Sebastapoleans might not know it, but a comic underground runs through town. On a recent third Sunday, comedians and civilians alike met in the Abbey at HopMonk Tavern to get their laughs out. About 40 people, including this reporter, attended what amounted to an informal and free two-hour event. Laughs — with caveats — were had. The event happens every month.
Jon Lehre, 56, of Santa Rosa, co-hosts the Comedy Open Mic night with local fellow stand-up Jefferson Mars. They’ve run the event for seven years now. A professional comic and illustrator, Lehre said protocol is a “bucket list” mic, where comics put their names in a hat for an hour starting at 7 p.m.; the order in which names are then drawn is the order in which people perform, beginning at 8 p.m. There is a limit to the number of comics who appear on any given night, so comics are advised to sign up earlier rather than later. All levels of stand-up or performance comedy experience are encouraged and permitted, but musical, ventriloquist and magic acts are prohibited.
On the evening in question, 13 comics signed up. After a brief introduction, in which Lehre explained that the comics would be testing new material on the audience “to see what sticks” and reminded the crowd that some jokes might be offensive, he began the show with an inoffensive sketch of his own. He proved to be intelligent and funny, making it clear that stand-up is part of his mid-life crisis.
The comics who followed were each allowed five minutes on stage. They ran the gamut from young to older, and included both women and men as well as people of different races. As could be expected, their humor ran the full spectrum from offensive, crude or flat to intelligent, insightful and quite humorous. The overall vibe was low-key. Sometimes the crowd laughed, sometimes it didn’t. Many laughs came out of left field, like when one comic playfully laid into the crowd each time no one laughed at his jokes.
“It’s a big variety of people who get up at the open mic,” Lehre said. “There are some ‘professionals,’ including a few who make actual money doing comedy, but most are lower level comedians doing local or Bay Area shows and are here to work on new material. We also get a lot of first-timers who just want to try it out, see if they have what it takes to do stand-up. Sometimes it’s a life-long dream, sometimes it’s just a whim.”
He continued, “I love this mic, ever since I got on stage here eight years ago. The audience is tremendous. Sometimes we pack the place, which is wild for an open mic. Most comedy open mics happen in the corner of a bar with indifferent patrons annoyed that we’re yelling at them, but our audience is engaged and so generous with their laughter and support. Comics who visit always tell me how lucky we are to get the audience we have. And the venue itself is just terrific, with a great sound system and bar and food service. We’re very fortunate to have the space.”
Lehr made it clear that the event is for adults only and that comics have free-reign as long as they stick to comedy.
“It’s definitely not for kids,” he said. “There’s swearing and talking about sex or challenging topics, so be warned that it takes an open mind. I tell the audience to expect to be offended at some point and I have rarely been wrong. We don’t allow political or social diatribes or hate speech. While political jokes are fine, we’ve had to stop both conservative and liberal speakers who just wanted to rant.”
This reporter’s private joke involved mistaking the small glasses clustered at the end of the bar, each of which was filled with what appeared to be brown liquid, for complementary “taster” beers. The bartender didn’t laugh when he announced that they were, in fact … candles. Yep.
The event was, more than anything, very relaxing. No drunks heckled the stage, no comedian rudely heckled the audience. Comics and audience members were respectful of one other. People entered and left the Abbey at will, and moved around the seating area as the mood suited them. In fact, raised hands weren’t allowed; when questioned by comics, the audience was told to respond by clapping, so as to let attendees remain anonymous. The Abbey ultimately proved itself a safe and comfortable space.
This reporter will return to Comedy Open Mic next month for more laughter which, in this case, amounts to free medicine. Give this event a whirl if you need some laughs. It’s worth the price of admission—and maybe more.
Comedy Open Mic is held the third Sunday of every month at HopMonk Sebastopol, 230 Petaluma Ave. Sign-ups begin at 7 p.m.; the show begins at 8 p.m. Admission is free. (707) 829-7300. www.hopmonk.com/sebastopol