying.) I checked the alt-weekly listings and nothing leaped out and me that said "Hey, Gregg, you won't actively hate yourself for being stuck here for three hours."
Questions re: Open Mic Nights
- Thread starter Rafael Santana
- Start date
Helium
Has anyone been to the Helium thing? I'm not much of a stand-up follower. Essentially, what I'm looking to do is get behind a microphone and read some stories. Would that work at Helium? I'll probably check it out before I actually do anything. Or maybe I'll just work on my prop comedy routine. Do you think I can smash some watermelons at Helium?
UCB in NYC has an event called The Nights of Our Lives. My brother hooked me up last week with some time up there. The format is pretty simple -- the first one was "The Scariest Night Of Your Life" and then the second one was "The Most Embarrassing Night Of Your Life." Then eight (or so) folks took turns reading a story. Or maybe not "reading" as much as telling a story. I read because I've never actually performed and it was a lot easier. But everyone else "told" their story.
Is there anything like that regularly held in Philly? The Fergie's thing seems to actor-y for me, considering I've never actually acted. If there isn't anything in Philly like that, does anyone have any clue or experience in organizing something like that and want to help a dude out?
The improv scene here in town seems to be pretty solid but I think there is room for more development in the other non-defined areas of the alt-comedy spectrum.
Has anyone been to the Helium thing? I'm not much of a stand-up follower. Essentially, what I'm looking to do is get behind a microphone and read some stories. Would that work at Helium? I'll probably check it out before I actually do anything. Or maybe I'll just work on my prop comedy routine. Do you think I can smash some watermelons at Helium?
UCB in NYC has an event called The Nights of Our Lives. My brother hooked me up last week with some time up there. The format is pretty simple -- the first one was "The Scariest Night Of Your Life" and then the second one was "The Most Embarrassing Night Of Your Life." Then eight (or so) folks took turns reading a story. Or maybe not "reading" as much as telling a story. I read because I've never actually performed and it was a lot easier. But everyone else "told" their story.
Is there anything like that regularly held in Philly? The Fergie's thing seems to actor-y for me, considering I've never actually acted. If there isn't anything in Philly like that, does anyone have any clue or experience in organizing something like that and want to help a dude out?
The improv scene here in town seems to be pretty solid but I think there is room for more development in the other non-defined areas of the alt-comedy spectrum.
The closest thing that I've heard of, outside of specific Fringe Festival shows, would be Die Actor Die.
Why not try to set up something yourself? This looks like a good resource to get hooked up with like-minded others: http://phillywriters.net/
Why not try to set up something yourself? This looks like a good resource to get hooked up with like-minded others: http://phillywriters.net/
If opportunity doesn’t knock
yeah, I'm getting curious to hear your stories myself.
if i could write something i thought was
good enough to read,
hell, I'd juss find a venue and a mike.
well, I'd probably want to find the jussright location too,
but as a fellow i simply want to see you get
up and read, even if it's to boos.
===========
If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.
– Milton Berle
yeah, I'm getting curious to hear your stories myself.
if i could write something i thought was
good enough to read,
hell, I'd juss find a venue and a mike.
well, I'd probably want to find the jussright location too,
but as a fellow i simply want to see you get
up and read, even if it's to boos.
===========
If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.
– Milton Berle
My Show Idea
Okay, I had an idea for a show. Looking for help/feedback, etc.
The show would consist of the following: one or two improv troupes, one or two bands, and a few comics/writers.
I think this could and would work. The improv folks would bring in their audience. The bands would bring in theirs. The comic/writer folks bring their. All acts then get exposed to more people and the word gets spread.
I'm pretty sure I could get some writers together and I am definitely sure I could get some interested bands who would like to share a bill with a comic audience.
The only thing is, I have never booked a venue or anything like that before.
Anyone interested in trying to get something going with this? Or have I just read waaay too much into This Band Could Be Your Life.
G-R-E-G-G
Okay, I had an idea for a show. Looking for help/feedback, etc.
The show would consist of the following: one or two improv troupes, one or two bands, and a few comics/writers.
I think this could and would work. The improv folks would bring in their audience. The bands would bring in theirs. The comic/writer folks bring their. All acts then get exposed to more people and the word gets spread.
I'm pretty sure I could get some writers together and I am definitely sure I could get some interested bands who would like to share a bill with a comic audience.
The only thing is, I have never booked a venue or anything like that before.
Anyone interested in trying to get something going with this? Or have I just read waaay too much into This Band Could Be Your Life.
G-R-E-G-G
No, I think cross promotion is great. We can certainly set something up... I know there are plenty of improv groups that would do something like this. Well even a couple of weeks ago, the N Crowd had the following lineup:
GStarr (musical guest)
Don Montrey (stand up guest)
Hypnotoad (improv guest)
N Crowd (improv host)
GStarr (musical guest)
Don Montrey (stand up guest)
Hypnotoad (improv guest)
N Crowd (improv host)
DIE ACTOR, DIE is kind of like that. It's a night of actors, improvisers and other sundry performers doing stand-up. By stand-up it can be jokes, bits or just funny stories (Alexis did the last one performing BAD MONOLOGUES and totally killed).We have one coming up in a few weeks called KICK ME, which is based on the Paul Feig book, where said actors and improvisers tell their most embarrassing stories about growing up.
