The open mic spot at any comedy club requires very large
those-things-you-find-on-snooker-tables, and one has to admire anyone that's up for risking total and utter humiliation at the hands of a baying crowd.
Of course, it could go the other way. The comic might actually be funny.
The
Comedy Cafe in Shoreditch keeps Wednesday nights available for its open mic spot, promising eight new acts each time.
Entry is free but you need to
book in advance.
You're seated around tables, the idea being that you
eat dinner at the same time as hopefully laughing your head off, which could result in the occasional half-chewed chip flying across the room and landing in someone's hair.
The great thing about open mic nights is that you have absolutely no idea what to expect. Expectation levels are usually low as none of the newbies are professional. Indeed, most will be trying their routine for the very first time.
If you're really lucky, you might actually witness something special – a wannabe comic stepping into the spotlight for the very first time to find they have a bit of that special magic.
In that case, not only will you get to chuckle heartily at the new comic's material, you could also be seeing the next
insert-name-of-your-favourite-stand-up-comic-here starting out.
Of course, on most occasions the new acts raise more eyebrows than laughs, but you never know. Of the eight acts performing on a Wednesday night, the chances are there'll be at least one decent comic among them.
So go along and support emerging new talent. Or really test their mettle by throwing in the occasional heckle!
