What is “Openish Mic?”
“Openish Mic” is a pretty straight forward idea.
There are a lot of musicians out there. Quite a few of them are talented. However, not all of them have the ability to play a “full set” at a bar that requires four hours of cover tunes from a full band that has their own PA system.
Similarly, many musicians have been practicing and playing for a long time, and they are sick of playing two songs at an open mic while the audience is too busy prepping their own music to listen.
So is their a middle ground? Hopefully, yes. “Openish Mic” is The AV Lounge’s answer to the traditional open mic.
Right, but what is it?
When you come to an “Openish Mic” night, you will see an opener (this is someone who has 20-25 minutes of material that they have been working on to get “stage ready”). Then you will see a featured performer (this is someone who has 45-60 minutes of music that they have have been working on/playing for some time).
After the featured performer, we will “open” the mic to anyone in the crowd who would like to perform a song or two. It’s a good opportunity to get some stage time for performers who are just starting out.
Can I be an opener, or better yet, a featured performer?
Maybe. We want to give as many people as possible the opportunity to play on a real stage under the lights with a real live sound guy.
You can contact us at [email protected], or better, you can come to some shows (specifically Openish Mic nights and make yourself known by supporting other artists. The best way to make it to the stage is to be someone in the community who supports live music.)
Does it cost anything to get in?
There will not be a cover charge for “Openish Mic,” but we do have to keep the lights on somehow. We will have a “two drink ticket” minimum on your way in ($5/ Ticket). Each drink ticket gets you a drink that costs $6 or less. Want two beers? Good for you. Want a soda and a beer? That works as well. Want a hop water and an energy drink? It seems like you might be going through some stuff, but to each their own.
So, really, it’s ten bucks to get in?
Think about it this way. The AV Lounge is a business. If you were planning on coming, listening to a whole show by artists who have spent hundreds of hours practicing, then getting up on stage and performing while others watched, all through a system of sound and lights that costs more than a car (not a nice one, but like a used Honda) and then you would leave at the end of the night without spending anything to support the performers and business, then yes, you can look at it as “ten bucks to get in.”
I’m fine buying two drinks, I guess, but I just want bottled water. Can I buy that instead and not have to buy the tickets?
You’re not going to like my answer. The two drink tickets are $10 at the door. You can use each of them on what you want that costs $6 or less. If you want to buy water or soda with the tickets, great. If you want to buy water and soda separate and give your tickets to a friend who does want something more expensive, awesome. Trade them like Pokemon cards. Get your friend to buy you a soda in exchange for one of your tickets. It is up to you.
So, ten bucks?
Look you little S*%&! I’ve had about enough of you. You probably would have bombed on stage. I don’t have a gong, but I would get one just to play you off. If I ever find out who this is that keeps asking this question…