Some Things to Keep in Mind When Doing Open Mics...

[ChristopherM]

The thrill for me is getting up with folks you've never played with and someone calls a song you've never played and all you have to work from is "medium shuffle in B, short 4, come in from the 5, watch for stops."

That's a BLAST. I was a "stand-in" rhythm guitarist for a night with a band in Chicago a good many years back. Here I was, a small-town, white-trash, mullet-headed kid on stage with a band that looked and sounded very much like the Commodores. I learned every guitar part "on the fly" from the band's lead guitarist (luckily he was left handed, so it was like learning from a "mirror"). It was one of the funnest moments in my musical lifetime!

 

[spazex]

I've never did open mic, but if having a show is the same thing; then please remember to bring a towel. The lights are hot and you will sweat like a pig. Luckily I was wearing a cotton T-shirt and used that for a towel the first time we had a concert.

Good tip on talking to the audience, I always try to talk to them. I like to ask the crowd questions on what other music they like, it gives me ideas on what else to play the next time we have a show.