Those passing by will hear a few comics practicing their routines and material in hopes of gathering an audience Monday nights in Dunn Meadow.
IU junior Thomas Gerson founded the student organization Standup at IU during the 2020-21 school year to give student comics more stage time. Anyone is welcome to come watch the free event at 7 p.m. on Mondays at the Open Air Venue in Dunn Meadow for free.
Comics show up to the weekly event, but Gerson said he wants more audience members.
“A bigger audience would be phenomenal,” Gerson said. “That’s all I could wish for, really.”
While only two comics, Gerson and IU junior James Vogt, performed Monday, Gerson said typically around seven or eight will perform. Also, audience members can decide to perform at the event after speaking with Gerson..
“Get on stage as fast as possible,” Gerson said about aspiring comics. “Do it ‘cause once you start, you won’t stop.”
Gerson said the open mic nights are typically only for comics, but IU sophomore Rohan Ayyar took the stage Monday to freestyle rap. Ayyar is also known as Kid Rohan and is an artist on Spotify.
Ayyar chose random beats and took topic suggestions from the audience, including “salmonella,” “chiropractor” and “Hillary Clinton.”
Gerson said he plans to continue renting the Dunn Meadow Open Air Venue for open mic nights as the weather permits.
