Why sit at home just thinking about laughing? There are free open mics dedicated to comedy almost every night of the week. Come out and try your hand at stand-up, do a sketch with a friend, or just come to enjoy the pain and joy that comes with live comedy (by the way, if you ARE sitting at home and thinking about laughing, then you are in a very dark place – find an outlet).
Times can vary and things can change. Also, many Portland general open mics will allow comics to join in the fray. When in doubt, it is always best to just ask the establishment.
Ask the Man. Trust the Man. Be the Man.
Jump To: | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
Monday
Boiler Room
228 NW Davis Street
Portland, OR
9:00pm – 11:00pm
Hosted by Kevin-Michael Moore
503-227-5441
The longest running mic in Portland. Boiler Room is a staple of the Portland comedy scene. If you like L-shaped rooms and people waiting for karaoke, then look no further. 3 minute spots.
Sign-up: 20 slots available. Send Kevin-Michael Moore a Facebook and request a spot. Often full as early as 3pm so ask early.
The Real Comedy Spot Open Mic at the Red Room
2530 NE 82nd Ave
Portland, OR
10:00pm – 1:00am
Hosted by Angela Olson and The Real Hyjinx
503-227-5441
The Real Comedy Spot is back! Angela Olson and The Real Hyjinx have built a great show and a great community. Run like a showcase with musical intros! 5-10 minute sets.
Sign-up: Sign up at the venue by 9:30. No guarantee of mic time given for late arrival so get there early to get your time.
Tuesday
Helium Comedy Club
1510 SE 9th Avenue
Portland, OR
Hosted by rotation, usually current weekend’s host
8:00pm – 10:00pm
888-64-FUNNY
This mic is in Portland’s new club, on the main stage. Some of the best open mic crowds in town. 3 minute sets.
Sign-up: Sign-up between 6pm and 7pm. The list is only 20-25 comics long and is posted at 7:30.
LOL! Open Mic at Funhouse Lounge
2432 SE 12th
Portland, OR
Hosted by Anatoli Brant and others
8:30pm – 10:00pm
503-841-6734
This is a neat room to work out material in. Pluses include a fun, friendly atmosphere and a very nice main room. Minuses include an often comic-heavy audience and a chamber of clowns in between the bar and the bathroom. 4-5 minute sets.
Sign-up: Sign up with Anatoli Brant on Facebook before 6pm or sign up at the venue (when the list will likely be quite long). Show starts at 8pm (so you have time to find out if you are on the Helium list should you be so moved).
DSL Open Mic at Dante’s
350 W Burnside
Hosted by Rochelle Love
9:00 – 10:00
503-226-6630
It’s back! Did you even know it was gone? Rochelle Love brings her short and sweet open mic back to Dante’s before the weekly comedy talk show Tonight on the Rocks. 5-7 minute sets.
Sign-up: Get in touch with Rochelle online or via text before 7pm. List is short and fills up fast.
Wednesday
Brody Theater
16 NW Broadway
Portland, OR
9:00pm – 11:30pm
Hosted by Elizabeth Teets-Restau
503-224-2227
Brody is a cool space with the posters you only wished you had in your dorm room, and it has a nice downtown location. 4-5 minute sets.
Sign-up: 20 slots per night. Sign-up online by emailing on Wednesday from 12:01am-3pm to info@brodytheater.com or contacting Tom Johnson on Facebook. You will not hear back unless the mic is full, so if you get your request in on time, assume you have a spot. The list always fills well before the 3pm deadline, so if you want an early spot–sign up early.
Tonic Lounge
3100 NE Sandy
Portland, OR
11:00pm – 12:30am
Hosted by Whitney Streed usually
(503) 238-0543
The mic starts late after the regular Weekly Recurring Humor Night showcase, so come after the Brody to double-dip or come early to enjoy the showcase.
Sign-up: 15-20 comics per night. Sign yourself up on the list at the back of the showroom during the regular showcase (which starts at 9:30pm).
Thursday
Brody Theater
16 NW Broadway
Portland, OR
9:00pm – 11:30pm
Hosted by Jon Washington
503-224-2227
Brody has a second mic! 4-5 minute sets.
Sign-up: Again, 20 slots per night, but this sign-up is geared towards the early morning crowd: sign-up online by emailing on Thursday morning from 7am-3pm to info@brodytheater.com or contacting Tom Johnson on Facebook. You will not hear back unless the mic is full, so if you get your request in on time, assume you have a spot. Again, get in early to get a spot.
Gypsy Restaurant & Velvet Lounge
625 NW 21st Ave
Portland, OR
9:00pm – late
Booked by Amanda Warder
(503) 796-1859
A mic in the Northwest, hooray! Pinball and video poker machines surround you to make you feel at home. Battle it out with karaoke and boost your confidence! Plus everyone gets a drink ticket and there are a few longer spots available. 5-7 minute sets.
Sign-up: 15 comics per night. Sign up with Amanda via Facebook or text the day of the show.
Sunday
Curious Comedy Theater
5225 NE Martin Luther King Blvd
Portland, OR
8:00pm – 10:30pm
Hosted by Gabe Dinger
503-477-9477
Curious Comedy has a great, quality atmosphere for comedy, plus it kind of feels like a ski lodge, which makes you feel like a classy broad. 3 minute sets.
Sign-up: There are 25 or so spots on the list. Sign-up starts at 7:30 but get there early for a guaranteed spot. Indicate when you sign-up of you are trying to double-dip with another mic and you can go up earlier.
Bar of the Gods
4801 SE Hawthorne
Portland, OR
8:00pm – 11:30pm
Hosted by Xander Deveaux
(503) 232-2037
Xander’s got an open mic!! Very exciting times in a very small room. Killer for double dipping with any of the other rooms. 3-5 minute sets.
Sign-up: In person at the venue at 8pm. For a complete list of rules, see the internet.
Seven Corners Bar and Grill
2020 SE Division
Portland, OR
10:00pm – 12:00am
Booked by Joe Hieronymous
503-270-9401
A lovely Sunday mic, good for folks in the southeast especially. It’s a sports bar but there’s a good supportive crowd and they turn off the tv’s before they start. Easy double-dipping with Curious or BOG. 5 minute sets.
Sign-up: Starts at 9pm. Talk to the host at the venue.
Can you sign up for these the same night or do you have too pre register?
Most you can sign up on the same night. If you have to preregister, it says so in the description.
what’s the best open mic for someone popping their open mic cherry?
Minor correction: the Brody Theater Wednesday open mic has a $3 cover for non-performers, not $5 as in the description. -Tom
Just discovered a nice venue for Open Mic on the East Side, in Sellwood: Twin Paradox Coffee Shop. The owner was amped about getting comics, right now it’s rotation heavy with acoustic guitar and poets. Also, there is the crack in the ceiling of the three minute limit for beginners, like me. Depends on how many sign up, but it sounds like it wouldn’t be hard to have a greenlight on five minutes. Monday sign up at 7, the show begins at 7:30. Will check them out in the next couple of weeks and provide feedback.
I think everyone’s first room should be Suki’s on the worst, loudest night possible. If they can hear you, you’re doing it right. Portland’s best open mic night for people who have some chops is Monday at Boiler Room. You have to contact the host earlier in the day to get on, and it’s worth the extra effort. Tuesday at Helium is new, but also incredible if you can get on the show. The exclusivity / tight set times of Boiler Room and Helium will make you a better comedian.
Also for beginners: stick to the time limits, seriously. Do fewer, stronger jokes — if you have extra time, try to riff off them, or practice observing people in the crowd and talking to them. Or just finish early on a good laugh.
Also, tell your funny stories that you tell your friends, don’t make up jokes. Record every set and listen to how people responded. And don’t listen to old timers who tell you what to do.
Mark is 100% right on. Couldn’t agree more. I’ve always thought it was good manners to watch other comic’s sets. They’ll appreciate it, you may learn some good tips, hear about upcoming shows, and build community. One of my biggest complaints is that in a smaller comedy community like Oregon/Portland, it seems like a majority of comedians think they’re the next big headliner, so they are far more cut throat. That kind of put me off, coming from a larger, really supportive comedy environment. I liked doing stand up because I love watching and performing comedy, not because I’m trying to land a sitcom gig.
Thursday night at Sway Bar is a bit of a bust.
This is definitely a great list. I had no idea until I googled Phil Schallberger that someone (Phil himself presumably) had composed this wonderful list. The only routine I’ve been doing was Tuesdays. Its time to make more rounds. Thank You.
The open mic at Gossip has been moved to :
The Good Call
11010 Southeast Division Street
Portland, OR 97266.
Booker & Angela still hosting
Do you have to be 21 for open mic night? if so I guess I’ll have to wait another month =/
Pretty much all the ones at bars are 21+, but Curious Comedy Theater, Brody Theater and the ComedySportz Arena are all ages.
Do any of you know the general time limit for these open mics? I’m guessing stage time is anywhere between 3-5 minutes, but to get a rough idea would be nice so that I could prepare ahead of time to cut down on my jokes/stories,etc. I assume you don’t know until you get there and find out! Thanks for all your tips/suggestions, btw.
Whats the policy on curssing in your material? As in I want to be a performer for open mic night and my material has alot of profanity. Whats the policy on it is my question..?