MIc 20 Family Time-ing
New here? Start with Mic 1
Venues:5 O'Clock Lounge
Hosts:Bek, Big Rich Greene, and Tyrone Gaines
Show: Monday Night Wrong
Set Time: 5 o'clock
I've been trying to riff at the 5 o'clock show. Sometimes it lands, sometimes it doesn't — but it's helping me get more comfortable with the material.
The energy here is different. This isn't one of those comedy rooms where people sit quietly with their arms crossed like they're judging a science fair. This room comes alive.
Music's playing before the show to get everybody hyped. The stage is lit. People are taking pictures, posting on social, filming sets, heckling comics in the best possible way — positive, interactive, engaged. They're invested in the show. They want you to do well. That's a common thread in this comedy scene in general.
Tonight I leaned into kids and family.
The 5 o'clock crowd gets involved — they cheer, heckle, respond, shout out. It keeps you on your toes, and honestly, I like it. So I've been pushing myself: how much can I do off the cuff? What can I actually respond to in the moment?
I started talking about raising two daughters. (Note to self: work on timing here — I can rush from punchline to next joke like it's my job. Hang in the moment. Let it breathe.)
We raised two beautiful daughters. It was a good day at the Hayes house if nobody ended up on the pipe or the pole.
I know you're supposed to love your children equally.
I don't. (pause — laughs land a beat late as it sinks in)
I love one more. (pause)
She gave me a grandchild, and I love him most. (pause — pace it like you're still working it out)
That's my baby. (laughs — even got a reaction from the crowd on that one)
I fired back: I made my baby, she made that baby — so that's still my baby.
Then there's the other one. (pause — laughs)
She's currently spending time with a boy who has an adult autistic brother. (pause — the audience is following, walking with you)
It's like he's been training his whole life to date her. (laughs)
The material played well. Personal, funny, relatable. I expanded to see how far it would hold.
I mentioned I was the good child in the family.
My cousins have me listed as "bail money" in their phones. I show up to rehab wearing a visitor's badge.
It all worked. And like every family, there's a stockpile to draw from. The material was familiar, so I could actually focus on timing instead of survival.
At one of my first open mics, Andre Myrie was one of the first comedians to stop and genuinely talk with me about comedy — the craft, the scene, all of it. After this set, he gave me a little "I told you so." A kind reminder that speaking from the heart is always the best source of material.
We're heading out this month to watch Andre tape a special at Market Avenue Wine Bar. I've never seen a taping before. Curious and excited for him.
I love production work, so I find myself interested in everything around it — how material gets shaped and presented, how shows get booked and organized, what marketing supports it, how all the moving parts come together.
I'll be honest: I catch myself mentally redesigning the local comedy scene, spotting gaps and inefficiencies like it's a part-time job.
But I'm putting that on ice for now.
The industry solutions can wait. My own product still needs development.
"Following along? [Sign up here] to get new mics in your inbox."
