Maureen's Jazz Cellar

Let me be clear: wait staff was excellent, setting is very cool, but if you're an out of town musician coming to open mic, this is the least hospitable, most poorly managed open mic you will ever find. Having played at more than 100 open mics up and down the east coast, I have NEVER been more rudely greeted by an open mic host. Started 30 minutes late, pushed me aside when I tried to get on the sign up sheet, spent 5 or 10 minutes talking to each local about their performance, but only had 30 seconds to impatiently take my name. Then, after making a big to do about how many people were there to play, and saying I would only be able to play one song, I could see why....the host NEVER had a musician "on deck" ready to go. After every performer, it was "We'll be right back", while the host would search through the list of his in town performers to decide who would go next. Look, it's great that you have so many locals coming to play....but this inhospitality is far different from anything I have ever experienced at an open mic. Maybe it's the NY culture....but god forbid I should ever run into this attitude any place else.