Adam

I took a visit to the local open mic event held every Monday night at Iowa City’s Yacht Club… and was pleasantly surprised. Doing comedy several times last semester (and only twice at the Yacht Club), I had a sense that things were pretty slow in Iowa City. However, after taking a visit last night, some great things are happening in the dungeon hidden by a colonial style building.

For starters, there was a crowd. One that wasn’t just comedians (as I had expected). I didn’t stand and count, but I was blown away by the numbers. People had actually come out to see others perform their craft on stage. And they were receptive too! The night flowed smoothly, everyone got laughs, and it wasn’t overly intimidating (something Open Mics tend to be).

Another great thing is that the venue become a safe haven for anyone thinking about trying stand-up comedy. Even if it’s your first time up, the crowd is supportive and applauds you as you scamper off the stage. If you’ve ever thought about doing comedy, at all, the Catacombs of Comedy are a great way to try it out.

All these things being said, I made a logistical blunder that kept me from going on stage. I had worked up the courage all day, polished all of my jokes so they were ready to go… and then missed the role call that happens before the show. Sign up starts around 9 P.M., and I think (and should make sure) that they hold a meeting a half hour later to see if everyone’s still there and ready to go. So if you want to perform, sign up at 9 and then stick around. If you’re just there to watch and have a good time (although everyone does), the event starts at 10.

It isn’t always the cleanest humor, but everyone has great ideas, and supporting your open mic is a good way to make life less boring.

In terms of eventfulness, this was an extremely busy week. It was full of action, adventure, and heartbreak. Sit back, and allow me to weave you three tales to describe (as best I can) the life changing experiences that made the last seven days more exciting than the usual.

Action:

Get a job with parking, see this.

Last week, I started my new job. I’ll give you a few hints as to what it is; I chase down bad guys, wear cool gear, and save Gotham from most certain destruction. If you guessed “Parking Booth Operator,” great guess! I would have accepted “Parking Booth Guy,” too. I bet most males aged 12-24 would love to have Batman’s job, but this one’s alright too. The gig itself is very easy: take money, make change. It pays well, and the downtime between customers means there’s a lot of opportunities to get paid for homework (or Netflix movies). The most threatening part is when a middle-aged woman rolls up, and scrutinizes the amount of change I’ve given her for a full minute. It’s the right amount, I promise.

Adventure:

On Thursday of the past week, I stepped up and took on the biggest fear known to man: public speaking. The Campus Activities Board (CAB) hosted an open mic competition at T.Spoons, offering aspiring musicians and comedians their chance at claiming one of three cash prizes (I guess you could call the Campus Activities Board the “Cash CAB” this week… haha…) for best performance. While I wasn’t one of the three to be handed a gift card (all of the awards went to very talented musicians), being patted on the back and congratulated several times was payment enough. Hell, maybe I’ll try stand up again! As long as I don’t get cold feet (like a penguin… ha… ha… O.k. I’m done).

Heartbreak:

I end my post today with a story of spirit crushing heartbreak. It could also be a case of depressing comedy, depending on the kind of person you are. Last Tuesday, as you may have been able to tell by the line stretching a block and a half down Clinton, was the 20th birthday of Panchero’s. Now, I’m not typically a huge fan (and NEVER bump up the burrito at football games), but like a mosquito drawn to a bright light that would ensure my death, I was part of the line for $1 Burritos.

You can almost see Panchero’s from here!

A friend and I boarded the line at 3:45 p.m., assuming I’d have enough time to get a burrito and make it to my 5 o’clock class. For over an hour, I stood there, wiped sweat from my brow, and tanned my arms. It was the closest thing to the drought that I’ve experienced. As 4:50 clicked on to the sign of a local bank (right after the stupid thing reminded me, AGAIN, that it was 93 degrees out), I managed to peek inside of the gigantic free-for-all that was the restaurant. I made the decision to split the difference and leave. The good student inside of couldn’t stand to miss the only lecture I have that grades attendance. I was heartbroken.

So there are the highs and low of my last week. I’d say it was pretty satisfying. Not too busy, not too boring, but enough action, adventure, and heartbreak to inspire a Hollywood blockbuster.