Really A Year

Phoenix Mic-Life

 

This week a year ago, I walked into an open mic at a coffee shop in Mesa, following my second week at Comedy Schools.com.  I was preparing for an open mic in Houston, TX over the Christmas holidays with my family in attendance.  In addition I’d been wanting to scratch “To Do Comedy” off my Bucket List.  What I found in that six week preparation period was the opportunity to hear people laugh at my stuff, and then chasing that moment of laughter began driving me.   Having fun was my top priority, because even if you’re funny and you work very hard it doesn’t mean you’ll ever make more than sense out of this.

Experiencing the subculture that is the Phoenix Mic-Life has been fascinating to me.  After spending the previous 16 years living in rural Northern Michigan, it was great to get out and experience something new with such a diverse crowd.  I re-located from Kalkaska, MI. a town so lacking diversion it has 3 K’s in its spelling. I’ve seen crowds as large as 20+ for a mic and as few as just the bartender, not counting my fellow “mic-ers.”  I prefer the term “mic-ers” to “comedians” on nights when nobody is getting paid.   No disrespect intended, actually just the opposite.  I see a mic-er, as one who is willing to work late, grinding it out, trying to get better at their craft when no one else in the room is paying attention or gives a shit. It takes a special kind, and I’m glad to be one of them.

I have been fortunate to be able to enjoy performing, and I’ve done so at over 200 shows of varying degrees through the year: beginning with mostly mics, to eventually opening showcase shows with national headliners by the end of the first year.  Receiving a slice of pizza, a few wings and a cold beer as compensation a time or two has set the standard. 

This isn’t going to be a “How to” feature.  Instead, I look forward to reviewing venues, menus, shows and maybe throwing gasoline onto smoldering fires when I see an opportunity. 

The Mission @ Minder Binder located 715 S. McClintock Dr. northeast corner of McClintock and University, near downtown Tempe.  Is now the venue for the newest addition to the open mic scene in the East Valley.  The Mission reopened in 2013, walking into the building it suggests Mexican food, with a name that suggests of trips from my youth.  The menu offers classic salads, burgers and pizza,  I enjoyed a thin crust two item 12” pizza for $17 prior to the show.

John Higbee and Ali Musa, run a nice show, they have been hosting a similar show at Boulders on Broadway,   these past few months.  The Upstairs Comedy Show, is a show up go up open mic.  Signup starting at 8:30 and show time beginning at 9:00, Musa was coming off a successful 5 show weekend opening at the House of Comedy.  He still had enough in him to close the show a little after 11:30.  At one point this summer he performed near 60 nights in a row, now that’s a mic-er.   I was the last of 26 to perform, doing a new joke that I backed away from Saturday night.  Most of those who performed were given five minute sets, later in the evening, the sets went to 3 minutes to accommodate the restaurant staff.  We have to be good guests, especially on opening night.  My favorite observation of the night is when late night mic-ers who are buzzed just want to rif.  Then they leave the stage upset, when nobody wants to play along with them.