General Music Chat

Open mics have been happening in the blues scene forever to one degree or another in the K.C. area. Right now they are HUGELY popular for a number of different reasons. I believe the karaoke craze really got the open mic venues a push. Just like karaoke, the open mics attract more customers. More people wanting to play in front of people and more of their friends going to listen. Unfortuneately there;s so many bands and musicians wanting to play in front of people that the bar owners get bands to host open mics for next to nothing or nothing. Right now the gig options for blues bands in K.C. is so limited that the open mics are the only game in town for us to get any exposure. Another problem I'm running into is that some of the bands that host open mics don't want to let entire bands come up and play more than a few songs. They are afraid of competition. I'm always asking open mic venues if I can bring my entire band out and they don't want that. I used to go to open mics quite often. They are a mixed bag for me. Sometimes you get some good people and the music sounds great, but most of the time it's pretty mediocre. Then sometimes I'm the first bass player to be asked to come up on stage and I end up playing most of the night (for free of course). One of the reasons that band membership changes so much in K.C. is the open mics. People go from one band to the next to the next, primarily because the open mics format is essentially a merry-go-round of musicians. Overall I'm not really fond of them but right now it's the only game in town so I guess I'll have to play it.

Open mics here are different.
All different styles - going from rock to Bob Dillon to oldies to blues to folk . . .
Mostly solo, with several duos - not groups - just friends.
A bass player or harmonica player will often be asked to join in.
Most times you'll get 3 songs; I played one last night, and I did 5 songs.
And I've played quite a few open mikes where they don't want to let me off the stage (but now I've set a limit of 10 songs).
A lot of performers will play just 2 songs - that was all they were ready for. But usually, those 2 songs will be well-rehearsed . . .
You'll see whole bands here, occasionally, but there's invariably a 15 minute delay while they get their stuff together . . . Then they play longer than everyone else, because there's more of them.
2 bands will displace 7 - 8 solo artists.
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There's a wide range of talent and experience.
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Rating the performers on a scale of 1 - 10 (1 = rank beginners or just awful, and 10 = "The Beatles" or Leo Kottke), the talent at the open mikes here is
> a few at level 2-3
> most at 4-6
> a lot at 7-8
> a few at 9-10
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Let me tell the folks who haven't been to an open mike - when you hear an unknow guy or girl play and sing at the level of a "9" or a "10," it's a great thing . . .
There are some unkowns who are waaaaaaaaaaay better than anything you see on TV. (Some of the unknowns make a lot of big-bucks famous performers look like amateurs).
There are nights when you won't see anything better than a 7.
And there are nights when you'll see all 8s and 9s.
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On the other hand you might be one of the guys who think you're not good enough to play at an open mike.
Then, when you go to one, you'll realize that you can play better than a lot of the people playing . . .
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In a 25 minute driving range from Madison, CT there's over a dozen to choose from.
Anyway - that's the scene around here . . .

Open mics have been happening in the blues scene forever to one degree or another in the K.C. area. Right now they are HUGELY popular for a number of different reasons. I believe the karaoke craze really got the open mic venues a push.

Open mic nights were popular in Greensboro about 15 years ago, went away for a while, and now are becoming popular again. I agree with the karaeoke craze thought -- I think people enjoy getting wasted and making a fool of themselves singing off key and off time (I enjoyed it before getting married and having a kid), but I think people also want to hear live music too. Open mic blues jams are a great way to hear the same progressions, but have them sound completely different because of the different musicians that come play.

I was invited to play at the next First Friday open mic that is held downtown, so I have to make arrangements to get off work to do that. I'm excited to play out instead of mainly in the studio; its a nice change.

Seems everyone likes to hear live music.
Problem is none of them want to pay for it.

Seems everyone likes to hear live music.
Problem is none of them want to pay for it.

Yeah, you're right about that. I don't mind playing for free when I know its open mic. I just hope that venues don't start calling the weekend entertainment "open mic" to get out of paying bands.

Theres a place around here that has an all original open mic night that pays the best that shows up 50 bucks, and the crowd decides who wins. It seemed a little fixed but what the hell . I dont like the free for all attitudes I get at most of the venues and get some weird looks from the bartenders when I dont order anything but water all night, but I tip better than most people there so I hope they wont throw me out. I guess with the way things are happening here I might have to find good open mic to start playing so i can get out more.

And its another day in Paradise !!!

I used to drive to charlotte all the time for the allnight friday jams at Sam Ash. they were alot of fun !

Hello all, new kid here.
Thanks for the info on the GSO open mic PocketGroove.(cool ID btw) ...will have to check that out...I live & work very close by. Been invited many, many times, but never been to one.
Since I'm a drummer, loading up a set to go jam for a couple hours doesn't seem very practical...so I've always figured this was a drummer-less type of event.

Hello all, new kid here.
Thanks for the info on the GSO open mic PocketGroove.(cool ID btw) ...will have to check that out...I live & work very close by. Been invited many, many times, but never been to one.
Since I'm a drummer, loading up a set to go jam for a couple hours doesn't seem very practical...so I've always figured this was a drummer-less type of event.

Any kin to Buddy Rich? Sorry, had to ask, what with you being a drummer and all.

Billy, a lot of Drummers will bring just one or 2 pieces - maybe a snare and cymbals. Djembes are cool, too . . .
Maybe you can't bring all your toys to the party, but you'll be sitting with friends, doing what you love best.

Hello all, new kid here.
Thanks for the info on the GSO open mic PocketGroove.(cool ID btw) ...will have to check that out...I live & work very close by. Been invited many, many times, but never been to one.
Since I'm a drummer, loading up a set to go jam for a couple hours doesn't seem very practical...so I've always figured this was a drummer-less type of event.

No problem Billy. I remember having a lot of fun at open mic stuff when I was younger, so I'm looking forward to maybe going down and jamming sometime. I'm glad that you get the name too. Do you have any of your music recorded that you could put up on your profile?

I'm actually looking for a drummer. Send me a PM or email me at PocketGroovesGSO at Gmail dot com to discuss further.

UPDATE: I just found out that I am booked to play bass at the next Poetry and Music Open Mic for First Friday in downtown Greensboro on 09/04/09. Wish me luck, and if you're local, feel free to come out. Admission is FREE, and the event will be held at Center City Park in downtown Greensboro, NC (http://www.centercitypark.org/).

Cool, enjoy!!

Hello all, new kid here.
Thanks for the info on the GSO open mic PocketGroove.(cool ID btw) ...will have to check that out...I live & work very close by. Been invited many, many times, but never been to one.
Since I'm a drummer, loading up a set to go jam for a couple hours doesn't seem very practical...so I've always figured this was a drummer-less type of event.

Firstly, I love open mics. It is the one day that I can play exactly what I want plus hang out with other musicians. It's cool to tell someone who does not know me that I would like to accompany them sometime. Once they realize that I can play pretty much everything they throw out at me I end up staying on the stage nearly the entire evening. I usually play Mozart and Bach flutey thingies first, then I will throw out some jazz and rock maybe even something Celtic. I always have a blast.

Billy Rich, you need to become more portable. Instead of taking your entire set, spend some money on some smaller drums such as the djembe, bongos , conga. If you have an original song, recite it instead of singing it and make your performance a 1960s Beatnik coffee shop. In my opinion the only limitation in performing for an open mic is your imagination. You might discover a new little niche for yourself.

. . . the only limitation in performing for an open mic is your imagination. You might discover a new little niche for yourself.

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There you go.
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Make your own nitch. Don't follow the crowd.
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If you are only willing to 'risk' playing 'crowd-pleasers,' then you, as a musician, will just be another one of the crowd.
Is that what we all want, - to be just another fish in a pool? Yeah, there's safety in numbers, but . . .
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When I go to any open mike anywhere, I am the ONLY person to play the style of music I play.
I never play the same stuff as anyone else. Never.
Yet I am still received well.
You've got to be smart enough to not play classical music at a punk club, or lollipop music at a heavy metal place, of course . . .
But -
see if you can play an original that is a crowd-pleaser.
If you're not ready, then practice an extra half hour.
If you're still a little concerned - then practice another half hour
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Believe me, folks like to hear new music . . .
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You might be afraid to play your original song because 'it doesn't fit in;' - but your song might just be the kind of song that people are hoping to hear . . .
So - why not find out, eh?
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Don’t follow others; follow your own path. Let others follow you.
To be a star, you must shine your own light. Don’t be afraid of the dark; it’s in the dark that stars are most noticeable.