General Music Chat

Put in a bid to run a new open mic at a bar in the next town over from me. Manager wasn't there (she was supposed to be) but the hot bartender took all my info. I offered a 1/2 price deal to start out for 2-4 every-other-week tryouts to see if it will be worthwhile for them. Bartender said Wednesday nights were dead there. Small stage, nice sound system, but I would just use their EV speakers with my mixer.

Mike I dont know about your area, but in mine the people running open mics are getting $100-$150 a night.

My opinion I wouldnt offer any cuts up front, because that will establish a price that you dont want anyway, I always put my real price up front.

I was doing this big benefit at a place that my old band Aint Yo Mama used to play, the lady that runs it loves my old band, and know that I think about it she may have a crush on me, but we are working on a reunion deal there and how to make it happen. I dont cut corners to get gigs, if someone wants a band i have a basic number and I can put one together with the growing list of players Ive met thru the open mics and also just gettting out and supporting musicians bands who are active, whenever I show up with certain bands they always ask me to play and praise the ground I walk on for some reason, plus they tell the crowd someone needs to get this guy playing. But Im taking my time finding what I really want musician wise.

And then the other side of things for me right now is that Im playing with such a wide variety of players that it keeps things fresh.

At this point I just help host a couple, but I dont have to be there, so I just do it to meet musicians. I played thursday night, friday night, sat after noon, sunday after noon and have another deal tonight, so I have been on a roll.

As I have always said on here, if you want to get out and play music, then just get out there and do it, for all those newbies on her disgusted cause noone is calling them, there is a reason, the people that play play and they know the folks who are serious and they can depend on.

Anyway whatever happens Mike good luck with it!

Rock On!

I told them $120-$150. They had tried OMs before and not had much draw, so they were looking at doing it again. Quite honestly I don't know what kind of participation I can pull into this place, as its a few miles away from the most-travelled highways where I know people are. That's why I offered the half-price try-outs, I'm thinking that they wouldn't go for it at all at the starting rate, or would have me do one only - it'll probably take at least 3 or 4 times for me to get any fair number of participants. But, hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Mike I run 2 different open mikes; one is at a coffee house, and the other is at a performing arts organization / cultural center.
One place I have a flat fee, and the other I get a %.
Don't quit your day job, you may have to drop your price, or decide to not do it.
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Attendance is always hit or miss.
As long as you attract enough customers to pay you and to pay the guy who owns the venue a profit, you're good to go.
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It can take a while for word to get around; make sure you bring friends with you. And you, personally, need to advertise.
Start an email contact list of at least a dozen folks. Call friends.
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The best, most popular open mikes are the ones where the host compliments EVERY performer, and try to make it sound sincere.
If people do poorly, because they're new at it, they'll screw up a lot. Let them know 'It's OKAY." Never be sarcastic.
If you make them feel comfortable, they will come back.
Be a good guy.
And they'll eventually bring people with them, to hear them play in public (. . . lots of pictures for the family and girl friend . . . )
And - be sure to specifically invite them to comeback, tell them you want to hear them again next week.
Don't be formal. Be laid-back, & make friends.
Have someone take pictures of someone performing - you or someone else. Make sure that you get the audience in the picture . . .

thanks, Rhythmman, things I've already thought about and learned from going to many open mics.

They're going to let me do 2 try-out OMs in April, will see how it works.

Getting a lot of positive responses to the upcoming open mic night on Wednesday. Expecting a decent number of players, but the real thing is will it be consistent with a good crowd every time.
Of course a fair number of people are confused on what 'acoustic open mic' means, because it has degenerated to an 'open jam' situation at so many places around here. I've had to add 'please, no amps or drum kits' in the details.

Oh you mean you don't want 49 guys the first night and 3 the next? lol

(Fate is a cruel mistress and she messes with open mic's in general imo)

Oh you mean you don't want 49 guys the first night and 3 the next? lol

(Fate is a cruel mistress and she messes with open mic's in general imo)

I know why some more-populated OMs have a 'sign up 2 weeks early thing going, but not expecting anything that bad. I've also heard those types also will give preferenctial times to 'friends', leaving newcomers to sit around until midnight, then run out of time. I won't do it that way - first-come, first go. "sorry, can't stay? come back in 2 weeks and show up early."
I'm going to have to draw a steady number EVERY time to get this to be a regular thing. The bartender who arranged it is doing a lot of promo work for it, too, as the manager put her charge of it. I'll be putting posters in the local music stores this weekend. Haven't messaged any local people here on BM yet, will wait for the 2nd OM for that, to reinforce the numbers.

Got quite a few folks at Saturday's OM to commit to coming this Wednesday, at least the weather will be cooperating - temperatures are finally getting spring-like.

Manager wasn't there (she was supposed to be) but the hot bartender took all my info.

'Nuff about the open mic..............and more about the hot bartender!!! LOL

Manager wasn't there (she was supposed to be) but the hot bartender took all my info.

'Nuff about the open mic..............and more about the hot bartender!!! LOL

Redhead ... lot of ink ... incredible ta-tas which I'm sure get her good tips. Oh, she's married to a big hulk of a guy...

I've been going to, and occasionally running an open mike at a coffee house. I've been making friends, and talking to folks about it on face book.
In the last 4 weeks, our attendance jumped from about 12-15 per show, to 40 last Friday.
All it takes is one or two of the "right" people to go, and their friends will follow.

I've been going to, and occasionally running an open mike at a coffee house. I've been making friends, and talking to folks about it on face book.
In the last 4 weeks, our attendance jumped from about 12-15 per show, to 40 last Friday.
All it takes is one or two of the "right" people to go, and their friends will follow.

40 performers or 40 people total including audience?

Audience/performers combined.
There were no empty seats; several people were standing.