If you think you can get up in front of complete strangers and make them laugh, you can go ahead and free up your night this Wednesday. As long as patrons promise not to bring their best knock, knock jokes, the owners of Papa Duke’s invite them to try their hand at the restaurant’s first ever stand-up open mic Wednesday evening.

The owners have dubbed the event “So You Think You’re Funny.” The idea to host an open mic stand-up has been on the minds of owners Jill and Derek Ward ever since Papa Duke’s opened its doors over two months ago.

“Derek and I used to go to comedy clubs all the time and we think it’s strange there is no stand-up around,” Jill said, “We’re not only trying to give the restaurant something different but we’re trying to introduce something new to Anderson.”

The Wards planned on hiring a professional comedian to host and participate in the event, but in the end they’ve decided to go a little less formal. They want to see who will show up and how they will do. The winner will be decided by the crowd’s applause and laughter.

The owners are encouraging would-be comedians to sign up for the event early, but they also will accept walk-in participants on the night of the event. While Derek Ward hopes there will be enough comics on hand, he is willing to get on stage himself to get the event going if he has to.

“I’ll have to write everything down because I draw a blank in front of crowds,” Derek said, “My jokes will mainly be about women and marriage. And my wife.”

Although Jill explained Derek is the only person to laugh at his jokes, he promises he has enough material to cover at least five minutes. When asked to provide a sample joke for the readers, Derek gave us jokes that were too filthy to put in the paper, and for good reason. The event is strictly 18-years-of-age and up. According to Derek, if patrons are uncomfortable with an F-bomb here and there, they can leave.

There will be first, second and third place winners at the open mic, with prizes including bar/food tabs. Specials on the night will include $2.50 well drinks, pitcher and wing specials, and sandwich specials. Derek hopes these specials combined with a truly funny atmosphere on Wednesday nights can lead to a regular event in Anderson.

“It’s all trial and error for us at this point,” Derek said, “The open mic might bomb out or it might turn into a regular thing. If it keeps attracting people to the business and the town, there’s no reason we would stop doing it.”