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FOR SOME LOCAL BANDS, OPEN MIC NIGHTS PROVIDE A LAUNCHING PAD FOR BIGGER STAGES.
AMATEUR HOUR》
// ZACH GETZ
Photo by Adam Buhler
Getting their feet wet: Grizzly Adams members (from left to right) Tyler Lohman, sophomore drummer from Overland Park, Omar Hamahi, sophomore vocalist from Overland Park and Matt Batterson, junior guitarist from Lenexa, use open mic nights to help further the music.
Grizzly Adams get ready to take the stage at the Bottleneck at 11:30 p.m. There are 23 people in the audience, mostly friends and other bands who had already played that night. While other bands may be disappointed with such a small crowd, the members of Grizzly Adams don't seem to mind.
Tonight will be the band's first show. Before the show, they seem oddly confident. The band stands outside the Bottleneck talking about their set list and what to expect for the night. Some of the band members have been onstage before, but for others, like frontman Omar Ramahi, it will be their first time on a stage.
Grizzly Adams, like many other local bands, try to use open mic nights to help promote their band and gain experience.
Finally the time comes. The drum sticks tap, the guitar riffs start and the disco ball begins spinning. Grizzly Adams rip through their three songs, the only three songs they have down, and call it a night.
While the band has hopes and dreams to
move onto the next level and get signed, they know they must do smaller shows like open mic nights first. "If you do these shitty little gigs long enough then someone will take notice," says guitarist Jimi Myers.
After the show it was obvious that the band had a lot of work to do. Ramahi said that he was winded after doing just three songs, and other band members discussed the various kinks the show had. But the band members say they plan to do future open mic nights to help sort out the kinks.
Open mic nights are a great way for new bands and solo artists to get more exposure around a music scene. Open mic nights are also a good way for those who are tired of playing Guitar Hero in their living rooms to get out and
see how it feels to play on a real stage in front of a real audience.
"Any level player can do this," says Ryan Wise, who hosts open mic nights at the Jazzhaus on Wednesdays. "When you come in we take care of you. If your guitar doesn't plug in we have a mic. If it does, we have a cable. It's nothing really that difficult. It's a really laid back setting, which is the idea: Learn how to play guitar in front of a live audience."
Wise says that it's good for artists because they get the experience as well as free exposure. Wise also says that open mic nights are important for a music scene because that's how many bands get their start, and it's how musicians meet new people.
Wise says he likes hosting open mic nights because it gives a platform for musicians, both those who are established and those who just want to try to play in front of a live audience. He says it's also good for the venue because it brings people into the bar that normally wouldn't be there.
OPEN MIC NIGHTS AROUND LAWRENCE
Monday:
The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St.
Wednesday:
The Jazzaus, 926 1/2 Massachusetts St.
Friday:
The Cross Town Tavern, 1910 Haskell Ave.
Saturday:
Duffy's 2222 W. Sixth St.
This night at the Jazzhaus, Joseph Schreiner is playing in front of a small candlelit audience. He singles folky songs on his acoustic guitar.
Schreiner: who has been doing open mics for about three years now, says one of the biggest reasons that he participates in open mic nights is because they are fun. He also says he does it because it's hard for solo artists to get exposure in Lawrence. "You need to tap every available market," says Schreiner.
Schreiner warns artists who want to try open mic nights to be prepared. He says sometimes hecklers will harass the artists, and occasionally strange things will go awry. He says to judge the audience for their reaction to your songs to see which ones work and which ones don't.
While open mic nights are a great way to help get your name into the local music scene, don't expect to become famous overnight.
"Don't look at it as something that will make or break your career. Any band who should be playing music should be playing for the fun anyway," says Joe Wilson, who helps book bands for the Bottleneck's open mic night.
Wilson says he believes open mic nights benefit the bands by allowing them to meet other bands and network. Wilson says the networking allows bands to look out for each other and help spread their love for music.
"If we can't make the band a bunch of shows or a bunch of money,we might as well get them together with other bands that can hook them up with other shows in town and out of town," says Wilson.
Wilson says that open mic nights shouldn't be used to get famous, but as a way to make music with those who love to make music and to be involved in the local music scene.
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