OUT
I like mic
Embrace new talent at local open mic events
by Charissa Young
It's Monday night, and I'm a one-woman audience left to the devices of a man and his guitar. I can't put this feeling on the shelf... take it easy on me, darling, he sings. I shift nervously in a rigid wooden booth. I chose a booth facing front and center to the stage for optimal viewing of the evening's six acts, but I realize I'm also in the direct stare of this sandy-blonde crooner. He keeps looking in my direction — or is he looking at the technician to my right. I can't say for sure, but he continues to strum his guitar and sings sweet nothings into the microphone. Besides a girl at the bar who was distracted by the bartender, I'm the only other bosomed body in the room receiving 27-year-old Kansas City musician Barclay Martin's musical affections.
And I like it.
Whether you go to be serenaded or to discover new musicians or poets, attending an open mic night offers entertainment that's cheap. Admission in Lawrence costs, at maximum, $3, and no two nights are alike, as they feature different unknown talents each week.
Amanda Haase, manager of The Bottleneck, encourages people to come to open mic nights for the chance to see "the next big thing" without the crowds. In the past, acts such as Blind Melon and Faith No More have played at The Bottleneck's open mic.
While audiences have the opportunity to discover new talent at each event, the most appeal is for the budding performers themselves. Signing up to play at an open mic event is free, and it gives new artists time to test their performance skills while gaining valuable public exposure. Martin attends shows at The Bottleneck and recently returned from a ninemonth solo tour driving across the United States in a conversion van. Martin says he's played a lot of venues, mostly around Kansas City, but wanted to play at The Bottleneck to break into the Lawrence music scene.
After Martin's set, Heather Knox, 24, KU alumina and Kansas City resident, arrives with a crowd to hear the punk band The Vultures perform. The Vultures have played several times at open mic night and at other venues in the Kansas City area. Through this and promotions on MySpace, they have developed a local following. Knox, who is dating The Vultures' bassist, has
frequented the open mic scene in both Lawrence and Kansas City for the past several years. She prefers Lawrence's open mic nights, she says. Here, university town audiences are more open to new ideas, so there is a better variety of music, she says.
Though tonight's open mic schedule includes all rock music, the sound ranges from L.I.E.'s heavy melodies to The Vane's alternative country. And because each act is limited to 15 to 30 minutes on stage, even styles not in your taste range are palatable.
Adding even more diversity to the Lawrence open mic scene, the Jazzhaus hosts open acoustic and Spanktones jams along with the poetry slam event, Fresh Ink. Knox prefers open mc events at the Jazzhaus because of its intimate setting — the candlestit tables bring the audience close to the stage.
Megan McHenry knows firsthand how powerful performing is. For the past six years, she has coordinated and performed at Fresh Ink, which features poetry ranging from the comedic to the political. "There's a vulnerability in
sharing your life and ideas through your poetry to strangers," she says. She encourages open mic "virgins" to come perform, even if they're nervous. It took McHenry several years to get used to being on stage, she says. "My voice and knees used to shake like crazy, but eventually I got comfortable with it." she says.
Whether testing the waters of the talent pool as an observer or braving the stage as a performer, attending an open mic night is a worthwhile experience to diversify your social routine.
WHERE TO GO
Want to test your performance skills or hear something new tonight? Check out these open mic events around town.
Open Mic Night
What? Musical performances
When? Mondays at 9:30 p.m.
Where? The Bottleneck
How much? 21+ FREE, 18-21
$3
How old do I have to be? 18+
What if I want to perform?
Sign up for 30-minute sets begins at 3 p.m. the Monday two weeks in advance
The Spanktones Open Jam
What? Open jam session
When? Mondays at 10 p.m.
Where? Jazzhaus
How much? $2
How old do I have to be? 21+
What if I want to perform?
Sign up for 15-minute sets
starting at 9 p.m. on the same
night as the performance
That Acoustic Jam Thing
What? Acoustic jam session
When? Wednesdays at 10 p.m.
except the first Wednesday of the month
Where? Jazzhaus
How much? S2
How old do I have to be? 21+
What if I want to perform?
Sign up for 15-minute sets starting at 9 p.m., the same night as the performance
Fresh Ink
What? Poetry slam
When? First Wednesday of every month at 10 p.m.
Where? Jazzhaus
How much? $3
How old do I have to be? 21
What if I want to perform?
Sign up for 15-minute sets starting at 9 p.m, the same night as the performance
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