Open Mic Night

I decided this is the year that I’m going to throw myself to the wolves and go to as many open mics as humanly possible. I’ve rested on my laurels for way too long. I’ve become too comfortable in my routine and while my act has matured from “long-form storytelling” to quicker, tighter, jokes, I still feel as though I haven’t yet tap into my real comic voice.

You know that voice that truly represents what you’re thinking and feeling at that very moment on stage. For me, it comes out from time-to-time during my infrequent adlibs, but it’s simply not often enough. I feel like I rely too much on my written material and not enough focus on exploring new ideas while on stage in the moment. This is something I am working on at open mics.

The open mic circuit is a rough one and the challenge lies in being able to attract focus from the audience. Sometimes, I feel as if someone in the audience sent out a memo before the show starts stating “whatever you do, DON’T LAUGH!” I don’t know why, but it just feels that way. It makes it virtually impossible to measure the quality of your jokes. I know this is just another example of my lack of experience. This is another thing I’m working on at open mics. Get over it and just be funny!

Everyone with whom I discuss the topic of “open mics” says the same thing: don’t let an open mike help you decide whether or not you’re any good. If anything, it’s best to use that environment to get used to bombing. Bombing helps you grow. It helps you become a stronger comedian. You can’t know what’s funny until you know what’s NOT funny. This is just another thing I’m working on at open mics. I need to become more comfortable with silence, because from there comes focus.