The "cafe"

     Down those winding stairs I stroll, into the warm, haze filled room. They have been busy in the last couple of months since I had been here. They have a nice raised stage now, with a drum set..I am tempted to play, but do not want to disturb the chill, low key atmosphere that is prevalent throughout the room. They also have a pool table, air hockey table, and shuffleboard to keep you occupied as well. A nice bar area with some great "medibles" and everyone is always happy. No drama or loud, alcohol induced stupidity, always peaceful and serene.
     I arrive a few minutes late, but as usual with most comedy events, it never starts on time. I still have 30 minutes to think and get a set in order. I'll start off with something topical that the crowd can relate to, and stay away from any of the more abrasive material. Though most of the people in the audience seem less than interested in the comedy show going on, they are polite and keep their table talk to a minimum.
    Everyone does their time and gets a smattering of applause with a few laughs mixed in. This is not a room you come to "kill" instead, this is a room you come to be productive in. I feel good about how a new bit went over and may use it in my Harveys set coming up.
    I have eaten shit in this room many times before, but still I come back begging for more. Its a fun way to spend a Saturday evening, right?
   

Gypsy...

Another night, another dive bar. No stage tonight, just a small, dimly lit room with a sparse, but attentive audience. They give a few "meh" laughs as the comics cycle through the show. Most are there to sing karaoke in the room to the right side of the bar. Luckily, the two rooms are separated, but you still get the echoes of your least fave 80s hits being murdered by total strangers, bleeding through the walls. Though sometimes you get a gem. Kudos to the gentleman singing Prince tonight, you were on point. To the left is a wall made up of various lottery machines, flashing and bathing the room in colorful light, fighting for your attention.
    Hopefully, if it goes well, all attention will be on you when you take the floor. Though, sometimes it doesn't all go to plan, and you get the pleasure of bombing in front of your friends and fellow comics. There is a definite joy taken by the group when they watch a fellow comic eating shit. Not in a negative way, it's the exciting "how will he handle it?" anticipation that gets us smiling. Will he just power through his set? Will he give up and get off stage? Will he win them back....?
   
      ....Tonight, I did not win them back, I ate shit for 10 minutes.


      And then I played pinball.