General Music Chat

I was thinking of going to someone's open mike tonight, because I feel better, an I can sing good again.

But I don't feel like dealing with ear-splitting volumes, and waiting for hours to play . . .
.
. . . sigh . . .

IF there are ear-splitting volumes, find an ACOUSTIC open mic! At the open mics I go to the volume is kept to the level that people can talk to each other (of course that means they are talking over the performers, but what are you gonna do ?

Yeah, I found an acoustic open mike.
I got a phone call this morning; I'm running the open mike at a local coffee house, tonight.

And - yep - it's acoustic.
And I keep the volume low enough so that people can hear themselves when they sing along (which I encourage).
.
So, ok, life is good, again.

Yeah, I found an acoustic open mike.
I got a phone call this morning; I'm running the open mike at a local coffee house, tonight.

And - yep - it's acoustic.
And I keep the volume low enough so that people can hear themselves when they sing along (which I encourage).
.
So, ok, life is good, again.

Good! I always judge an OM as good (or the performer is) when people are singing along!

For the Connecticut people:
I just now found out that I'll be running the open mike on Perk on Main in Durham tonight.
It’s pretty informal, like a living room; folks like to sing-along. You’ll have more fun in an hour at Perk on Main than you’ve had in the last 2 days!
. . . talking, singing, playing guitar, and drinking coffee (or bring your own bottle). Musicians play 2 -3 songs each, depending.
The mike is open for a little over an hour, officially from 7-8pm, but I start early. Get there early.
It's best to get there around 6:15; folks like shoot the breeze for a bit. (Good place for supper, too!)
Perk on Main is easy to find; it’s on Rte. 17 in Durham, CT, right at the intersection of Rte. 17 and Rte. 79, by the light
C’mon down; it’s a fun, relaxing time!
- Alan

I know, I've done that with others' horrible equipment. I go home in pain. It is good to go out though. I think it's better to go than not. I get better at my stuff that way.

Yeah, now I never go anywhere where it hurts my ears.
Ear-damaging volumes aren't cool.
I know too many musicians who can't hear very well.
If I go somewhere where it's louder than I expected, I might put in ear-plugs and stay for 2-3 songs.
But I found out that in some places, even with ear plugs, my ears will STILL ring for 2-3 days afterwards.
The thing is, the folks with hearing damage tend to crank the volume even louder.

I've got tinnitus, basically constant ringing in my ears (you do get used to it) from way too many too-loud shows over the decades. But if I'm going to a show where I know it will be overly loud, I bring earplugs now. Last one was Matthew Sweet - he plays ridiculously loud. When the show ended and people were filing out I took out my ear plugs and was laughing at everyone shouting at each other!