LOL, your time’s up. New comics test their gags in 7-minute slots
This weekend, check out 7mins Itch, an upgraded open-mic platform for emerging comedians.
What can you do in seven minutes? Finish a burger? Move 200 metres in a traffic jam? Like more than a thousand pictures on Instagram before the site temporarily freezes you?
For some stand-up comics, the seven-minute mark will be the make-or-break point this weekend. A new act, 7mins Itch, is an upgraded open-mic platform for emerging comedians and open-mic speakers to showcase their talent for more than the usual five-minute slot.
Nine participants will have seven minutes each to make their audience laugh. After which they either get cheered or booed off the stage. Their material will cover everything from gender to hip-hop music.
“The performers have to earn their time slots,” says Jeeya Sethi, owner of Ratatouille, the company organising 7mins Itch. All open-mic performances start with the five-minute slot. Based on the participant’s talent and popularity the next time slot keeps expanding from seven to eleven to 20 and finally 30 minutes.
Vinneth Srinivasan, 21, is testing his gags this week and says that every minute counts when it comes to engaging your audience. He started off his comedy career early this year, with five-minute acts and has now graduated to seven minutes. “More time is surely a plus point,” says Srinivasan. “I can add more jokes and couple of extra lines, which does make a difference and enhances the overall performance,” he adds.
Kaavya Bector, another participant says “audiences can expect impromptu comments, gossip and extempore jokes,” from her. “My jokes are derived from the comments made by the audiences and that’s what I think is the best way to engage with them.”
For those seated in the first row, we did warn you.