Where to perform in Portland, Oregon?

[Will_Novak]

Hello AST,
I'm new here so I hope Im posting in the right place and not breaking any rules or stepping on any toes. I did a little bit of searching and didn't seem to find a regular PDX thread, so I thought Id ask around here. Mods feel free to move this if its in the wrong spot.

Im going to be in Portland from April 22nd to April 28th (but only looking to do shows from the 23rd to 27th) to see my Phoenix Suns play the Blazers on Sat the 24th. I've been doing Stand up for almost 3 years here in AZ and Id like to try it in other places and thought Id try to get some time while up in PDX.

Here is a video of me from a while back performing in Scottsdale. I'm not necessarily looking to get paid (though of course that would be great) but Id love to do some open mics, guest sets, whatever. Im up for proper comedy clubs as well as bars who maybe do once weekly comedy shows on certain nights (we have lots of those here in AZ).

From what I can find online Harveys seems to be the A club, so I doubt I could get on there. There's also some place called Curious Comedy Club which says it has a Sunday Open mic, but when I tried emailing them my email got bounced back to me saying it was a wrong email (I quadruple checked and spelt it right and all that).

Anyway, thanks in advance for any help.

[scamboogah]

I don't know of anything happening that weekend in Portland comedy-wise, but if I hear anything, I'll let you know!

[seanlandis]

scamboogah's post has a hidden meaning.

[Will_Novak]

scamboogah's post has a hidden meaning.

Wow that looks awesome. However I don't see anywhere on their site to contact them if you want to perform and it looks like most of the people they have slated are big time comics from LA and what not that have agents and things that likely booked it for them.

I guess Ill send an email to their general inquiries email address but it seems like a rather long shot since I dont know a soul in the Oregon comedy scene.

EDIT: Also Im a big dummy and didn't realize "Bridgetown" was one of Portlands nick names, thus missing that gigantic Bridgetown thread which Ill now check out. I was searching strictly for the word "Portland"

[pg13]

I look forward to seeing you perform at Tanker, Will.

pg--oh, and you might not want to announce your Suns loyalty whilst enjoying some Bridgetowny goodness...I remember some Bar of the Gods and Tanker having some serious loyal local sports minded patrons who weren't aware there even was a comedy festival happening around them last year.--a few hours north of portland

[Will_Novak]

I look forward to seeing you perform at Tanker, Will.

pg--oh, and you might not want to announce your Suns loyalty whilst enjoying some Bridgetowny goodness...I remember some Bar of the Gods and Tanker having some serious loyal local sports minded patrons who weren't aware there even was a comedy festival happening around them last year.--a few hours north of portland

Sweet it sounds like the Tanker is the place to be as far as open mic no namers like myself go, so Ill certainly be trying to get some time there.

I can't imagine people in Portland being crazy sports zealots like some other places Ive been (Iowa, Texas, the South), so I'm not too worried.

[scamboogah]

I can't imagine people in Portland being crazy sports zealots like some other places Ive been (Iowa, Texas, the South), so I'm not too worried.

Keep in mind that Portland is a pretty good sized city, and the Blazers are literally the only game in town (and now the closest basketball to Seattle and Vancouver as well).

Be careful is all I'm saying.

[raindog]

We're also coming off a season out of greek tragedy with our golden boy Roy (who carried us to the playoffs through losing two centers for the year, a record-setting number of waivers and an injury rate of 311/984 player-games) benched for at least the Phoenix series. Every seat at every game has been sold out since early 2008, with the infamous "Jail Blazer" era having broken our previous sell-out streak from 1976-1995. I wouldn't wear a Suns jersey in the Rose Garden.

That said, I look forward to seeing you up at the Tanker as well! If you swing by again after the festival's died down, I'd talk to the Comedy Is OK kids about going up at the Clinton Street Theater.

Helium's opening up a new club on lower Hawthorne in late July so we'll hopefully have a more interesting club to visit than Harvey's. Maria Bamford and Jimmy Pardo are doing weekends there soon after they open, while Harvey's still had a full-sized picture of Dat Phan in the window the last time I checked.

[badinia]

Harvey's still had a full-sized picture of Dat Phan in the window the last time I checked.

OK, Let's see if I can name 'em all:

Troy Thirdgill, Alonzo Bodden, Ron Osborne, Dwight Slade, Tracy Smith, Marc Lundholm, Dat Phan (!)

And if you are ever in town NOT during The Festival, here's my (constantly updated!) list of open mic opportunities in town! If you google any combination of "Portland" and "comedy" or "open mic", it should come up presently.

http://badinia.com/wordpress/?p=987

[Will_Novak]

^Thanks that list is very helpful. Like I said I didnt even know about the Festival, I just wanted to the see the Suns and some buddies who live up there, the fact that the festival is going on was just dumb luck.

Unfortunately I got this email just a few minutes ago:

Hey Will,

We're really full at this point, and the Tanker is only for comics who are already in the festival -- it's going to be packed as it is and everyone is always fighting for stage time even without adding outside comics (we have over 170 at this point, which is ridiculous). Maybe next year.

-Andy

So its a big bummer. However I still plan on buying a ticket to the event and enlisting in the volunteer squad. By hook or by crook Ill get stage time somewhere while up there.

[pg13]

Sorry to have gotten your hopes up, Will.

Didn't know that the Tanker was limited to festival comics. Still, Andy is SUPER good people and he's got a ridiculously impossible job that he does remarkably well.

So, after due revision, I now look forward to you seeing you look forlornly through the glass windows at Tanker at the performers who get to go up there, Will!

pg--And, as I said in the Bridgetown thread...it's worth going just to see Ron Funches getting stoned with his heroes.--a few hours north of Bridgetown

[ronfunc]

If you are looking to do some comedy in Portland I think Tuesday April 27th at Suki's will be your best bet. Suki's is the home of Portland comedy (not Harvey's never Harvey's) and will likely be packed and buzzing off of the success of Bridgetown.

Suki’s, at SW 4th and Carruthers. 9:30-12:00. Host Dax Jordan, 503-226-1181. show up around 9 to sign up. It is the best representation of Portland comedy so I would go.

[raindog]

I didn't realize until now just how many comedians were coming. I saw a few local (non-festival) comics go up at the Tanker last year, but with a list as long as Andy's put together it makes sense.

In any event, I'd be happy to applaud your set on the street if we run into each other. Heck, for a "Go Blazers!" I'll even buy you a beer. Just look for the darker half of the disheveled gay couple with golden tickets around their necks. (We're a little more Agee/Posehn than Will and Grace)

[ronfunc]

So its a big bummer. However I still plan on buying a ticket to the event and enlisting in the volunteer squad. By hook or by crook Ill get stage time somewhere while up there.

If you are planning to buy a ticket I would do it today as I believe the discount on pre-sales ends tonight.

[Will_Novak]

If you are looking to do some comedy in Portland I think Tuesday April 27th at Suki's will be your best bet. Suki's is the home of Portland comedy (not Harvey's never Harvey's) and will likely be packed and buzzing off of the success of Bridgetown.

Suki’s, at SW 4th and Carruthers. 9:30-12:00. Host Dax Jordan, 503-226-1181. show up around 9 to sign up. It is the best representation of Portland comedy so I would go.

Sweet, thanks for the info! Ill show up there for sure.

If you are planning to buy a ticket I would do it today as I believe the discount on pre-sales ends tonight.

Yep my buddy is buying me one today as payback for me buying the Suns-Blazers tix.

And just out of curiosity, whats the deal with this Harveys place? Is it just a place that puts up the Dat Phans and Carlos Mencias of the world or something? Or is the guy/gal who runs it just an ass?

[raindog]

They pass out a lot of free tickets and sell a lot of drinks and bar food. The few times I've been there it didn't really seem like the staff or the crowd was all that invested in the actual comedy.

[ronfunc]

And just out of curiosity, whats the deal with this Harveys place? Is it just a place that puts up the Dat Phans and Carlos Mencias of the world or something? Or is the guy/gal who runs it just an ass?

YES

[CaptainBreakfast]

Harvey's runs like a business, not like a comedy club. Not a good business, either. The guy who runs it is apathetic to comedy and the quality of comedians that he brings in from out of town (rarely gives locals stage time, they don't run an open mic). The faces on Harvey's are a perfect example of the type of comedy you'll see there. Boycott Harvey's until it gets new management!

(Ron is right about Suki's)

[pg13]

they don't run an open mic

I thought Harvey's DID run an open mic? Did it not last very long?

pg--Personally, I thought Harvey's was a fun room to play, having done it once... Packed house on a Friday night, both shows. They laughed hard at what I did...it felt good. Your mileage may certainly vary. The comedy that Harvey's offers isn't for everyone, certainly...and a town the size of Portland should have multiple options for professional comedy. I'm definitely looking forward to how things work out for Helium!--seattle

PS--I've got no issues with Slade, Bodden or Osborne having their pictures on the wall. I know Comedy Underground in Seattle has both Slade & Osborne on their walls, too (as they're both previous Seattle International Comedy Competition champs.)

[CaptainBreakfast]

The open mic was always after the sunday mainstage show, and the audience was the people who thought that two hours of comedy wasn't enough, or they needed to sober up before driving home. The reason the open mic closed was the owner didn't want to have the bartender getting more hours and staying longer when people weren't buying as many drinks compared to during the mainstage shows. He decided that the open mic was costing him money (or not making him enough profit) and so he shut it down.