Open Mic

[Queequeg]

I recall about a year ago Michael Martin was nervously preparing to get up for his first open mic night. He did it and the sky didn't fall and he has gone on to become a regular there. (Although, I haven't seen much of him around here lately.)

where was I?

oh- open mics.

well, I read those with interest and lived through his experience vicariously because I have one super-size-me case of stage fright. Sunday I packed up a Larrivee & took it to an open mic nearby but I never got it out of the case. But I listened and I made up my mind I was going to kick this thing if it kills me. Any way, tonight was my night @ a coffee shop about 10 miles from home. They actually had a stage and decent sound equipment. Made people sound OK. I played three instrumentals. And you know, it was alright. Lots of compliments and the owner came up to me afterwards and she said I could come back and play there any time; not just on open mic night. and I cared less about how I played than the fact that I was able to get up there and not freeze like a deer in the headlights.

I know a lot of you guys do this and Ellen plays out all the time. Baba not only plays open mics, he MCs one, so this ain't no thang to you all, but it was a victory for me. Thanks Michael for telling us about your fear and how you conquered it in this forum last year.

I am penciling in next Wednesday night.

[kwakatak]

Way to go, Q.

 

I went to a local music store's open mic one Friday last month with the tak in tow. I'd been woodshedding on a few Ray LaMontagne and Eric Clapton songs and felt fairly comfortable, but when the day came I just never got the stones to go up and put my name on the list. I think it would've gone okay.

 

FWIW, I've been playing/singing in church for the past year now. Somehow it just seems less stressful and I've been sure to keep my ego under control lest I be struck by lightning. I don't know why this should be any different.

 

Oh well, maybe this month - and I'll take the Larrivee to the open mic or at least ask the owner to "borrow" one of their Martins.

[denvertrakker]

Congratulations - you've crossed a hurdle I'm unlikely ever to cross. I won't even play in front of another person - let alone a group. (Well, maybe the cat) Doesn't bother me that much though - it's just the way I am. I have nothing but admiration for someone who's done it, though...

[DigitalRelay]

Congratulations on getting out there!!!

[Queequeg]

Next week I'm going to take a CFM with built-in electronics. not my favorite guitar, but the A/Es sounded better tonight (yeah, the Taylors and the Ovations) than the straight acoustics in front of the microphone.

And there was a woman there tonight who sang like a bird while she fingerpicked a little Gibson.

[Cripes]

Congrats on beating the anxiety.

 

The show must go on. Thanks for the inspiration. I had a similar experience this past weekend at a conference. At an outside pool area at the resort the conference was held at this guy sat with a Taylor 110 casually strumming. I sat down and listened. Long story short, he handed me the guitar and I picked out some instrumentals. Completely focused on playing the first piece, I did not notice the folks gathering around. Not having expected the whole event I wasn't "rehearsed". Years ago I did this routinely and didn't have a fraction of the skills I have now. But, if I actually got booked for an open mic now I'd probably let anxiety conquer me.

[guitarist21]

Good for you, Queg! Playing open mics is so much fun. And playing regular shows is even more fun. There's really no feeling quite like connecting with an audience or playing for people you really want to play for.

 

Where are you playing on Wednesday night? Parts of Michigan aren't that far from Chicago...

 

Ellen

[recordingtrack1]

Yo dude! This is great news. Congratulations!. Think about it. How long into the first song before you began to get that reverse blood flow thing? In other words, did you feel kind of flushed up and euphoric (sp) ? And the applause at the end of the first song. Was that not a killer feeling?

 

You're hooked my man!

 

Here kid! These pills are red. There'll be other colors later!

 

RT1:thu:

[rhat]

Yea the old stage fright thing ..... ya just get the balls up and do it. Its best if you do it when you have some musician friends around to either back you up or at least pump you up. I remember the first time I did a open mic and played guitar and sang. While no stranger to being on stage ,,, i had a ton of gigs under my belt when i was young, but as a keyboard player that didnt sing. So yea that first time up to the mic can be a real rush. Since then ,,, i do kereoke ,, open mics , jams.... It gets easier every time i do it. Actually kereoke is a little more scary than an open mic ,,, you dont know the key of the song ,, you dont know the arrangment ,,, its sorta like walking the plank ,, but who cares its just a bunch of other yeahoots out to have a good time. Face it ,, its amateur night .... go for it .. its great experience. rat

[g6120]

Congrats! I did my first back in June and oddly enough I was not nervous at all. I didn't even go in with an idea of what I would play. When I got there I was thrown off by the amplification echo and couldn't hear my guitar and had a brief moment of panic. Then I decided what the hell and just dived right in and played from memory and it worked. I didn't focus on the audience I just got lost in the playing of the song and got big applause when I was done.

 

I think that's the key. Just go in and play the song with all your heart and soul and people will respond. Play songs that you are capable of feeling and people will feel the song too.

[DugW]

Every one gets a bit easier. Expect a bit of reoccurence when you move to the next level. If you can do 1 per week for a while you will be amazed about how comfatable you will get. At some point if you stay at the same place you could end up being bored .

[darksun]

well done Q, now we can live vicariously through you

[fatback]

 

Congratulations - you've crossed a hurdle I'm unlikely ever to cross. I won't even play in front of another person - let alone a group. (Well, maybe the cat) Doesn't bother me that much though - it's just the way I am. I have nothing but admiration for someone who's done it, though...

 

 

Its easier to play in front of strangers than friends and family.

 

Phil

[Queequeg]

Thanks, everyone. You know, we get positive feedback from our family & friends, but this for me has always been diluted by the fact that they have other reasons for liking us and other motives for the encouragement. "Yes, Queequeg; very nice. Now be a dear, and take the garbage out." But strangers- they don't owe us any kindness. They can be brutal or cold. Fact is, most aren't or they wouldn't have been there. Oh, I know; I could have picked some club in Motown where they would have thrown my sorry butt out the back door and down the stairs.

 

well done Q, now we can live vicariously through you

 

Hey, Darksun! Yes, that was the idea. I figure Michael & I aren't the only ones who struggle with this. And if we can do it, others can too. This thing that terrified me for years proved to be a positive experience.

[Tony Burns]

Congratulations , i know what its like --- i use to play out all the time , but with time i stopped doing that about 25 years ago - just started back up myself - It was like the first time -- I know it was OK , believe me everyone whos their is as scared about playing as you are , after the first few times you really open up - your not as nervous , your playing is better ( your not as worried about making mistakes - or at least you can blend them in better ) You jumped a major hurdle -Something to really be proud of !

[Terry Allan Hall]

I recall about a year ago Michael Martin was nervously preparing to get up for his first open mic night. He did it and the sky didn't fall and he has gone on to become a regular there. (Although, I haven't seen much of him around here lately.) where was I? oh- open mics. well, I read those with interest and lived through his experience vicariously because I have one super-size-me case of stage fright. Sunday I packed up a Larrivee & took it to an open mic nearby but I never got it out of the case. But I listened and I made up my mind I was going to kick this thing if it kills me. Any way, tonight was my night @ a coffee shop about 10 miles from home. They actually had a stage and decent sound equipment. Made people sound OK. I played three instrumentals. And you know, it was alright. Lots of compliments and the owner came up to me afterwards and she said I could come back and play there any time; not just on open mic night. and I cared less about how I played than the fact that I was able to get up there and not freeze like a deer in the headlights. I know a lot of you guys do this and Ellen plays out all the time. Baba not only plays open mics, he MCs one, so this ain't no thang to you all, but it was a victory for me. Thanks Michael for telling us about your fear and how you conquered it in this forum last year. I am penciling in next Wednesday night.

 

You've taken that 1st step on your way to the moral degradation that is Performing...

 

Congrats!

[babablowfish]

Congratulations! It is a good feeling to confront our fear and get past it. Don't expect the anxiety to just disappear right away, but in time it surely will.

 

(Sorry Queequeg, but I have never hosted an open mike - I just play at them.)

[OldGuitarPlayer]

Congratulations Q,

 

Having just co-hosted a local open mic last night here in my city I think this is awesome news. I myself come from a different backround than most of the other "open stagers" in my area. I had been playing electric lead guitar for over 25 yrs in various blues/rock/country bands so I was no stranger to performing on stage in front of 100's if not 1,000's of people but....I was NOT the front man. I was never the one to get up in front of strangers alone with my acoustic guitar and sing...no sir...not me.

 

Well..after all these years of playing in a band I finally decided to take a stab at perfroming solo and of course I went and started at a local open mic. This all started just over 2 yrs ago and now over that time period I have made a lot of friends and played with a great group of talented musicians who like to play for the fun of it. We of course all met through playing at this weekly open mic.

 

From this open mic night a core goup of us came together to organize a revolving band of musicians who call themselves the "Open Stage Revue". The purpose of this group was not only to play music for fun but also to use our abilities to help organize and entertain at various charity fundraisers. Our very first "Open Stage Revue" was held last year and featured over 2 hrs of live music with 20 performers and we performed in a beautiful old church in front of 500 people. That night we raised $5,000 dollars for Inner City Minsitries which is an organization that helps homeless people. A live CD was also produced from that show and all proceeds from it's sales went to the cause. Since that time we have played more shows, raised more money...and some of us have come and gone but the spirit remains the same.

 

It's good to hear of someone new getting out there and performing for the fun of it. Keep it up man!

 

OGP

[Dave W.]

Congrats Queeg, more nerve than I have. Maybe bring a friend with a video camera and give us a few minutes.

[WolfBoy]

Congratulations, Queequeg! I'm mostly a lurker on this forum but I had to put in my two cents. Personally, I cannot even imagine doing this (I am a total beginner anyway) but I have so much admiration for people who can. Way to go! Hope you keep it up.

[Queequeg]

Congratulations Q, Having just co-hosted a local open mic last night here in my city I think this is awesome news. From this open mic night a core goup of us came together to organize a revolving band of musicians who call themselves the "Open Stage Revue". The purpose of this group was not only to play music for fun but also to use our abilities to help organize and entertain at various charity fundraisers. Our very first "Open Stage Revue" was held last year and featured over 2 hrs of live music with 20 performers and we performed in a beautiful old church in front of 500 people. That night we raised $5,000 dollars for Inner City Minsitries which is an organization that helps homeless people. It's good to hear of someone new getting out there and performing for the fun of it. Keep it up man! OGP

that's outstanding OGP. I salute your efforts and all volunteerism. This country needs a whole lot more of that kind of volunteer activism.

And rather coincidentally, due to my work @ The Ark, I got an email this morning from the Univ of Mich hospital about a waiting room gig for some soft instrumental string music, which is sorta what I do.

Some kinda harmonic convergence going on here. dang.

 

And Dave W- If we ever get some video of these open mic things, I'll do it, buddy.

But it all still feels very much out of character for me.

thank you Wolfboy. Stick around. You could be next!

[kwakatak]

Q, you've given me some courage. I just got the email notifying me that this Friday is that open mic I mentioned before. I think I'm gonna give it a go this time. I still can't decide whether to do the fingerstyle thing or the singing/strumming thing, though.

[Queequeg]

Kwak, maybe start out with the singing/strumming until you get your confidence up, or as RT1 says, wait for the reverse blood flow thing, where you start to gain some energy from the room, then move into one of your fingerstyle numbers that you know backwards and forwards.

As well as you play, you owe to greater Pittsburgh to let them hear you, man.

I really think that posting the Putfile audio & vids gave me the courage to "go live" and you've done all that, and done it so well, Kwak.

[guitarist21]

 

I still can't decide whether to do the fingerstyle thing or the singing/strumming thing, though.

 

 

BOTH! If you can do both, you should.

 

Or if I had to pick I'd say fingerstyle. Ease into the open mic world. Plus your fingerpicking kicks butt.

 

Ellen

[happy-man]

Queequeg, congratulations on getting over the hump of getting up to the mic. For me, it's been my primary motivation to actually work at playing. I had played for about 20 years, but mainly for myself. I have played at church, and led singing at church, but never went beyond open chords. I'd avoid anything difficult. Capos were my friend to avoid Eb etc. A few years ago a coworker told me about an acoustic open mic at a local coffeshop. I started going every week; it became my "night out". For the first while I actually learned a new 3 song set every week (I was crazy). But it was the first time in 20 years I ever pushed myself to advance my playing. It also exposed me to other players and nice guitars. Learned I really liked the sound of Taylors and Guilds. I'd been playing on a scratched up pawn shop Yamaha F160 all those years. I learned what a solid top is. I sold my Yam (with a cracked neck) to a pawn shop for $70, and got a Taylor 110. That F160 is still hanging in the pawn shop, with a $270 price on it. When I look at it now, I'm amazed (I pop in about twice a year to see it). It's a mess. It needs a major neck reset. The bridge is a mess. Now I know why it was so hard to play! The saddle was taken down to almost nothing to compensate. It's amazing what ignorance lets you get by with.

 

I don't push myself as hard as I did in the begining, but I keep at it. I got a ukulele a few weeks ago to push myself with something different. Open mics are great. You can mess up - and its ok. You can encourage others - even when they mess up. And we can make some pretty good music - and friends.

 

If anyone is in the Fort Lauderdale area, the Chocolate Moose Music Cafe has open mics many days of the week. It's a cool place.

 

http://www.chocolatemoosecafe.com/

 

Scott O