The unappealing inward appearance of Mr. Goodbar doesn't seem like it holds much potential. With its gloomy abstract-shaped hallway, many people would not be eager to keep walking down the hall.
However, what's behind the door to the right on the second floor of this ominous building is an interesting Wednesday night comedic experience.
The Rust Belt Comedy Open Mic night draws aspiring local comedians to this Elmwood locale with hopes of entertaining their 9 p.m. crowd.
The weekly performances feature underground comedic acts, hosted by a mocking comedian who will probably make brief jokes about the attendees being rudely late or the next act being "very funny." In some cases, despite the sarcasm, the display might be the comics' first shot at comedic careers, and the results could prove fatal with stuttering, incoherent, nervous jokes.
After a brief introduction to the show, the audience has the chance to either laugh hysterically or be completely unenthused; it all depends on who signed up first. The five-minute sets are based on a first-come-first-served basis and the ability of the comedian is not a factor in being allowed to perform. Thankfully, the 13 acts are often made up of comedians who have stood the weekly test multiple times.
It all started with a comedian named Kristen Becker who realized there was no outlet for Buffalo's funniest demographic. Then, three years ago, the Buffalo native came up with a remedy for the drought.
In doing so, she created the Doin' Time Comedy Showcase at Allentown's Nietzsche's. In the midst of all of this, her career launched. Becker is the founder of a successful comedy tour called Dykes Of Hazard (DOH), and a past semifinalist on NBC's Last Comic Standing. She also opened for celebrities like singer Ani DiFranco and comic Doug Stanhope. She leaves a legacy behind her and has inspired her peers to continue the progress.
This group of Becker's friends has fostered the idea and introduced it to a new venue at Elmwood's Mr. Goodbar. They call it the "B open mic" in regards to the original hotspot at Nietzsche's.
"I've been doing this for five years and it's exciting to see it progress," said Mark Walton, a member of this original crew.
He and fellow comic Chet Wild are the primary organizers of the Wednesday night gig, and their routines are nothing short of hilarious.
According to Walton and fellow humorist Kyle Turner, The Rust Belt Open Mic Comedy doesn't host many recurring acts. Based on one of the performances from this past week, it would seem that these inexperienced comics probably run away embarrassed from the nerve-wracking activity.
Walton knows how difficult performing can be by recalling his first set.
"[The first time] surprisingly went well, but the fourth time was brutal because I finally noticed how many people weren't laughing," Walton said. "It seems to be an agreed upon milestone between many comedians, but once you get over that part, it's awesome."
There are some gems to be found in a night full of amateurism. The final act presented a fifth-time performer whose risqué jokes consisting of fat women and suicide received inordinately gigantic bursts of laughter. Putting a new angle on the crude topics made his ironic and witty twists garner the praise of the audience.
At the end of the hour, the comedians leave the stage and close another successful night of comedy at Mr. Goodbar, until a slew of new comics show their talents the next week.
Email: arts@ubsectrum.com
