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Open Mic
When is it?
Wednesdays
Show times: 7:15 p.m. -7:45 (Doors open at 7:00 p.m.)
Who's appearing?
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May 21 |
May 28 |
June 4 |
June 11 |
June 18 |
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1. Rachel Kaub |
No |
1.Zack Jones |
1.Rachel Kaub |
1.Rachel Kaub |
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2. |
Open |
2.Sean McKellips |
2. |
2.Mary Byrd |
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3 |
Mike |
3.Karen Wilkinson |
3. |
3.Charlie Alvarenga |
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4. |
Private event |
4. Chad Patterson |
4. |
4. |
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Host |
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Host |
Host |
Host |
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June 25 |
July 2 |
July 9 |
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1.Rachel Kaub |
Rachel Kaub |
Rachel Kaub |
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2. Luis Powell |
Rick DeSimone |
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3.Ricardo Cate' |
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4.Zachary
Jones |
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Host |
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How much does it cost?
Tickets are free!
While a lot of clubs charge open mic comics and all their guests $5.00 to 15.00
for admission. Laffs wants to help up and coming comedians get stage time and
grow our local talent pool. At the same time, we have a chance to expose new
people to how much fun Laffs is!
How does it work?
Potential comics will sign up in advance to perform at their scheduled show.
They will then take that time to promote their show and appearance, making
flyers, emails, telephone calls, etc. YES - you MUST promote your show to have
people out! 5 comics will be allowed to sign-up and perform. Slots available and
dates will be listed on this page for future reference. NO PREVIOUS STAND-UP
EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY.
What are the RULES for performing?
Laffs Comedy Club's Open-Mic policy has always been and will continue to be:
"to provide a show which features good, up and coming talent." We
offer our guests a show that falls within the bounds of good taste. Vulgarity,
profanity, racial slurs and X-Rated humor is not tolerated on the open
mic stage, (you can do that when you headline.)
On occasion, one of our regular comedians will drop in to do some time and we
will accommodate their needs to do a quick set. They will do their set, but it
may bump someone back.
We have, on many occasions moved "open micers" to our PRO shows on Wednesday,
Thursday or Sunday night, to do a 5 minute guest set in front of a paid audience
to measure the comics progression. After succeeding in week night guest sets you
will be invited to do weekend guest sets, you may also be given the
opportunity to host the open mic as well.
WALK BEFORE YOU FLY - You have to become an amateur BEFORE you can
go professional. We would recommend you take a class or a workshop first.
Workshops will be offered at Laffs on Thursdays in the near future.
WATCH AND LEARN - If you can't/won't take a workshop, come to
Laffs Wednesday for the open-mic and watch once or twice, to get the feel. DON'T
GO ON STAGE RIGHT AWAY. You can also watch professional shows to see what you
may aspire to.
GET MATERIAL - Know what you are going to talk about BEFORE you go
on stage. Don't try and "wing it", it is harder than it looks. Have your
material rehearsed and know it by heart. That will help. Material has to be
original. Don't steal, borrow re-write other comedians material. If you do this
you will probably end up selling cars instead of becoming a professional
comedian. Do not plagiarize like we did for almost this entire page. Even if you
plagiarize from someone who plagiarized the original pilferer, it's still not a
good thing!
TIME YOURSELF - You should come prepared with 4-6 minutes worth of
material. That is about the average for an open mic comic. Use your stage time
to hone and work out your set. After you have your five minutes polished
material. Expand it, and keep writing!
DRESS CODE - All comics are expected to dress in a professional
appearance with nice pants and shirt. Cutoffs, sandals and the like, are NOT
appropriate. A good rule of thumb is, "if you wouldn't wear it on a first date,
don't wear it here".
KNOW THE RULES - Do they allow x-rated material? Cursing? In a
word NO. Remember for all performers and clubs what is most important - THE
AUDIENCE - they want to be entertained PROFESSIONALLY, not insulted. Comics who
bring 5 of their friends and wish to spew out a slew of "dick jokes" just for
their friends amusement - PLEASE RE-READ THIS
FOLLOWING THE LIGHT - Every Professional Comedy Club has a light
that tells you when to get off stage. When the light comes on, wrap up your act
in the next 30 seconds or risk having your mic shut off. But if you have to go
over your time.....at this point you can say what an asshole the owner is and
how you'll show him someday.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DO SOMETHING OFFENSIVE AND DISTASTEFUL? - Mic
goes off, music comes up and the host will retake the stage and you will stop.
This will happen immediately and abruptly - and you will find it that much
harder to perform on the show again, so the best advice DON'T DO IT. But if you
have to at this point you can say what an asshole the owner is and how you'll
show him someday. We hope your dream will come to fruition. Remember this
is billed, at the very least, as a "Pro" and "Semi-Pro" show, you should strive
to be as professional as possible, anybody can go to any bar and hear a dirty
joke, rise above it, be clever and creative.
In closing...
Tim Allen, Ellen DeGeneres, Jim Carrey, and George McKelvey all
had to start somewhere, didn't they? An open mic to a comic is like beginning
your freshman year on a 10 year PHD program, and few receive their PHDs. You go
up cold and usually unfunny, and relish any sound that might be a snicker or a
laugh. But that's usually all it takes and you're hooked on the late nights and
working hard to get more laughs.
For years Laffs Comedy Club has hosted Albuquerque's BEST Open Mic night, with
MANY, MANY imitators coming along. It has become the PREMIERE
Open-Mic in the State! And for years the New Mexico comedy scene has grown and
produced some of the funniest comics working clubs today, writing and performing
for hit TV shows, and some merging into the LA or NY industries with complete
success. That's why Laffs Comedy Club decided it's time to see what it's Open
Mic can do!
We're looking forward to building on an already strong Albuquerque comedy scene.
We hope you'll join us.
Why do I need to bring people?
Comedy without an audience isn't comedy, it's a kind of creepy bad soliloquy.
We encourage you to invite lots of people.
"But Laffs - Every show I get booked for they yell for me to bring
people. Why should I bring them to this show?" First and foremost, this
is a PROFESSIONAL COMEDY CLUB. This ain't some pool hall or one-nighter put on
in a sports bar somewhere. And at the Laffs, they will have a GOOD TIME. They
won't be waiting until 1:00 A.M. to see you perform; you will DEFINITELY get on
stage. Plus (and let's be honest here) the more people you bring, the better you
will feel - and so will the audience! They will thank you for inviting them and
they'll look forward to seeing you again! This is a PROFESSIONAL COMEDY CLUB!
Also, we expect YOU as the performer to act professional at all times - both on
and off stage.
Can I sign up to host the show?
Nope - You'll be invited to host or do guest sets.
How much time do I get?
AH, the most frequently asked question. Simple - 5 minutes.
What happens if I don't bring people?
If you as a comic show up with just your set list in your hand and made no
effort to promote your appearance at this club and have no one to support you,
you will lose your performance slot. NO EXCEPTIONS - NO EXCUSES ACCEPTED! Each
and EVERY time you perform - THESE RULES APPLY. We have seen some people promote
their show the first time, then slide off on future shows. These rules apply
each and every time you perform. Also, having another comic you know, performing
on the same show, does NOT count towards audience. People who are on their way
in for the show that you recruit as "your guests," do not count. In the past we
have watched an open miker in the parking lot asking people to be their
"friends" this doesn't help you or the club. We expect each performer to have 5
people (Minimum).
What happens if I don't show up?
If you sign up for multiple dates, and you are a NO-SHOW on one of those
dates - we will automatically remove you from any and all future dates you might
have scheduled - WITH NO NOTIFICATION! We have A LOT of people requesting dates,
some first-timers, so when request and selecting dates, make sure you can make
it! PLEASE NOTE - ALL PERFORMERS NEED TO BE TO THE CLUB AT LEAST 15 MINUTES
PRIOR TO SHOWTIME TO CHECK IN AND GO OVER SHOW RULES. Lastly, a lot of
people want to know what it takes to be booked here as part of the pro-shows. To
really try and move forward as a professional comedian. If you as a performer
have the desire and intention on being booked here or at the very least, want to
be considered to be booked here, don't shoot yourself in the foot. Performing at
every hole in the wall show will probably not even garner you a second look. We
look for comics that aspire to become professional and perform in comedy clubs.
GOOD LUCK and hope to see you soon!
How do I sign up?
There are two ways to sign up: E-mail:
mrlaff@aol.com with open mic in the subject line. In the body of your
e-mail please include the following information Name, Date you are requesting,
and your telephone number. We will try to accommodate you. Your request does not
guarantee you a spot. Spots are filled first come first served. Please and thank
you will always help your cause - both at Laffs and in your everyday life. Even
the celebrities we book at Laffs go by this creed. Way 2 -There will be a sign
up sheet at the club available only on Wednesday between 7:00 and 7:30 p.m. If
someone no calls or no shows, you just might get that spot! Phone calls will not
be accepted for people who wish to sign up for open mic. If you call for an open
mic slot, please be prepared for a very warm reception, Thank you for not
calling.
...don't piss off your fellow comedians...
Comedy Rule of Etiquette #1: The "Host - Comedian - Host relationship".
When attending most any booked show, as an audience member, you may not
notice the subtleties that carry on amongst the comedians throughout the
show.
For one, "the handing off of the mic," like a baton in a relay. You can't
just hand it off when you finish your set and jump off stage. You can, but
immediately you're telegraphing to every comic in the room that you're an
amateur. (And believe me this is a habit I'm trying to work on.) But you
need to think of the mic as a very fragile Fabergé egg. In essence, you, as
a comic, need to always hand it off with a lot of soft fluffy pillow in
between.
Think of it as filler.
The host introduces you, "Hey, and now for your next comic..." [The audience
claps.]
Then the comedian walks up to the stage and gives props to the host, "Give
it up for your host..."[The audience claps.]
Pay attention, this is what most amateurs miss!
Then when you finish your set, you re-give it up
for your host, "Once again, give it up for your host..."
And your host obliges by showing respect for you by giving the audience your
last acknowledgment. "[Comic's name], everybody!" [Again, the audience
claps.]
By this time, I'm saying in my head, as an audience member, "Alright,
alright already. Enough with the ass-kissing. We get it. You're all great,
friendly, and courteous comedians." But actually, I don't think it's fair to
say it's ass-kissing. Just space filler.
Just in case you missed that, here's the sped up version, the pattern you'll
notice throughout the night at a booked* show:
Host: Give it up for our next comedian!
Comedian #1: Give it up for our host! [Finishes his/her set] Give it up for
our host!
Host: [Comedian #1's name], everybody! [Host may or may not tell jokes] Give
it up for our next comedian!
Comedian #2: Give it up for our host! [Finishes his/her set] Give it up for
our host!
Host: [Comedian #2's name], everybody! [Host may or may not tell jokes] Give
it up for our next comedian!
...and so on, and so forth...
What I mean to say about the ass-kissing is that I believe it's a falsified
notion. In actuality, I believe it's filling the space in time when no one
is speaking. It's like radio. Radio stations don't like any dead-air. But
this is all just speculation. I haven't done the research yet. I need to ask
hosts why they do it.
I, personally, hate excessive and superfluous clapping--like at awards
shows. It could be just plain indolence on my behalf. (I don't like having
to do more than necessary.) But again, it fits in with the
false compliment post I mentioned early. I may have enjoyed the set. But
do I need to clap twice to show my appreciation. And what does my clapping
prove?
As a comic, when I approach the stage, I enjoy the silence. It lets me know
people are paying attention and it's time for me to get "into the zone."
Ahh, the zone! I miss the zone. I used to enter the zone in basketball,
soccer, and other sports in high school. And of course you can do no wrong
when you've entered the zone. You're in lockstep with that special vibration
in the air. It's like you hit all the electromagnetic waves and they do the
work for you. The magic just happens and it flows out of you. I can't wait
to do this enough times, where I can "enter the zone" on stage. When it
happens, watch out! You'll be hooked!
Rule of Etiquette #2: Watch for the light!
Don't go over the allotted time given to you. More specifically, watch for
the light! (Again a habit I have yet to ingrain into my comedy persona.) If
you go over your time, the people in line after you, now have to wait even
longer (the difference of the time you went over by) to get on stage. This
"running over your time" can become extremely irksome if other comics have
another show to head off to or have a job they need to get to early next
morning. My point is, just be conscious of this. And you can even ask, "How
much time do I have?" in the middle of your set just to make sure.
Again, I'm still learning. So to avoid this I always try to be the
"headliner," which if you haven't figured out the irony by now is fairly
funny to be called at the open mic. In open mics, I ask to be last on the
list. That way if I go over, no one really cares because they've already
their time on stage.
It's very necessary that you don't piss off your fellow comedians. This also
goes for club owners, GMs (general managers), and Hosts, respectively. Hosts
may very well be your fellow comedian buddy that was coming up the rankings
with you at those many open mics you attended.
Rule of Etiquette #3: Stick around after your set!
Make every effort to stay after your set. Every comedian needs an audience
to perform in front of (even if the audience is comprised of other
comedians). Note: Comedians typically make the worst audience because
they're so cerebral and partly because they're probably not even paying
attention to you on stage. (They're probably thinking about their own set.)
But once you head off stage, stick around. Say you can't stick around the
entire show, but you do have the flexibility to stay a little bit. Comedy
etiquette says "3 comedians after you." What does that mean? Stick around
and wait until after 3 comedians after you have performed. Simple is as
simple does.
* I mention a booked show versus an open mic, which are two completely
different structures all together.
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