Chicago Open Mics

[beccaBeccaBECCA]

Nice meeting you too, Michael! And thanks.

I think that was maybe my favorite set I've done so far. Not necessarily the one that went over the best, but I actually felt like I was being extemporaneous up there because I changed what I was going to say while I was saying it. I added in some stuff about how I don't talk to people before mics kind of spur of the moment and I'm relieved it worked.... Don't know why I did that, but it felt right in the moment.

I realized after I got home that I'd skipped an entire chunk of material - and spent too much time talking about this girl I met at Cole's last week - but I enjoyed it. It was a little messier than other sets I've done, but I don't think anyone noticed.

I'm doing CJ Toldeno's mic - Flock Yourself - again tonight - this time BEFORE Cole's. So we'll see how that goes.

[KevinLee]

Will you post more videos of open mics on here? I miss Chicago.

[beccaBeccaBECCA]

I only recorded that one set. Wish I'd been recording last night when Ken Witzgall - who was hosting Cole's in Adam Burke's and Cameron Esposito's place - introduced me by saying that everyone hates me... which was met with whoops and applause.

Good times!

I enjoyed Flock Yourself this week too. Wish I'd have stayed longer. Made it back to Cole's in time for that Drunk Astronauts song that's kind of growing on me. And I actually spoke to human people. PROGRESS!

[CJ Toledano]

Will you post more videos of open mics on here? I miss Chicago.

Simmons McDavid moved back for a little bit so should you.

But don't really. I'll be back there soon.

[beccaBeccaBECCA]

Checking Shit Show at Shambles off the list. It went alright, I think. I recorded it, but I haven't watched it yet. Doing Will Miles and Clark Jones' 2 Black Dudes and an Open Microphone tomorrow... and a new set. So yea.

[beccaBeccaBECCA]

Will Miles and Clark Jones' 2 Black Dudes and an Open Microphone was greeeaaat tonight. Had a good set. Kind of chickened out of doing some new stuff - but I'll try that tomorrow at Cole's.

Can't wait to do this mic again next month.

ALSO - what's going on with this Laugh Factory mic? I'm going to try that next week I think... will try to make Lottie's too.

[beccaBeccaBECCA]

OK! It's officially been a month doing open mics. I've gone up over 15 times. AND I LOVE IT!

Best.
Decision.
Ever.

Met another ASTer at Cole's tonight - JayP7 - and Adam Burke said I was his favorite new comic in my intro. I'm just thrilled to be called a comic, honestly! Did a new set - the one I chickened out of doing at Town Hall Pub yesterday - and it went GREAT.

And I feel like maybe I should stop posting about these mics in this thread now, but who the hell else am I supposed to tell about this stuff?

[JKwac]

Becca, you're keeping this thread alive. We can't let this thread turn into me reviewing the food my friends order at open mics and can't finish.

[beccaBeccaBECCA]

That sounds pretty servicey to me. And I'll be OVER IT soon enough, I'm sure. But for now, this is all very new and exciting, so yea - I guess I'll keep posting about it. I'm doing Comedysportz again Monday, so that should be good.

I only did it the one time the showcase got cancelled and by the time I went up, comics were only getting 2 minutes, but I still had a good time!

[beccaBeccaBECCA]

ACTUALLY - is The Chaser cancelled on Monday because of the JFL audition showcase? That's the impression I got from the FB event, but it wasn't really clear. Does anyone know?

[JKwac]

From what I remember hearing, there's something going on at Comedysportz on Monday, so even the JFL auditions won't be there (they'll be at Studio Be.) Also, tell me what "servicey" means please!

[beccaBeccaBECCA]

Yeah - I asked on the facebook wall and the mic is cancelled Monday. I'll probably do Shambles instead....

ANOTHER QUESTION: I forgot about Schubas. Last month it was cancelled because of the Super Bowl. I definitely want to do that mic. What time do people usually get there to sign up for an early spot??? I've seen 8:30 - but advertised times rarely reflect the true sign up situation. I live really far and Sunday train schedules are kind of crazy after a certain time, so I neeeed to get an early spot.

Servicey means exactly what you think it means.

[beccaBeccaBECCA]

Lottie's was great as usual last night. AST's own JayRunner was a funny co-host (he mentioned how riveting my AST updates are in this thread, as I know you all wait with bated breath for the latest minutiae of my stand up experiences....).

I also did Hot Spot at Pressure Billiards which was FINE/weird. The regular host wasn't there and this woman Leah was good in his place. Small room. Not MANY people there - and these people just started doing improv in the middle. I don't even know.

Doing Cole's tonight - and I don't really have a SET for the first time. I usually write everything out kind of meticulously, but tonight I'm just gonna try some shit because I don't have anything super PREPARED... and hope I don't bomb.

[Cliffalus]

See this why I want to move to Chicago. Oh, you guys...

[beccaBeccaBECCA]

OKAY! I had tons of fun at Cole's tonight. Made up half my set on the way there and it was probably the weirdest/least personal stuff (murals, weave, handwriting, Cleopatra) I've done yet, but it worked really well, so I think I'll mix up my material more often.

And I think I love stand up more than anything else now - to the point where I'm neglecting freelance deadlines BUT WHATEVER.

I really need to move to the north side so I can keep up this schedule. The traveling across the city is getting taxing. Four hours on the train for two and a half to twelvish (depending on how many mics I can hit in a night and how late I go up at mics that start to cut time near the end) minutes of stand up five nights a week is making less and less sense - but I think it's worth it.

[beccaBeccaBECCA]

Hours after my transportation-based existential "IS IT WORTH IT?" comedy crisis, I've realized it is! I JUST GOT ASKED TO DO MY FIRST SHOWCASSSSSSSSE!

Details soon! (No one gives a shit, but I'm posting details anyway BECAUSE OF REASONS!)

[Travesty.]

Nice, Becca.

I'll probably be going to some mics starting this Monday. I took a few months off, and now I'll be starting from scratch. All new jokes. I'll be the chubby white kid with horrible material.

[Daniel]

I'm also a chubby white kid/man! I was at Cole's for the first time last week. I remember you, Becca. You had a good set!

A question about Cole's: I know sign-ups start at 5:30. Realistically, how early would one have to get there to get a spot before midnight? I don't live in the city, and getting there at 5:30 isn't really doable.

I'll probably see you around (assuming I follow through with this open-mic thing). I'll try to work past my social anxiety to introduce myself.

[beccaBeccaBECCA]

I've gone up in the late 20s on the list and gotten out AROUND midnight. I probably got to sign up at 6:30-7 for that kind of spot. But today, I'll be there WELL before 6 to get out of there WELL before 10:30. I always try to get a top 5 spot at Cole's - and there's another good mic I'm hitting before Cole's called Flock Yourself that CJ Toledano (a fellow ASTer) runs.

It's biking distance from Cole's or a $7 cab ride or a less than 10 minute bus ride away.

[Daniel]

Thanks, Becca! A couple friends and I are going to try to make it to both tonight. See you there!