How To Make The Most Out Of Open Mics

As a performing songwriter almost any opportunity to perform is valuable however when you’re just starting out and you don’t have much performance experience you instantly get caught up in a vicious catch-22 situation.

How can you get the experience needed to secure the gigs you want unless you actually perform gigs to get the experience?

This is where the open mics come into play.

Open mics are just that, an open performance forum, an opportunity to play and to get your songs out there and they’re not just for beginners either.

Established songwriters (me included) use open mics to showcase their best stuff or, to road-test brand new stuff to an appreciative and performer-friendly audience.

Even though the audience is generally comprised of the other performers and their friends and fans, the atmosphere is one of encouragement and for anyone who’s just starting out that’s so important.

Most songwriting organizations have their own showcase night that members can perform their songs to an attentive audience. That’s how I got started on my performing songwriter journey, playing at SCALA showcases.

Good songwriting organizations should also have information on where and on what nights open mics are on in your area. My suggestions for getting the most out of open mics are this:

1. Decide that you are going to go and DO IT!
I know how it feels to build up the courage to do something like this. You say you’re ready but then your inner critic tells you that you can’t.

Physically going to an open mic session can be seen as a major win in the first place. Just do it!!

2. Don’t put yourself under any pressure to perform. Go and check it out first.
Take your instrument if you like but if you don’t want to perform that night, don’t do it. Before I played my first ever solo gig at SCALA I went and just checked it out.

I soaked up the scene and met some really nice people. It was those people that encouraged me to get up and perform. Even though my first gig was truly terrible, it was a start.

3. Make sure you’re prepared
If you are going to perform make sure that you know the songs beforehand. If you need to use a music stand so you can read the lyrics then bring one. It’s ok to do that.

If you’re musically prepared then that becomes one less thing to worry about.

4. Make yourself known to the MC
Open mics have an MC that introduces the acts and keeps the night running smoothly. This MC is usually the person who runs the open mic night as well. Get to know them.

The more they know you the better your experience will be.

The MC is someone who cares about nurturing new talent and in this music industry that seems to be running on instant gratification it’s a rare thing to find people who are willing to help out and develop talent.

These are the people you want to have on your side when you’re starting out and learning the ropes.

5. Allow yourself to be nervous
Nerves are not a bad thing. It means that you care about what you do. Even though I’ve been performing for over twenty years, I’m still in the toilet 10 minutes before going on stage.

If I ever stopped being nervous before a gig then that’s the time for me to quit as it means that I have stopped caring about myself, my art and my audience.

In time you will learn how to channel your nerves in a positive way however, deep breathing and trying to relax before you go on is still the best thing to do.

Don’t start comparing yourself to the other performers and don’t overthink about what you’re going to do. Just focus on the here and now and perform.

6. Enjoy yourself
You have waited for this moment for a while and now you’re doing it so enjoy and remember, the audience is there for the music not because they have to be there, they want to be there. They want you to do well, play to them.

Find out where the open mics are in your area and go to all of them, check them out, get to know people and have fun. You never know where the experience might take you.

Until next time, happy writing,

Corey Stewart
Singer/Songwriter/Musician

Keywords: scala, songwriter, songwriting, songwriting tip, songwriting help, songwriting organization, songwriting idea, songwriting blog, corey stewart

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Tags: Corey Stewart, Creativity, lyrics, music, open mic, song, Songwriter, Songwriting, songwriting blog, songwriting tip, Songwriting Zen, writing, zen

Friday, June 13th, 2008 Open Mics

3 Comments to How To Make The Most Out Of Open Mics

Jannie Sue says:

June 14, 2008 at 8:30 am

Thanks for # 5. I mean for all of them, but that one resonated most with me today.
–Jannie

songwritingzen says:

June 16, 2008 at 10:09 am

Hi Jannie,

I’m glad you pointed out “Allow yourself to get nervous” as something that resonates with you the most. It’s amazing how some people think that nervousness is a sign of weakness and should be avoided at all times. Unfortunately, in order to avoid nervousness these people avoid performing altogether.

Very sad.

Corey