Open mics are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get.

Of course it's much harder to sample the talent at open mics with your teeth. Perhaps you suspect that novice singer/songwriter is filled with unappetizing strawberry nougat, but try to split him open to find out and you'll only guarantee yourself a slap in the face. And perhaps a few lashings with the microphone cord.

It's true, there's a comfort in going to see a musician or comic who you're already familiar with.

You can feel secure knowing you can sing along with that song about the pitfalls of shoelaces and you can feel confident knowing that dirty joke about proctologists and hand puppets will still make you laugh.

And that's fine, if you want your sense of adventure to atrophy and die.

But open mics are a solid place to find lively entertainment - usually for free. And with budgets being what they are these days, that's no small bonus.

I headed over the bridge to Spring Point Tavern in South Portland last night for open mic comedy. Local guy Bryce Hanson put the evening together and an old pal from Mainetoday was trying out her recently found comedic legs.

The bar was impressively packed for the evening and the lineup included 15 comics from Southern Maine, NH and way up north.

Sure, the sound system had a few jokes of its own, alternately humming, buzzing and dying altogether. But the comics made it work.

There were several newbies in the bunch, testing out material that went over so well with their friends, kids or ferret.

But there were more seasoned comics too, like Seth Bond Perry and George Hamm. These are fellas you'd likely pay to see elsewhere. But tonight was free, free, free.

And sure, some of the jokes were less than awesome. But overall I found myself laughing more often than not.

Besides, all those big name comics of today had to start somewhere. And I dig the idea of one day saying, "I saw that comic way back when." And then I'd lie and say I knew he was going to be famous one day because it'd make me sound knowledgeable.

And for the record, former Mainetodayer Kate Ghiloni rocked it. The "pillowtop vagina" joke should be a staple in her future standups.