Worst Place to Learn About Local Talent

Open Mic nights were traditionally used by musicians to get noticed and become famous. But in the age of YouTube sensations and American Idol one-hit wonders, Open Mic nights became more of a karaoke-night-out-with-friends type of thing—and definitely not a place where you’d see up-and-coming local talent.

And because a majority of those performances take place in bars, it is apparent that some people see Open Mics as their karaoke entertainment. And if they haven’t had a few drinks but still take the stage, they see this as an opportunity to shine.

The only problem is that the stage has seen too many two-note strumming acts and stop-pulling-cat’s-tail singing. Rarely do those people tap into the rhythm or the pitch of a song they’re singing, too. It’s great that some people are not afraid to get out there and perform in front of a public, but why make this experience so painful for the audience?
I’ve been in one café during an Open Mic night and we literally had to get up and leave, because of the whining that was out of rhythm with the accompanying music.

Perhaps, a better way to find out about local talents is if their show is actually scheduled by some venue. It won’t be necessarily paid, but not a single venue will invite local bands to play for free if they just aren’t good. Another way is to search for some local bands online, listen to some local radio, and, oh yes, YouTube. But by all means, avoid Open Mic nights for your own good.