Tonight marks the end of my open mic at Rehab Tavern. I can’t even remember when it started, but it’s been about two years. The owners and I decided the product would be better if we did a monthly show with booked comics. The first run on the new format will be January 29th – still a free show. Be sure to check it out.
I won’t lie to anyone, running an open mic is tough work. It’s usually on an off night and the regulars hear your bullshit each and every week. I did a lot of off the cuff or new material just to keep it somewhat interesting. One big misconception with people that don’t do comedy – 99.8% of America – is that it’s easy to come up with good material. I had someone tell me at a comedy club they enjoyed my set so much the first time, they were going to buy a ticket for the next show. I told them if I did five minutes different out of a 30 minute set, they would be lucky. They didn’t come back. I could do 30 different minutes, but when I get four laughs and fired, it doesn’t make up for the goody time feeling I might have gave that random lady in Rochester, Minnesota.
Also, an open mic is just that. Open. As in anyone who has the gumption or blood alcohol content can run up there. I saw a comic who screamed at the top of his lungs about cigarettes and blow jobs so loud six people walked out in two minutes, had a guy act blind and spill a cough syrup bottle on the table that housed the sound equipment, and a lady show up, do some jokes, then argue with me about one of my jokes while I was onstage. Thanks for coming. I had another new guy do comedy for the first time, then proceed after the show to ask me how to be funny (that’s what’s called an open-ended question).
I also saw a lot of great comedians working out hilarious bits and got to be a part of a citywide talent search involving all the open mics in Columbus that finished at the Shadowbox Cabaret that my pal Nickey Winkelman put together. There were times it was tough when a major sporting event was going down or the speaker didn’t work, but one time an older couple I’d never seen before came up to a few of us after the show. The crowd was pretty light that night, but they told us that they couldn’t believe how much fun they had for a free show on a Monday. It’s not life saving, but if I can help brighten someone’s day telling them a fun bit about getting checked for a hernia, I like to think I’m basically Mother Teresa with a dirty mouth and drinking problem.