Bits ‘n Pieces: Vancouver comedian set to bring on laughs

Candy, who had seen Mitchell perform before, took him aside after the show and told him he needs to make sure he’s in the right mind when performing. Still, Mitchell gave up comedy and didn’t perform for about a decade.

In the meantime, he kept drinking and ended up moving to Seattle, where he was homeless and stayed in a mission for about six months. He then entered a sober living program for another six months, and received housing and a job for completing the program. One of the jobs he worked was with Kenworth Trucks, where he installed seats in the trucks, and worked with a man named Gary Ridgway, who used to bring in tiny Bibles for his co-workers. Mitchell said a lot of his co-workers made fun of Ridgway and threw his Bibles back at him, but he was still shocked to learn that Ridgway was the Green River Killer, and pleaded guilty to the murder of 49 women.

Throughout those years, Mitchell’s love of comedy didn’t go away, though. He went to comedy clubs regularly and watched shows, and in the back of his head knew he needed to give it another go. He started going to open mics again.

“It’s like swimming,” he said. “Even if you don’t do it for a while, you don’t forget how. But you’re also going to be a bit rusty.”

Mitchell said he typically performs at four open mics around Portland during the week, and now he’s starting up his own on this side of the bridge.

His open mic show starts on Wednesday from 8 to 10 p.m. at Spot Bar & Grill, 7225 N.E. Fourth Plain Blvd., Vancouver, and will feature a seven- or eight-slot open mic session, and then an hour of performances from five featured comics. The shows will also take place Nov. 4, Nov. 18 and Dec. 2, and Mitchell said if things go well, he’d like to start doing them weekly.

“It’s a different kind of stage time at an open mic opposed to a show,” he said. “An open mic is where you go to try out new things. You get three, maybe five, minutes. At a show, if a joke doesn’t work, I still have time to get the audience back on my side and win them back. At an open mic, you get enough time to tell one joke and that’s it.”

Mitchell relishes the chance to get on a stage, especially after a few breaks from performing, one after bombing in front of Candy and then again to raise his kids.

“Your children are only little once,” he said.

His children are an important part of his life, and he said his motto is “stay sober, stay humble, pray and take care of your family.”

For Mitchell, he still believes his shot at fame is coming. All he’s trying to do is make sure he’s ready.

“I want to be in my right mind,” he said. “So many people walk around and don’t take time to admire the sun or check out the sky, or even just a tree branch. My joy now is my kids. And every now and then I get a candy bar.”

Bits ‘n’ Pieces appears Fridays and Saturdays. If you have a story you’d like to share, email bits@columbian.com.