I love running this event because it’s a great opportunity for anyone to get up and have a go and from time to time you find some great musical talent just waiting for a stage to perform on.

The performers list from week to week is a delightful mix of established musicians to first timers. No matter what the skill level, everyone gets along just fine.

As an extension to the Open Mic @ The Dan concept I have organized a series of gigs on the last Sunday of every month at the Daniel O’Connell Hotel starting July 27th called the Sunday Singer/Songwriter Showcase (or S4 for short).

It starts at 7pm with a 1 hour set from yours truly then, from 8pm a special guest performer will showcase their songs with the evening finishing at 9pm.

The singer/songwriters showcasing their wares at S4 are as follows:

July 27
Joe Murphy

August 31
Combee!

September 28
Courtney Robb

October 26
SP and Sarah

November 30
Cal Williams Jr

I will be running a series of “Songwriter Spotlight” posts on these performers and doing what I can to promote S4 on Songwriting Zen.

If you’re living in Adelaide then be sure to get to the Daniel O’Connell Hotel (165 Tynte Street, North Adelaide) and support local songwriters.

If you live anywhere else I will make sure that audio and/or video of the showcases will be available on Songwriting Zen for you to check out.

Here is the press release I’ve put together for S4:

****************************************

Sunday Singer Songwriter Showcases @ The Dan

The Sunday Singer Songwriter Showcase (or S4 for short) is a monthly showcase presented by Orangutang Music, DNA Live Sound and the Daniel O’Connell Hotel hosted by award winning songwriter Corey Stewart.

It will commence on the last Sunday of July and finish on the last Sunday of November.

S4 will feature the songs of Corey Stewart plus talented local Adelaide singer/songwriters such as Joe Murphy, Courtney Robb, Combee!, Simon Peter and Cal Williams Jr.

The showcase kicks off at 7pm at the Daniel O’Connell Hotel (165 Tynte Street, North Adelaide) with food and drink specials happening from 6pm so come on down and experience good food, great company, friendly staff, a warm fire and some wonderful music.

What more could you ask for on a late Sunday afternoon?

****************************************

I reckon with the Sunday Singer/Songwriter Showcases locked in your diary late Sunday afternoons never sounded so good.

Until next time, happy writing,

Corey Stewart
Singer/Songwriter/Musician

Keywords: open mic, songwriting, songwriter, songwriting tip, songwriting idea, songwriting help, songwriting blog, corey stewart

No related posts.

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

No related posts.

Wonderful, because I get to watch and listen to a whole range of songwriters and performers at varying levels of experience and confidence.

Plus, at the same time I’m helping to develop a growing community of folks who love live music and songwriting so much that we want to support it with much passion and gusto.

Educational, because for me, it’s been a first-hand look at human behaviour in groups and stressful situations.

Facinating!

The Open Mic @ The Dan is my first open mic as a host. I had no idea how to run one before that. I’ve participated in a few but let me tell you, running an open mic is a very, very different kettle of fish.

I’ve essentially been making it up as I went along.

One of the things I’m learning very fast with running the Open Mic @ The Dan is how to manage groups. In my day gigs of old, I’ve been in sales, marketing and call centre management positions so the concept of managment is not a foreign concept.

However, managing groups of musicians of different skill and confidence levels is.

IMHO, the role of an an open mic host is to ensure that the open mic runs as smoothly and efficiantly as possible without compromising the performer-friendly space and support mechanisms created for the performers.

Sometimes this is easy to do and sometimes it’s not.

In light of this, I’ve devised a list of things performers can do to make any open mic experience a positive, inclusive and enjoyable one for all.

The following commandments are sometimes sharp and direct to the point but I think by the end of it you’ll understand where I (as an open mic host) am coming from.

****************************************

The 10 + 1 Commandments Of Open Mic Performance
By Corey Stewart
www.songwritingzen.com

1. Thou shalt be on time
If an open mic starts at say, 8pm then turn up a little earlier to make sure your name is down on the running sheet.

If you’re doing something else beforehand and you need to turn up later that’s fine, just don’t complain if your time to perform is later than you anticipated.

2. Thou shalt make yourself known to the host
If you want to put your name down on the running sheet, don’t expect the host to come to you. Go to the host. Make yourself known and make the hosts job a little easier.

3. Thou shalt be prepared before performance
Knowing where you are on the running sheet is very, very important. Nothing holds up an open mic more than performers who tune up their guitars and prepare their music at the very last minute.

A successful open mic is determined by how short the changeover time between performers is.

Here are some other ways that performer changeover times can be minimized:

• Be ready before you go on
• Be close by when your turn comes around
• Know what songs you’re doing beforehand

4. Thou shalt not get drunk before performing
I know it can be very nerve racking waiting to go on stage and having a drink to get the dutch courage going is fair enough but, try not to drink too much. You really don’t sound good drunk, no matter what you think.

Trust me on this one

5. Thou shalt not overstay ones welcome
Open Mic’s are designed to showcase multiple performers not just you.

If the requirement is a maximum of three songs, do your three songs but balance that with the fact that there’s other performers wanting a go as well.

Keep unnecessary chat to a minimum and don’t do the extended version of “Stairway To Heaven”, “American Pie” and your favourite folk tune with 24 verses in it all in the same sitting.

As a host I go by this simple equation: 3 x songs + chat = 15 minutes.

Any longer than that your overstaying your welcome.

Oh, and BTW. When you finished your songs don’t ask the audience whether they want to hear more. That’s the hosts job (time permitting).

6. Thou shalt invite others to play but only up to a point.
In my own experience I’ve noticed a tactic that some performers use to overtly maximise their time on stage. Invite another guitarist up and give them extended solos to stretch out the songs.

Don’t do it. I’m onto you

7. Thou shalt adapt ones performance to the open mic.
Some open mics cater for bands however, (in my open mic performing experience) most open mics operate in venues with limited stage space and because of this, are designed for solos or duo performers only.

If you play in a band and you want to perform at an open mic that operates in this way, do your homework and learn your songs either solo or with one extra person.

So what if the only way you’ve done your songs in the past is with a band. Get over it!

8. Thou shalt obey host at all times
I think this point is self explanatory. If a host cuts the maximum amount of songs from 3 to 2 halfway through the night and you havn’t performed as yet, don’t be offended. It’s no reflection on you. They’re just trying to fit everyone in on a very busy night.

Always remember that if the night is quiet an extra song or two may be added to a performers slot without notice, and who gets those? The performers who don’t complain when times are busy.

9. Thou shalt be encouraging and supportive of other performers.
For some people the possibility of playing in front of an audience at an open mic is much scarier than death itself. It maybe thier first time ever on a stage.

Therefore, it’s so important that the environment created at an open mic is a supporting, inclusive, performer-friendly, positive and encouraging one.

The host, sound engineer and venue staff can only do so much in this department. The main responsibility rests with the other performers. Ways in which this optimum open mic environment can maintained are:

• Clap when a song is completed. At least make some acknowledgement.
• Give credit where credit is due.
• If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything.
• If you really like the performance, say so
• Stay for as long as you can after you’ve finished your performance.

10. Thou shalt be courteous to open mic and venue staff
Be nice to the host and you’ll get some breaks
Be nice to the sound engineer and your sound won’t suck
Be nice to the venue staff and you’ll be served quicker

End of story!

11. Thou shalt have FUN!
Leave your troubles at the door and have the time of your life.

Fellow open mic’ers become friends in a very short space of time. If something is on your mind either chat to your new found friends or talk to the host.

Remember, we’re all in this together. Let’s make it easy on everyone and have the best possible open mic experience ALL THE TIME!

****************************************

I really, truly believe that the humble open mic is the cornerstone of grass roots musical development in any community especially when it comes to showcasing songwriters. It’s up to everyone to ensure that this is the case.

I’d also love to know what positive and negative open mic experiences you’ve had and why. Any other feedback is most welcome too.

Until next time, happy writing,

Corey Stewart
Singer/Songwriter/Musician

Keywords: open mic, songwriting, songwriter, songwriting tip, songwriting idea, songwriting help, songwriting blog, corey stewart

No related posts.