Almost every week at the Downtown Mall, The Southern Cafe and Music Hall hosts Monday Night Mic standup comedy that is free and open to the general public. Pioneered and hosted by Chris Alan, professional comedian who has opened for the likes of Michael Che, Louis C.K. and Amy Schumer, the night allows comedians of all walks of life to try out their material amongst their peers and a small crowd.
Doors open at 7 p.m. and in between the hours of 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. anyone can sign up to be one of the performers of that night, regardless of experience or familiarity with the others signing up. Most nights, there are about 20 comics performing, each given five minutes on stage. What one does in those five minutes is entirely up to the comic, with the night containing a mix of crowd work, routines or even a comedic musical performance.
Started 10 years ago by Alan, the event has its fair share of regular comics. While waiting for the open mic to start, many of the comics chat with Alan or each other, establishing a sense of community amongst the comics. Alan remarks that this stable community of people showing up every Monday is the backbone of the Charlottesville comedy scene…