Open mike
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (March 2007) |
 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2008) |
An open mike or open mic (or open spots ) is a live show where audience members may perform at the microphone. Usually, the performers sign up in advance for a time slot with the host or master of ceremonies.
Contents |
[edit] Poetry/Spoken Word
Poetry/spoken word open mikes feature a host, who is normally a poet or spoken word artist, poets and spoken word artists, and audience members. They are generally one and a half to two hours in length. A sign-up is done before the poetry/spoken word open mike begins so that the host has a list of names to call from. Poetry/spoken word open mikes are laid back, serene, and contain lively conversation in between readers and/or performers. They are held in libraries, coffee houses, cafes, and book stores normally. They are also held in bars. Each poet or spoken word artist is asked to keep their performances to a minimum, giving each performer enough time or opportunities to share their work.
[edit] Comedy
Comedy open mike nights can be held at established comedy clubs, but are more commonly held at other venues with or without a stage, often the upstairs or back room of a pub or bar. Such nights give newer acts an opportunity to practice and improve, with a view to getting paid work. More experienced acts get an opportunity to work out newer material where the audience is not paying in anticipation of seeing their normal act. In a typical open mike night, newer acts will get about five minutes of stage time, but more experienced acts may get ten or more minutes.
Open mic comedy nights are most widespread in larger English-speaking cities with a well-established stand-up comedy scene, especially London and New York. In these cities, with a plethora of aspiring comedians, the greatest challenge may be in attracting a worthwhile audience.
[edit] Music
These shows provide an opportunity for people to gain experience performing to a live audience without having to go through the process of getting normal music gigs, which is very difficult to do without experience of live performance.
Open mikes have been gaining in popularity in recent times, providing a much-needed outlet for singer-songwriters. Prior to their popularity, the only outlet generally were folk clubs, which were not always friendly towards creators of new music, preferring traditional music. They also suggested that music performed by an acoustic musicians or a solo artists in this manner would necessarily be folk music, a misconception that still commonly exists today. Some organizers have chosen the title "acoustic night" or "acoustic club" in an attempt to indicate an event run broadly on the lines of a folk club, but with a much wider range of musical styles.
[edit] Notes
Either spelling, "open mike" or "open mic", is correct.
"Open mike" is also often used to refer to events that could more properly be named "open stage" where there is no amplification.
[edit] External links
- JerseyMic.com - Open Mic reviews from all over New Jersey.
- OpenMikes.org - Music, comedy, and poetry open mike listings in the United States and Canada
- Mike, Dammit - Essay on the "mike" vs. "mic" debate
- OpenMic.US - Company running Open Mics for musicians across the U.S.
- bayareaopenmics.com - A complete, up-to-date listing of open mic events in the San Francisco Bay Area
- TheOpenMic.Net - A video documentary and Cable TV series about Open Mics in the San Francisco Bay Area and across the country.
- [1] - Boston area open mike list
- RooftopComedy.com - A website specializing in live stand-up comedy, that publishes open-mike comedy from numerous comedy clubs in the US and Europe.
- effinfunny.com - A website featuring a new clip of live stand-up comedy every day from many open-mikes in Hollywood
- OpenMics.co.uk - A listing of Open Mics in Edinburgh and Glasgow
