Don't just drink water, buy something while you're there so that the club can afford to keep hosting open mics

I'd like to add "Don't stop in the middle if you mess up"!

JettPink wrote:

Don't just drink water, buy something while you're there so that the club can afford to keep hosting open mics

52 people have redeemed the *free* download promocode=ryno for "Good Day!"(you know who you are and so do we thank you!) get yours before the promotion ends at Midnight tonight! redeem @ www.dsrcrew.com

Clean yourself up and dress well! It's always good to look like you take care of yourself personally; visual appeal is important.

Dreamseekerrecords, it really isn't cool
to hijack a thread. Kinda like at an open
mic, you shouldn't jump onstage and hijack
someone else's performance.

Good pointers, I follow most of these one more:

don't do all covers, if any

What are feelings on playing with a simple backing track, say with hand drums and a bass, at an open mic?

Already stated I know but people skills are so important! It's great when you're personality comes through onstage, but offstage personality is just as important.

DorindaSinger wrote:

Already stated I know but people skills are so important! It's great when you're personality comes through onstage, but offstage personality is just as important.

In my experience. Majority of the people that go to "Free" shows hosted at Open Mic's in local bars or clubs, are there for one thing... The beer or booze! Don't expect to be loved easily! Unless you just blow them away with your genre's style. So don't stress, but also do the right thing! Usually, when your doing these gigs, they are for strictly promotion or a goal! So learn some basic PR and have fun. Get creative! Do different than those in your local scene.

Become friends with the owner of such a place! In so much so, you guys drink beer together! Lol! Design a promotional handout, that is about your art, web, or such. Which may also include a discount with said bar. (for example). Yet! Be that owners buddy to make it happen...

For example now! I handout promotional's that look like little "TOP SECRET" Government files, which spooks and hooks everyone I have handed them out to... They definately remember and even if they are drunk, when they get home they look at it, even if they find it in the floor board of their car or it falls out of their pocket in the jail, due to them being picked up for public intox....

Heed these 13 rules, but also fit it to your agenda and goal.... Get Creative! Make Friends! Spread the Word!

- HF: www.MurderMorgue.com.

Justin wrote:

We found this post about open mics by Bandzoogle member Robin Yukiko in our forums, and thought that musicians that read our blog would also enjoy it. Robin is a Berklee College of Music grad, singer-songwriter, pianist, and music educator in San Francisco. She hosts the SF Singer-Songwriters’ Workshop at the Musicians Union Local 6. Learn more at www.robinyukiko.com







After going to open mics for years, I decided to compile a list of "rules" that I sadly see broken all the time. Maybe this can help some of you!



DON’T play and leave.



DO talk to EVERYONE and remember their names. You can even write their name and description and review it at the end of the night. They will be so impressed the next week.



DON’T expect to be discovered. This is a networking opportunity with other musicians. Open mics only lead to gigs if you work your contacts and follow up.



DON'T just say "Good job". Be specific and sincere like "I really liked your hook" or "Your low range sounds great!" so they know you were paying attention.



DO introduce others. Even if you aren't interested in collaborating with someone, maybe you can give someone a good lead.



DON’T heckle. No one wants you to request Free Bird.



DO be gracious. If only one person is listening, play just for that person, and yourself.



DON’T talk loudly over a ballad. Everyone chats, just be respectful about it.



DO play contrasting songs. (One slow, one fast, one in major, one in minor, etc.)



Similarly, DON’T play two songs in the same key back-to-back. Even if an audience doesn't know, their ears will start to get bored.



DON’T apologize before you play a song. People want you to be excited about your song, not hear excuses for why it's going to suck.



DO make friends with the host, bartenders, and all staff. People like to work with their friends, so be a friend to everyone you meet.



DO have fun! If it's not fun, what's the point?

---

What do you think? Have you experienced any of these things at an open mic? Would you add any Dos or Don'ts to the list? Let us know in the comments!

I live in SW UK. Most of the 13 rules are true here too except of course the beer is better! We have mix of open mics and I think you need to choose the ones that suit you best. They are mostly but not always in our English pubs. In olden days it was mostly folk clubs where you could go if you want to play for some free exposure but now in my hometown here in Exmouth there is one or more open mic night every night of the week to choose from. There are some that are known to be pretty noisy and others where you can definitely expect a listening audience but the point made that it is best not to do a hit an run is the biggy ...hanging out with the crowd and other musicians is important and actually a lot of fun. It will certainly help build your rep!

1 and 4 i find to be really crucial to building a good network with fellow musos.