Members RainsongDR1000 Posted September 22, 2004 Members Posted September 22, 2004 I was asked to host an acoustic open mic at the club we regularly play at. They have jams every Thursday but it's with drums and it usually turns out to be a free for all with a bunch of people getting on stage and playing the same tired jam songs, not very acoustic friendly. The owner wants to dedicate one Thursday a month to an acoustic only open mic format. I've been to enough open mics that I have pretty good idea of the format I'd like to use. I think I have all the necessary gear (10 channel PA, speakers, monitors, 3 mic stands and mics, 2 DI's, even a music stand and an old Yamaha beater w/ a Fishman in it). Was wondering if there are any open-mic hosts out there who may have some suggestions or forewarn of any potential pitfalls?
Members LittleBrother Posted September 23, 2004 Members Posted September 23, 2004 Yes if you can make it where 2-3 shure sm-57 style instrument mics are on stage and not feeding back they can simply walk up and play and walk off. Otherwise you spend 10 minutes fiddling with every artist and that not only looses momentum with the crowd but will stress everyone out.. Sure some people use a pickup but by in large the mic sounds 100 times better and people will respond by talking a little more quiet and the entire club sound level will not climb to an loud level. It's relaxing and your jam will be a hit. Even bad acoustic players will not offend if just coming through a mic. You can buy a snake on sale sometimes under 100.00 and place the board away from the stage. It comes in more handy with acoustic since you can control the feedback and volume as they play. Also there are a hundred other tips and tricks to running a good and successful acoustic open mic. I guess you'll have to learn the hard way. It's alot of hassles so kudos for trying. Hopefully you will get some pretty talented people and nice people to deal with. I've hosted many open mics that things got ugly and a little too Karaoke for me and I had to stop them. Hopefully yours will stay on a good path. The key might be to do some legwork in your local scene and find and solicit some of the top acoustic players to come by and set a standard. Sadly some players are tone deaf hacks that never practice and never get better and sometimes are the most stubborn and tempermental ones. If you try to be nice and allow those to take over the jam it's lost. A good sign of a nutcase is when they show up 4 hours early sitting at a table. (rolls eyes) The key is reading the audience and players and hoping there is a certain percentage of quality coming to the jam. Amatuer players can be great if they dont take over the stage for a 30 minute medley. Tough job, so you'll have to love it. I also would never do it if I had to haul my own PA. Thats going to get very old
Members RainsongDR1000 Posted September 23, 2004 Author Members Posted September 23, 2004 Thanks LB, Yes, I would be hauling my own PA, although it's just a 10 channel powerd mixer, not a rack unit or anything. Probably would make about $80.00 to $100.00 a night for 4 hrs (They work off tips and also feed the kitty, that's what I usually make playing) plus a pizza and drinks. It would only be for one night a month. Actually I was hoping it would also help me dialing in our own sound since I really don't know what we sound like FOH when we are playing since I run our sound on stage. I realize it won't be the same, but I could learn a few things. I like the idea about getting a snake and running the powered mixer off stage, would give me a lot more control. I used to frequent an open mic that worked out pretty well. Yeah, there were some real duds that played, but that's what it's about, right? Sounding great compared to the guy before you? They had the slots broken down in 15 minute increments (8:00 o'clock, 8:15 etc.) You signed up at the beginning of the evening @ 7:00, then they would draw names to fill the slots so people wouldn't be coming at 6:00 to ge the first slot. SOmetimes the slots would get filled all the way until 11:00 and you were SOL. You had 15 minutes or 3 songs, whchever came first. You were supposed to tune while the guy before you was playing or else it came out of your time slot. If you wanted to bring an effects pedal or other stuff, fine, you still only had 15 minutes to set up AND play your songs. I figured I'd try it,at least would help pay off my gear and as long as I was in control of the mixer, there shouldn't be too much wear and tear. Going the mic route might be a good idea as well. I was going to offer a Dean Markley promag I have for emergencys to anyone who didn't have a pickup in their guitar.Thanks for the suggestion, I'll let you know how it works out.If it's a bust, I just won't do it again.
Members Singin' Dave Posted September 23, 2004 Members Posted September 23, 2004 Rainsong, Good for you man......guys like you do a lot to help the beginners out there get up and posibly start a life-long passion--playing live! I, like many here I presume, had my first public perfomances at Open Mikes so a big thanks to all of you who have hosted or otherwise helped set them up. One a month shouldn't be too bad. LB's snake suggestion is a must do...you want instant control to fade out those that go too long, deal w/ feedback problems, mic cables or channels that might fail for some unknown reason, etc. I bought 2 decent 8 channel 50' snakes from MF for $39 bucks each on special a while back and they've been great for gigs and we use them in are new larger practice space. Keeps the joint much cleaner. I think this one is it. As for the 57 idea....that's probably smart too, as a backup. You might want to have one or two of those set up for those with no pickups rather than lend people your Markley Pro-Mag, cuz that'll get broken (or "lost") quickly. Much easier to just pull the 57 on its boom stand over for those huckleberries that don't have a pickup. For those that do, just set the level through your DI box (if it has volume-if not on the mixer) and have them plug directly into that, but beware of the dreaded "pop". Does your mixer have a mute button for some channels? My Mackie 808 does. Very helpful if you do, as you can simply hit this button when you help set folks up, then hit it to start them. Like LB's suggestion of doing a little bit of talent recruiting too... It's a load of work, and I don't know how long you'll do it, but bless you for the time you do!
Members Blackwatch Posted September 30, 2004 Members Posted September 30, 2004 I used to do a "Songwriters Showcase" many years ago that was an all original open mike. One thing that they did, that I think is a very good idea is: When the names get" drawn from the hat", make sure the very best players get drawn for the 9-10 pm slots when most of the crowd is there. If someone is less than practiced make sure their name gets picked for the 11:30 slot. Everyone will be happier, especially the managment. And it will encouarge the good players to show up....
Members RainsongDR1000 Posted September 30, 2004 Author Members Posted September 30, 2004 Originally posted by Blackwatch I used to do a "Songwriters Showcase" many years ago that was an all original open mike. One thing that they did, that I think is a very good idea is: When the names get" drawn from the hat", make sure the very best players get drawn for the 9-10 pm slots when most of the crowd is there. If someone is less than practiced make sure their name gets picked for the 11:30 slot. Everyone will be happier, especially the managment. And it will encouarge the good players to show up.... I understand your reasoning, but it's that type of favoritism that caused me to not go back to that first open mic I had mentioned. It's definitely a catch 22 situation. You want to have good players so people will listen and stay around, but most attendees at open mics are there to hear themselves I'm afraid. Turning it into a "clique" situation where the handpicked few get the best slots seems you will turn a lot of the lesser "praticed" ones off. And it seems those are the ones buying the drinks! Then your entire crowd is the 5-10 good muscians from 9-10 o'clock.
Members bardsley Posted October 1, 2004 Members Posted October 1, 2004 A friend of mine hosts an open mic night every Wednesday that I pretty much play every week at. I like going there to listen to people who aren't so good, as well as the good ones, as long as they're having fun and enjoying the music. The people who piss me off are the ones who are like "me and my mate are going to do a few songs from our band... we play at x every Friday and we've got some cds for sale". In my opinion that's not what an open mic night is about at all, but maybe that's just me.By the way, the two guys who host it each use decent but not amazing guitars with pickups that sound fine. Anyone is allowed to use them, so the night goes very smoothly, as the same guitar just gets passed around. I use my Martin these days, but as I play every week, it never takes any time for me to get started.
Members buddyboy Posted October 1, 2004 Members Posted October 1, 2004 Sure some people use a pickup but by in large the mic sounds 100 times better Really? I have 3 nearly unused SM57's. Should I switch to the mics at church??
Members RainsongDR1000 Posted October 1, 2004 Author Members Posted October 1, 2004 Originally posted by buddyboy Really? I have 3 nearly unused SM57's. Should I switch to the mics at church?? Depends on a lot of factors. acoustics, volume needed etc. If you already have guitars with pickups, use them and suppliment w/ a mic if you wish. That way if you can't get enough gain before feedback w/ the mic, you'll still have the pickup for the extra volme needed.
Members Cams Posted October 6, 2004 Members Posted October 6, 2004 Interesting thread. I'm considering helping to organise an Open Mic here in Lux. Thankfully the 'other guy' has all the gear and know-how and it should be a great experience for me. Best of luck with yours - let us know how it goes. Cams
Members Tele like it is Posted October 9, 2004 Members Posted October 9, 2004 I have been the host for several jams and frankly I found showing a little favoritism made for a more enjoyable night for everyone and a more profitable night for the club. More accomplished players got to pretty much pick their time slot (within reason) and certain people could just show up and play with minimal waiting.Sure a couple of tightholes will get pissed but I think you'll quickly find that your allways gonna piss off somebody at an open mike. As long as it's not just friends of yours that get the nod it won't be clique-ish. Keep the sign up sheet on your person and people probably won't even notice that so and so signed up first but this one went on before that one. Don't promise people an exact time. Give them an aproximate time. You're providing them with an opportunity to get up on stage. Some people show up to these things thinking they have some inherant rights. They don't. It's your show and you make the rules. If someone consistantly brings in a good amount of people to see them play and right after they play you have an act that really stinks they will leave right after their friends play. The bottom line for the venue is sales. It's capitalism not socialism. You can still be reasonable. Don't make some poor schmuck who shows up at seven wait until midnight to play but it's your job to put on a good show and manage the talent your given on any particular night.
Members LosBoleros Posted October 9, 2004 Members Posted October 9, 2004 To Revamp........ 1. Use mics on stage will sound way better and be more efficient use of time. 2. Use of a Snake cable so you can run the show from the back. (be sure to have a mic back theer so you can do voice over and introduce performers) 3. Ultimately it has to be proffitable for the people you are working for or bye bye open mic. Use you best judgement. 4. Here's one of my own. I like to encourage situations without a trap drum set. This will keep the volume down considerably. Congas and bongo percussions are fine at an acoustic level.
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