Los Angeles open mics

[Lord Whorfin]

Anyone have a list of good open mics in Los Angeles? I'm in Studio City but it wouldn't have to be there.

[punkdc]

The best open mic list ever made: http://mrbuttersworth.com/directory.aspx

[Lord Whorfin]

Thanks. That's going to be super helpful. If anyone has direct experience of a particular place that'd be good to know too.

[scottbox]

The Westwood BrewCo on Tuesday is the longest-running open mic in town (over 10 years, I think!). At it's best, it's like being at a show. It does get crowded, and there's a lottery, so you don't be surprised if you get up late.

The Spot in Culver City on Wednesday is also very good. The room is good and the hosts are great (disclaimer: I used to host it).

I like Triclops at Silverlake Lounge on Fridays. In terms of getting laughs, it's a tough room, but the hosts are great. It's also early, so you can do your thing and have a Friday night. There's also a booked show after the open mic, which gets a lot of good comics.

[jeffwatt]

Can anyone recommend a good Thursday open mic?

Anyone been to this Coffee Bean one in Encino? My immediate judgement is that Coffee Bean patrons would ignore a show going on while they're trying to type important things on their laptops.

[Babs]

Has anybody been to the Sunset Grill one? Weird I was eating there recently and thought it would be a good place for something like that. Where do they put the comics?

[Gene George]

Has anybody been to the Sunset Grill one? Weird I was eating there recently and thought it would be a good place for something like that. Where do they put the comics?

In the salad!

G'night everybody!

[brandom]

Has anybody been to the Sunset Grill one? Weird I was eating there recently and thought it would be a good place for something like that. Where do they put the comics?

upstairs/outdoor

I only did it a couple of times, but seems hit or miss

they had it on multiple nights before with different hosts, but i think its just sundays now

food is good/cheap though

[elton]

bumping cause I'm new to L.A and would love to get an idea what open mics are best. Thanks in advance.

[Gene George]

http://mrbuttersworth.com/directory.aspx

Alan Lebetkin, a mensch has put together this list. Easy peasy.

These are the ones I have done or heard stuff about.

Monday - El Cid - Done this, it's OK really nice room. The actual theater space is very old school nightclub.
Tuesday - Westwood Brewco - Done this. Parking blows and it often runs late late late.
Wednesday - The Spot (never done this one, heard it's good)
Friday - Triclops @ Silverlake Lounge

Ha Ha Cafe on Lankershim in North Hollywood has open mics most days of the week. I've heard mixed reviews.

[megalope]

Ha Ha Cafe on Lankershim in North Hollywood has open mics most days of the week. I've heard mixed reviews.

FWIW, I've heard very un-mixed reviews, all awful.

[scottbox]

The Ha Ha is the height of awfulness- they make you pay $5 to do the mic, and the quality of the comedy is horrendous, even by open mic standards.

If you feel compelled to do a Thursday open mic, there's the Unurban on Pico in Santa Monica. That place is bad, but it's the kind of bad that's free.

[megalope]

RIP Green in Culver City.

RIP Marv 'n Mary's also!

[Gene George]

FWIW, I've heard very un-mixed reviews, all awful.

The Ha Ha is the height of awfulness- they make you pay $5 to do the mic, and the quality of the comedy is horrendous, even by open mic standards.

I was going to try and be politic, mainly because I was trying to keep this in the positive and also I've never done Ha Ha Cafe personally, but, yeah I've heard it is horrible. Bringers and pay-for-play really make me leery in general.

Here's an idea, we should get an assload of AST folks and class up the joint. It might be fun to turn shitfest into a viable mic for a night.

Or not.

[scottbox]

Gene, I appreciate the sentiment, but there's really no need to be positive when it comes to the Ha Ha.

And if good comics came to the Ha Ha, the owner's head would explode and the mice inside would have no place to live.

[Tim.Shell]

Here's an idea, we should get an assload of AST folks and class up the joint. It might be fun to turn shitfest into a viable mic for a night.

I don't know. I think it would be easier to find a different, friendlier place and turn that into a decent open mic. I was thinking of Michael's Bar & Grill on Olive over by NBC. It already has a decent stage and sound because it has karaoke most nights. A Thursday open mic there would probably work well.

I've actually thought about organizing it myself, but I have mental problems that make for a good act, but bad for organizing.

P.S. -- There's another list with reviews over on www.chucklemonkey.com, however, it's not as up to date.

[Gene George]

Gene, I appreciate the sentiment, but there's really no need to be positive when it comes to the Ha Ha.

It was more for my personal satisfaction than anyone elses. But I know what you mean.

And if good comics came to the Ha Ha, the owner's head would explode and the mice inside would have no place to live.

And there's a downside where in this plan?

[pauliophonic]

I like Triclops at Silverlake Lounge on Fridays. In terms of getting laughs, it's a tough room, but the hosts are great. It's also early, so you can do your thing and have a Friday night. There's also a booked show after the open mic, which gets a lot of good comics.

This is my only open mic experience so far and it's totally accurate.

[brandom]

I had heard that Ha Ha was the worst place ever for a while, so I just had to see for myself not too long ago(on a Monday). Im not really defending it in anyway, but that $5 that i paid to do it also got me a drink/beer. And unlike some of the other more popular open mics, you will actually be playing to a room full of people(well i did that time anyway). Whereas at the others, half the room is usually hanging out outside and you are stuck performing to like 5 people. But their whole bringer shows thing is wrong on so many levels, so I just did my set and didn't stay to set up dates. So I guess I endorse it in the way of go there if you want a drink, and to test out stuff strictly at that days open mic to a different kind of crowd, and then get the hell out of there.

I like places like El Cid and Triclops, but theres sometimes such an empty feeling there, maybe its just me, that I wouldn't really gauge their responses or rather non responses on much.

I miss Abbott's(Monday) quite a bit. Lot of good people would show for that and it was pretty supportive.

If you live East of Glendale, I think the Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena(Bordering Pasadena) is worth checking out. Nice stage/sound, as its actually a performance place for folk/bluegrass/etc acts usually. Its every other Tuesday, be there before 8. I think the next one is on the 16th, but use Buttersworth's contact info and call first.

Someone should start a Saturday mic


too much typing, sorry

[Osquip]

We'll probably be starting a new Monday open mic after the holidays.