Where to start in SF?

[blurb]

Hello. I live in SF and am looking to start doing comedy. I've written some jokes and worked up my courage, but I've never performed any comedy ever. I'm aware of some of the SF open mics, but some of those rooms seem intimidating. I was just wondering if anyone could recommend the best open mics for an absolute beginner in San Francisco. Or does it really not matter that much? Thanks.

[singlewall]

I would take a look at this site for recommendations:

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

[blurb]

Thanks for the suggestion. I've seen that site and they recommend Brainwash on Thursdays for beginners (and Annie's Social Club, which apparently doesn't exist anymore), so I'll try that. Then there are numerous other listings, so I was hoping for someone to maybe narrow it down.

[drieux]

Your best absolute bet to start here is to hit up the Brainwash on Thursdays. Tony Sparks, the host, is a nice dude who is very welcoming to newcomers. Annie's was also a great spot, but that one ended after the venue shut down in the New Year.

[AlienGremlin]

Your best absolute bet to start here is to hit up the Brainwash on Thursdays. Tony Sparks, the host, is a nice dude who is very welcoming to newcomers. Annie's was also a great spot, but that one ended after the venue shut down in the New Year.

I hadn't heard that, Annies was an old haunt of mine, I feel like I need to get drunk now.

[drieux]

Yeah, it was sad. I was one of the co-hosts of the open mic, and it was a great spot. I know not all the bartenders were fond of the comedy contingent, but Annie was always really nice. The joint closed down because of economic reasons, but the last I heard she was planning on opening a smaller spot somewhere else in the near future.

On the comedy front, a few other spots that newcomers should be able to get up at relatively easily:

Monday night, Bliss Bar - run by Greg Asdourian, super-nice guy.
Tuesday night, House of Shields - relatively new mic started by the very awesome Kris Tinkle and Irene McGee.
Wednesday night, The Stud - they do a booked week once a month, but the rest of the month is wide open.
Thursday night - Brainwash, again.
Friday night - Pirate Cat Radio

Those are probably your best bets as an unknown new comic. Start going to some of those regularly and you'll meet lots of people, chat them up and you'll learn other spots and before long you'll be performing all over the place.

If you can travel, I would recommend dropping a line to Rooster T. Feathers for a Wednesday open mic (although their annual competition is starting soon, so it may be until later this year when a spot opens up). You can also do Tommy T's in Pleasanton on Mondays, Bunjo's in Dublin/Pleasanton on Fridays. Tommy T's has a paper signup on-site and costs 5 bucks to perform, Bunjo's books ahead of time via their website and also charges a fiver to get onstage.

The contact info for all this stuff is indeed on www.sfstandup.com. That site is your best bet for finding all sorts of show and signup info.

[scamboogah]

The Stud - they do a booked week once a month, but the rest of the month is wide open.

So to speak.

Gay bar jokes!!

[drieux]

ZING!

[AlienGremlin]

The Utah is a great venue. It has the right combination of drunks and people who're there for the show so that at least someone will laugh at anything.

[Meen Bellpeppers]

Wednesday there is also a ladies open mic at the Brainwash which I thought I'd mention since you didn't say if you have a dick or not.

[Roadside Phil]

The Wed show at Pier 23 is pretty low key. They're switching to 8pm for walk in open mic'ers next week. Not a huge crowd by any means, but low key.