At my first open mic there were two kinds of people I noticed, loners and a small group socializing. I assumed the loners were the pros and the social group was comprised of people who didn't take it too seriously. I was wrong, not only in my assumptions about the people, but even the notion that there are "two kinds".
About that social group, you'll need to understand a couple of things. An open mic is kind of like a rehearsal for a comic or a training ground for a wannabe like me. You'll see the same faces repeatedly. There are dozens of open mics all over Chicagoland. Many open mics are set up to be first come first serve, so you may have to get there early if you want a good spot on the list. Seeing the same people over and over, sitting in the same room for hours, not surprisingly, people become friends.
So, it's not that they don't take it seriously, they're just not a bundle of nerves. They're hanging out with friends (or at least friendlies) that they've known for years. They were intimidating to me because it felt a little clique-y, and with any community, that happens. But what I didn't realize was what it's like from their perspective. There are a ton of reasons someone might go to an open mic; some are starting out, fulfilling a New Year's resolution, facing their fears of public speaking, perhaps simply checking it out. You'll see new faces every time that you will never see again. So, it's not personal if you're ignored, it's just not reasonable to go make nice with every new face. They're talking to their friends, you're a stranger. That there's a shared purpose of an open mic doesn't change either of those two facts.
Sometimes the "group" isn't comprised of people who are friends. One time I struck up a conversation with a guy, and we really didn't know each other. But, we'd seen each other at open mics here and there, and we started talking about whatever. Then another guy came by that neither us knew at all, and then a girl that I kind of know. I realized that we looked like a group of friends talking, and none of us barely know each other. If a paranoid person was there for the first time, we might look like a group of friends not interested in anyone else.
The deep-in-thought/intense loner was the other other type I noticed at the first open mic, assuming they were the pros. They MIGHT be pros, but in my limited experience it breaks down more like:
1) Extremely nervous, maybe from stage fright or perhaps a newer comic, but in general, just frazzled and barely holding it together.
2) A comic thinking/working on their material.
3) Shy/temporary loner, not nervous or anti-social, but maybe not wanting to bother anybody or be bothered at the time.
4) Anti-social weirdo - it's almost cliche, but it is true that some comics are only comfortable on stage, and have trouble interacting with people on a personal level.
There isn't a correlation between the categories and how funny the person is or how well they do on stage. That's why they were the first illusion shattered. There were three really intense loners that have stuck out in my mind, mostly because of how completely awful they were on stage. I don't mean that as a judgement, honestly, because I'm just starting out myself, and heck, it could have been a fluke. But the point is, their pre-game face was no indicator of their success.
This entire post (and blog) is pointless, really. It's saying things that are no more than common sense, especially for anyone who's tried to do comedy. "No duh" would be the best response to any of my conclusions. When you're a child, though, you see things as more black/white, good/bad, and you learn the nuance as you go. It's just an easier way to process something so new; these are the pros, these are the cool kids...
As someone entering a new thing, an innate fear brought out these thoughts. Fortunately, as I got over those anxieties, I picked up a few others which I'll have to get over by being not ignorant. We'll see if I make it out of pre-school.
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