Murph Henderson flew to New York to do his first stand-up set — and to see a girl. She said no, he never got on stage, and Columbus comedy won.
Back home, his actual first open mic happened at Shrunken Head, right before the legendary Columbus venue closed for good. The first laugh hit like a drug he didn't know he needed — and the self-described nervous guy who takes his shoes off to feel grounded found the one room where the feeling that everyone is watching you is finally accurate.
Ira Cross sits down with the barefoot, 5'4", voice-of-God comedian to talk the shoeless brand (it's not the bit you think), running the Savor Pint open mic where a wave of young Columbus comics got their start, choosing this career over every relationship he's ever had, and why Richard Pryor is the tree modern stand-up grew from.
And if you've ever wondered how to deal with hecklers at a comedy show, Murph's answer is a keeper: put them down softly enough that the room stays with you, let them feel like part of the show for a beat, then pull the attention back to yourself — and never get dragged into a back-and-forth.
First Mic is the podcast where comedians tell the story of their first time on stage, filmed at Rehab Tavern in Columbus, Ohio.
Comics: where was YOUR first open mic — and is the venue still standing? Tell us in the comments.
🎙️ Follow Murph Henderson: Instagram: @unklemurph Facebook: Murph Henderson (he says "Murf Henderson" on camera at ~48:00 — confirm the profile's exact spelling before publish; see Flags #2)
🔗 First Mic is part of the Indie Comedy Collective: YouTube: youtube.com/@IndieComedyCollective Instagram: @indiecomedycollective