A pub near me does a weekly open mic night. I’m making it a goal of mine to play at one during 2025. This would be my first performance in ground of people outside my immediate family.
My question for you legends is, how would you prep for your first? Pic two / three songs and work the help out of em?
Most of the music I play, I play along to bands and without the backing track it can feel a little hollow at times. Do I need to cater for this?
I’ll have to get used to signing too, never done it.
I have a year though so plenty of time to take on advice.
Thanks
There’s no other way than that there’s some good stuff in here…we hope you have fun and don’t forget to enjoy yourself
One, 2 or 3 songs is something different than a whole set and I don’t have everything in my head that is written here, but if you type in some search terms in the top right corner there is more… I will also take a quick look
Sounds like a great goal. Why not sign up for one of the Community OMs first? Probably a little less pressure but a step up from playing for family. Would be an ideal stepping stone.
Don’t rely on the ol’ ‘It’ll be alright on the night’ mantra (although it will )
Practice everything you are going to do and say (including intros & ad lib witticisms). Use the same equipment, strap, outfit, playing position etc. and record yourself on your mobile doing so. Have a look at it and decide what to keep or change. Repeat, rinse etc. until you’re happy doing it on autopilot.
It’s a lot of work in the beginning, but you get much better and faster at it with time, till you reach the stage of quite confidently making a fool out of yourself, without a care in the world…
I’ve not done a live open mic but agree with Brian. Practice everything, song and any banter ie get used to introducing yourself, your songs, performing and chatting between the songs.
I see that you have not shared any recordings for a couple of years, so my first advice would be to choose some likely songs for public performances and the record them for AOVYP as dress rehearsals. Get a few 4 or 5 in the bag and get some feedback and then sign up for one of our OMs, as it will be pretty close to the real thing ie live audience and a one take performance. Get used to performing and then take that giant leap but make sure you are fully prepared. In the meantime, visit the venue, get used to the vibe, get to know the organisers so you don’t just rock up as a stranger, that should also help steady the nerves. My 2cts
Yeah have thought about doing this, the only barrier to it so far has been 1 singing and 2 the time zones I’ve seen the open mics here have all been terrible for me in Aus. I’ll keep my eye out for one and get sorted. Otherwise some more recordings for the group will have to be the substitute
Ryth, best advice I’ve received from my limited open mike experience is learn the music and the lyrics separately until they are automatic before putting them together.
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