Be Open to Open Mics

There are plenty of opportunities for a musician to get out there, play shows, get stage experience and entertain the masses! Look no further than your local pub, coffee shop or community centre for your next big break. Personally, I find Open Mic’s more entertaining, because you get far more variety in one night than at your average live show. I also like the fact that pretty much anyone can get up there and wow you. There’s no pretension, everyone is there for the same reason. The Music!

You might think that an Open Mic Night is not in your best interest or that it is beneath you as a performer, but I seriously beg to differ. Not only will you find some great up-and-coming artists seeking that much needed stage experience, but also seasoned performers who go out and play just for the sheer joy of it. These are the artists who in my opinion deserve the attention. When an artist is not getting paid, you know they must honestly love performing, and don’t treat this opportunity as a financial gain, but rather a creative outlet. If you were a promoter or booking agent, wouldn’t you rather work with someone who puts the performance above everything else?

But don’t throw your business-sense out the window just yet. If you have a microphone in front of you, why not do a little shameless self-promotion? Sell your demo CDs, T-Shirts, paintings, and remind people to visit your website – often. You should always be on the lookout for promoters lurking in the shadows at various clubs. At most coffeehouses, they will have a pass-the-hat system to make sure you can take home a few bucks. Talk to the staff beforehand and I’m sure they’ll be cool with you selling a few CDs and flogging your merch. Don’t have a CD? No problem. Some venues like the Media Club in Vancouver will allow you to record your Open Mike set very affordably. Burn 10 of these CDs and take them to your next performance. Usually $5 is a good price point, because you can get away with very minimal artwork to keep your price down.

Everybody loves shortcuts, so here’s a little tip to get you started. I just stumbled on this cool website called openmikes.org (no they are not paying me for this). It’s a huge Online Calendar that allows you to hunt down Open Mic’s across North America, including right here in BC. Heading out on the road? Want to make your family vacation a little more exciting? Check the calendar for potential opportunities along the way. You never know who might be lurking in the shadows at an Open Mic Night… But chances are, I’ll be there, so make sure you stop by and say hi!