What makes this worth a Thursday: the arcade-plus-karaoke combo means you're not locked into performing or watching. You can cycle between the two, which takes the pressure off both the singing and the standing-around. The $3 shots suggest a dive-bar price point regardless of how the room looks. Thursdays also tend to run younger and looser than Friday or Saturday the same venues — the crowd that shows up mid-week usually means it.

Practical notes: confirm the venue address before leaving the house — this event has appeared at more than one location. BART will get you closer than parking will on a Thursday night in most of the neighborhoods these events land in. Bring cash for the shots; card minimums at bar events will eat into the savings fast.

If you've got two hours: skip the karaoke queue on arrival, warm up on the arcade games, then put your name in once you've got a drink in hand and a feel for how the room is running.