Going Live: How to Make Open Mike Memories

I attended an open mike night recently and have a few observations that will help should you decide to try one. Having played in a number of bands, played acoustic music at coffee houses and led worship for many years, I see some common things to look out for. Most are easy things to fix but some of these will take time – take the time!

Opportunities to play are everywhere, see The Voluntary Musician, and open mikes are another way to get out and perform. However, the devil is in the details; so, resist the urge to skip these points because “every one knows that.” Yeah, you know you need to”be prepared”,”need to practice”, and “need to connect with the audience” but because “everyone knows that” most open mike performances are clearly amateurish and awkward for everyone. It is the rare performer who really commands the stage and stands out from the crowd. I want the audience to turn their heads in surprise and respond with “Yeah! That was killer! You really nailed it!” with copious applause and cheers. How are you going to do that?

Preparation

Open mike preparation is key. You have no control over the venue, sound, equipment (except your own) or who you follow. Therefore, it is critical to attend the one you want to do and take good notes – mental or otherwise.

Venue: Inside or Out?

Being inside limits the variables such as weather and extraneous noise (cars and planes going by) but present other challenges such as proximity to the crowd. Be aware of how close you are to the front row of people. Sound disperses much more outside but inside, you may be blasting those closest to you. Room to move may also be limited. If you are outside, you may have plenty of room to move – use it. Not necessarily all of it but loosen up and move.

Sound

Note details about the P.A. Ask these questions:

• Who is running it?
• Is it set up for your type of act? Band or soloist?
• How will you get connected – microphone, direct in to the board, borrowed amp?

Open Mike Equipment

Bringing a load of equipment is usually not feasible for open mikes. Most of the time, you will plug in to someone else’s amp and use their mikes, cables, and stands. A lot can go wrong that is beyond your control. However, you can control these things: fresh batteries, reliable jacks on your guitar, clean controls (not scratchy racket every time you touch the volume), and cables. Make certain every thing works before walking up! It is super embarrassing to find out the battery died in your guitar or effects pedal as you hit that first chorus.

Cables may be mostly supplied by the venue but you can control the cable from your instrument to the amp or P.A. in most cases. Make sure your cables are long enough!

If you play acoustic, consider getting a direct box. This will allow you to plug into a mike cable and go “directly” into the P.A. For acoustic players, this should be a part of your “go kit” for performing.

Timing

Finally, make sure you bring only what you need. Keep it simple. Less equipment means less to go wrong and quicker setup/tear down. The amount of time is severely limited. Don’t waste it having lots of junk to deal with when it is your time.

Open Mike Music Choice

While choosing your songs, keep in mind you only have a brief time to make your mark. Make selections geared to excite. Pensive, finger tapping, acoustic guitar may be great and show off your talent but it will fade into the background noise quickly. A tepid bit of applause is about all you can expect. Also, complex progressive rock may get some reaction but it should be something that is well known such as Roundabout by Yes. Every one knows it and may even get some to sing along! Complex originals are cool but will lose your audience quick unless it is insanely great. If it was, you wouldn’t be doing an open mike, just sayin’ 😉

When performing, put some life in it! If you are not into the song, guess what? Nobody else will be either. Make sure you put the right emotion into the song, though. Love songs with a huge smile across your face look odd. Standing there stone faced as you mechanically reel off the song will not fly either. Express the song with the emotion and feel of the lyrics. If it is just a fun song, have fun with it! Love song? Croon, baby croon! Which brings me to my last chunk of advice:

Practice Until It’s Second Nature

You already know to “practice, practice, practice” but do you practice to the point of being able to hold a conversation while you play? Now you are ready! Get to the point where the music becomes second nature – you hardly have to think about it. For me, this means memorization. Learning by ear helps me do this as I can remember songs I have learned by ear far easier than from a written chart. Practice moving around while you play. Look around and avoid staring at your guitar the whole time. Staring at the ground only works for shoegaze music. If you must, do it sparingly. Jim Morrison of The Doors was known for closing his eyes during performances but that was then and him…and them. Again, if you must…

Get off the written chart

First of all, reading off charts as you play keeps you from connecting with your audience. Eye contact and expressions are key to success.

Second, music stands look amateurish. Coming up to the stage with your gear and then plopping down a stand comes off as well as a kid at a grade school talent show – Don’t do it!

Play in Your Sleep

Get to the point where you can just about play in your sleep. Another way to put it is to get almost to point of being sick of the songs you have played them so much. There are a ton of distractions when playing live and knowing your music cold helps you keep rolling despite the people moving around, equipment failures and extraneous noises.

Once the song just comes out of you, it becomes easy to interact with people. Winking at the audience or singing a line directly to someone you make eye contact with can engage the audience as you reach “through the veil”. In acting, this phrase indicates when the characters intentionally interact with an audience as part of the show. In television, it is when the actors speak to the “TV audience” who are not really there beyond the camera as in shows like The Office.

Once you get so familiar with a song you can play it in your sleep, start messing around with it. If an idea occurs to you for an improvisation, try it! This will help you get used to deviations and test how well you really know the material.

Finally, play through your mistakes without losing the beat or track of the song. There is no opportunity to stop and try it again once you begin performing. Learn how to recover from mistakes gracefully. I had a piano play friend once remark, “You never mess up!” How wrong a statement that is! I have learned to keep the song moving despite my flubs. The singing technique know as “Scat“, you may be surprised to know, sprang out of a singer who forgot the words. Dropping out is not an option! Repeat a verse, a line, or scat. Do what it takes.

Take this advice to heart and you will stand out like a shining light in a cave rather than a sore thumb we would rather forget. It usually does not take much at these things but does take something.