I just moved to SF

[drieux]

Yes she is, and Jill is usually a promotion machine. Her shows at the Purple Onion were often nearly at capacity, so that bodes well for the Tuesday shows. Like almost every other venue these days (except the Punchline, which is almost always full lately) there is a glut of good comics putting on good shows who can't get decent audience numbers. In a community where everybody is using Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Funcheap, etc., it seems almost impossible to get people out lately. I've been hanging out at venues after shows and if somebody comes up and says hello and wants to chat, I give them a card with my site, Twitter, etc. on it. About 25% of those people will actually follow through and go to those locations. About 10% of those actually come to another show. And I always offer shirtless hugs and awkward conversation after every show.

[drieux]

Hey, Bay Area bro-hams...

So, I performed at the Saturday night show at Bunjo's out in Dublin/Pleasanton, and while I usually loathe what happens on St. Patty's Day at most comedy shows (I booked it without even checking to see that it was a holiday, because I never check, because I'm an idiot) it was a pure delight. The audience was a bit older but attentive and (mostly) sober. It is true that you have to use material that is a little more light-and-fluffy, but that's what I've always looked at Bunjo's for and if a bit works there, it will usually work just about anywhere for the average audience. John Dekoven books the place and I'd recommend hitting up the Friday "open mic" showcases when they get back on after he wraps up his annual competition.

I also went to Dirty Trix last week, and the place was packed and insane, especially for an open mic. I really like the guys who run it, but I signed up at #16 (it starts at 9) and left just before Midnight without performing and they were at #10 on the list. Lots of bumping, which is fine, and lots of screwing around onstage, which isn't so fine, at least to me. They offer 10-minute sets and people tend to stretch that to 11-13, and it was an exceptionally screw-around-y kind of night. I'll definitely go back but on a night when I don't have something important to do at work at 7:30 a.m. the next morning.

[drieux]

April 1st marks the 13th Anniversary of the Brainwash open mic. This kinda boggles my mind, because it means Tony Sparks has been running it for 13 YEARS. I ran an open mic for a little over a year and it was a daunting, terrifying experience. Nowadays Tony has had to install a 3-minute set for almost everybody, the show runs from 7pm to 11 MOTHERFUCKING PM every Thursday and Tony is somehow not a raging alcoholic who cries himself to sleep. If you're in San Francisco and looking for comedy and don't want to pay Punchline prices (which are pretty cheap for Sundays, I gotta say) then do the B-wash on April 1st. This one is not an open mic, as far as I know, and Tony is picking some of his favorites, because he can and deserves a night of comedy there that doesn't involve some crazy dude in a sweater vest with no undershirt rambling about eating pussy for once. I most likely won't be there, because I'll be coming back from a weekend gig about five hours away but I encourage everybody who can to go kiss the ring for Tony. The dude deserves respect. I mean, 13 years. Yeesh.

[drieux]

The Rockit Room open mic is temporarily off, since Rockit lost their entertainment license for a while after some performer apparently led police on a high-speed chase following a show there a few weeks back. That, and the St. Patty's Day crowd supposedly had multiple streetfights happening in front of the place. So they can sell booze now, but not have anything happening to distract from the drinking, which I presume will cure any and all problems. Dedicated, focus drinkers with no distractions are always great to be around.

Danny is attempting to find a temporary venue and says he'll post an update on the Bay Area comedy page via Facebook if he does.

http://www.facebook.com/groups/bayareacomedynetwork/

In the meantime, if you're looking for a quiet place without distractions to tie one on without the problems of music, comedy or karaoke to get in the way, get over to Rockit!

[Cameron]

I'm going to be in town next month to compete in the San Francisco Comedy Competition. I'm going to be arriving a day early, so do any of you have suggestions for shows I might be able to get on Wednesday, Sept. 19th? It would be hugely appreciated.

[Steven_M]

There's usually a good crowd at Dirty Trix in SF.

Most of the Wednesday mics are on the peninsula, and I'm not sure if you have a car or not.
Bobby D's in Redwood City (8pm), and then The lariat (10pm).
Rooster T. Feathers has a booked showcase too, if you email them now you should still be able to get on the show.
Also there is a booked show in Redwood City at Angelica's Bistro (8pm). It's booked by Dan St. Paul (former runner up SF comedy competition).

http://www.sfstandup.com/stagetime/

[Cameron]

Thank for info/link! Right now I'm hoping to not have to rent a car and will just be reliant on public transportation.

[drieux]

Congrats on getting into the SF Comedy Competition, Cameron. Just so you know, some of the shows happen pretty far outside of San Francisco, but in previous years other competitors were pretty good about carpooling; might be a good idea to touch base with some of your fellow week's comics and see if you can hitch a ride to some of the shows.

[Cameron]

Thanks! And yeah, my week has shows in Tuolumne and Santa Cruz that I'm hoping to carpool with someone to. But if I have to I'll rent a car. I'm under 25, so it's just way more expensive to rent a car than it should be.

[drieux]

I was doing P.R. for the competition last year and most of the comics were carpooling to the distant shows, just to save on gas and in a lot of cases to hang out. It's a fun competition to be involved in.

Also, the Santa Cruz venue is notorious. I've hosted Sunday shows there before (non-competition ones) and it's varied between Totally Awesome to Somebody Kill Me. Definitely a place where Short-And-Sweet and on the dirty side will probably prove helpful. Although sometimes that place ends up being the "TV Clean" spot for the week, which doesn't do anybody any favors. Good luck!

[Cameron]

Good to know.

Got my ride situation worked out, carpooling with other comics to the far away shows. Also got booked to do The Business at The Dark Room. Seems like an awesome show and I'm stoked to be doing it. Are there any open mics that I could head to after that show and still have a chance of getting on stage (Dirty Trix?)

[drieux]

Dirty Trix goes until the bar closes, so it's probably your best bet. I haven't been in a while - the last time I went I signed up at #16, the show started at 9 and as of Midnight they were at something like #11 and I took off. I've heard it's a bit better than that lately.