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The purpose of this post is to elicit suggestions for successful open mic nights from either the hosting or the performance aspect
Here are some ideas I've been thinking about
Some benefit for the First 10 people to sign up
Use a triangle chine or cell phone timer to indicate when time is up
Promote interaction among the regulars get-togethers after the event or another times
Make newcomers fair welcome how?
Experiment with time limit is it better to have a five minute time then repeat performers
Social media mailing list Facebook Twitter possibly post pictures from the event on the web and encourage performers to do the same
Sometimes have a pro perform or the host does established pieces as well as tryouts
Your turn
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Joined: Aug 2012
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Some benefit for the First 10 people to sign up
>>> Not necessary. Songwriters WANT to have their songs heard. And you are leaving out guy #11... why make him feel bad? A well run writers night is its own reward.
Use a triangle chine or cell phone timer to indicate when time is up
>>>> Bad idea. No one likes to run against the clock while performing. A 3 song limit is a better way to go.
Promote interaction among the regulars get-togethers after the event or another times
>>> Not a good idea (imo). A good percentage of songwriters are introverts (it's why they started writing songs in the first place). People want to go to a writers night, perform their songs, get some appreciation - and then go home...
Make newcomers fair welcome how?
Experiment with time limit is it better to have a five minute time then repeat performers
>>> treat everyone the same.
Social media mailing list Facebook Twitter possibly post pictures from the event on the web and encourage performers to do the same
>>> good idea
Sometimes have a pro perform or the host does established pieces as well as tryouts
>>>> the "pro" idea is great. the "host" perform?... no one likes that.
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Joined: Jul 2000
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A few ideas that have been successful for the Hudson Valley Folk Guild:
Advertise the signup time as 1/2 hour before the start.
The number of songs each will then be determined by the number signed up by starting time. If you have to obey a curfew, it may only be one song. If it is one song, and you finish early, go around again for those who stayed. This also helps newcomers and those who come after some places would have closed the list, because you can go knowing everyone plays. Critical. Even if someone comes in late, find a way to get them up for one song.
As an aside, three songs is too many to listen to for many of the performers! Two songs is enough to see if they will all sound the same.
Make it a time limit as well as a number of songs. Some songs take 20 minutes!
The pro player idea is good - it makes it a guild. A variation is to have a 'featured performer' who plays 5 songs or 25 minutes tops, and goes on after the break.
Have an open refreshments table with donations. You will make far more than charging per item.
If the host can't perform, no one will want to host, so have the host open and close with one song each. Then it becomes an honor to host and you attract people good at it (another subject).
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eddie1261
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eddie1261
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One of the best songwriter nights here in the Cleveland area is called the 10x3, where there are 10 slots of 20 minutes each. The requirement is that 2 of the 3 songs must be original, and most of the performers do 3 originals. The host goes on in the last slot at 11pm, and he usually does 3 like everybody else did. I haven't been there in a while but it is popular to the point where there is a waiting list for a slot. The more seasoned area people get the later slots, the newbies get the earlier slot. As you participate more often, you can get a later slot. Also the better known area people get priority for later slots. It usually doesn't matter because the crowd comes in early and stays for the whole event. I did it once and as a first timer I got the 3rd slot, 8:40 to 9. Did my 3 songs and then hung around to hear everybody else. It's a good night of music and a good night of community among the players. I really should go more.
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Joined: Mar 2004
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Just my humble opinion:
To each his/her own but . . . just not a fan of open mic nights. All I've seen is exploitation of musicians who will do anything to get their music heard.
These days they are too many other options to get your material heard, to larger audiences without having to be "free" entertainment for some coffee shop.
Again, just my opinion as I am sure your mileage will vary.
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Edited portion: I would make exceptions i.e. in towns like Nashville where people who could make a difference are often in the audience.
Later,
Last edited by Danny C.; 07/03/15 04:18 AM. Reason: Edited portion
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when attending open mic events, I've often wished that performers could only do one song at a time, then let the next guy play. Once evereybody plays once, the rotation starts over. This would accomplish several things:
1) If the performer's songs all sound the same, you get a break between them
2) More people would stay the whole time. I often see performers play their 3 songs then leave, and the last acts play to a nearly empty room.
3) if somebody comes late or leaves early you can just add or subtract names to the rotation list.
4) having a faster rotation would keep things interesting.
5) If there is somebody you really want to hear, you'll get to hear them sooner... (I always hated having to sit through a lot of mediocrity in order to hear the last performer)
At most open mics I've attended this would work, because most acts tend to be a soloist with a carry-on instrument. If full bands are in the lineup, it would be problematic moving gear on and off the stage after each song.
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to borrow an idea from the user showcase, it would add a new angle if the audience could critique each performance... either in discussion format (but that would steal time from the performances) or in written form.
If you went the written route, you could have a table set up with a note book and pencils, and a manila envelope bearing the name of each performer who wants audience feedback.
Written feedback would probably tend to be harsher than verbal... because it could be anonymous. People are more inclined to speak their mind when nobody knows whose opinion is being expressed.
Verbal feedback would probably be kinder since most of the audience is probably performers who realize that what goes around comes around, and they have little incentive to set a negative vibe.
Peer evaluation would probably have the effect of culling the really bad performers and raising the overall quality for the people who may come just to listen.
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One of the local open mics is hosted by a bar during the slow season. Then they reward the good acts by giving then paid slots during their prime season. This has a couple of perks:
1) it helps them draw customers during a period that would have been slow otherwise
2) it lets them know which performers are good so they can book acts based on real knowledge of their abilty to perform and draw a crowd
3) if they make the open mic a pre-req for paid gigs, it raises the bar for bands that will play at the open mic.
(Around here, open mic events tend to be full of performers who aren't good enough to play for pay. Therefore, the open mics don't draw much "audience" beyond the performers and their friends)
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