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Post by scorpiodog on Jun 18, 2015 12:02:28 GMT
I thought this might be an interesting thing to discuss. I don't very often go to open mic nights. I'm limited to the number of evenings I spend following my musical passion and I'd rather do the gig thing (which involves regular practice, too) than I would troop around the countryside to open mics and participatory folk clubs. But last night, I popped into an open mic night locally just to have a listen and a couple of beers. When I got there, I was surprised to find it much more crowded than usual, and the audience was listening with rapt attention to a young duo singing a version of James Morrison's "Broken Strings". They were really superb. Spellbinding. They finished and it was at that point that I discovered the larger than usual audience had come to see the young girl in the duo. She had her parents there, several older members of her family and some friends of various ages. When she'd finished they were, quite reasonably delighted by her performance and congratulated her, and all that good stuff. The next act went up after this kerfuffle had calmed down a bit (someone I know quite well). Well I was appalled at the behaviour of some of these supporters of the young girl. The volume of their conversation immediately went up by many decibels, and I overheard one woman saying quite loudly, "Oh this is rubbish, they should put Millie back on". Loud enough, I think, to be heard by the singer. This went on for the next 20 minutes or so through various performers until the Millie supporters started to drift away. I must confess, if I'd been running the open mic, I would have come and had a word with the people, but the organiser didn't and nor did the landlord of the pub who was behind the bar. It set me to thinking, what should any of us do when faced with this kind of behaviour? tonywoods (who was also there last night) and I run a little gathering once a month in a little tiny pub (can't call it an open mic - we don't allow mics!), at the specific request of the landlady, and when we first started it, we were faced with noise and disrespectful behaviour from people who weren't involved, but we had a (quite strong) word with the landlady who motivated her bar staff (except 1) to keep order, and Tonywoods and I (more him, really!) spent quite a lot of time and effort shushing offenders and talking to people. We still have the occasional incident, but most months everybody respects the performers and are quiet while people are singing. Anyway, I thought it would be interesting to hear of any bad behaviour issues experienced at open mics etc, and (for anybody who runs one) what they've done to correct it. Also to hear everyones' views on what should be done to improve the experience of open mics for performers and interested audience members. Anybody?
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Jun 18, 2015 13:36:41 GMT
I think what you've described and how you've handled it yourself before is exactly what I'd expect.
I don't go to open mics, partly because most people there seem to be either only interested in doing their own performance, or watching their friends' performance, and the event can then suffer as you've said. If folk just turned up to hear 'music', like at a folk club, it'd be much more convivial.
Other than policing the event as best as you and the organiser/landlord can manage, maybe including a note on any advertising or signage about the open mic night, that all attending should respect every act performing and keep noise and chatter to a minimum. As they're generally in the pub, this will be difficult...
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Post by slasher on Jun 18, 2015 13:44:03 GMT
I won't do open mics because I have seen similar sort of behaviour which is seriously unpleasant for acts following the "Star" who is supported by family/mates. We have had problems at a couple of sessions I attend with people who wish to turn-up, perform and then leave. It has been explained that the performers are also the audience, and they should have the same respect for, and give support to others. Some take this on-board, some don't. People who behave in an unsociable manner are sometimes not aware of what is acceptable and what is not, some can be educated. There does seem to be a bit of a trend for the attitude--"I perform, but I don't watch others perform" where people seem to have a very high opinion of their own abilities. When someone new arrives at the sessions I attend there are now a number of people who will explain the format to the newbies so that they don't make a faux pas and can decide if the event is for them.
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Post by ianlp59 on Jun 18, 2015 16:17:28 GMT
I thought this might be an interesting thing to discuss. I don't very often go to open mic nights. I'm limited to the number of evenings I spend following my musical passion and I'd rather do the gig thing (which involves regular practice, too) than I would troop around the countryside to open mics and participatory folk clubs. But last night, I popped into an open mic night locally just to have a listen and a couple of beers. When I got there, I was surprised to find it much more crowded than usual, and the audience was listening with rapt attention to a young duo singing a version of James Morrison's "Broken Strings". They were really superb. Spellbinding. They finished and it was at that point that I discovered the larger than usual audience had come to see the young girl in the duo. She had her parents there, several older members of her family and some friends of various ages. When she'd finished they were, quite reasonably delighted by her performance and congratulated her, and all that good stuff. The next act went up after this kerfuffle had calmed down a bit (someone I know quite well). Well I was appalled at the behaviour of some of these supporters of the young girl. The volume of their conversation immediately went up by many decibels, and I overheard one woman saying quite loudly, "Oh this is rubbish, they should put Millie back on". Loud enough, I think, to be heard by the singer. This went on for the next 20 minutes or so through various performers until the Millie supporters started to drift away. I must confess, if I'd been running the open mic, I would have come and had a word with the people, but the organiser didn't and nor did the landlord of the pub who was behind the bar. It set me to thinking, what should any of us do when faced with this kind of behaviour? tonywoods (who was also there last night) and I run a little gathering once a month in a little tiny pub (can't call it an open mic - we don't allow mics!), at the specific request of the landlady, and when we first started it, we were faced with noise and disrespectful behaviour from people who weren't involved, but we had a (quite strong) word with the landlady who motivated her bar staff (except 1) to keep order, and Tonywoods and I (more him, really!) spent quite a lot of time and effort shushing offenders and talking to people. We still have the occasional incident, but most months everybody respects the performers and are quiet while people are singing. Anyway, I thought it would be interesting to hear of any bad behaviour issues experienced at open mics etc, and (for anybody who runs one) what they've done to correct it. Also to hear everyones' views on what should be done to improve the experience of open mics for performers and interested audience members. Anybody? Appalling Paul and totally unacceptable in my view. I've seen this before where people with a serious over-inflated perception of their ability not only to play but to entertain as well will attempt to leave as soon as their spot is over. It's one of the many reasons why I choose to keep myself to myself and leave "entertaining" to those that think they can do it, as well as obviously, those that seriously can do it. In terms of avoiding this sort of thing, the only sanction would be to make it clear in advance that, except for extreme circumstances, if you're in then you're in for the duration and that failure to comply will result in your last "peformance" at the venue in question. I'm still for staying at home though... Cheers, Ian
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Wild Violet
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Post by Wild Violet on Jun 18, 2015 16:20:57 GMT
I played a couple of original tunes at the last open mic I went to a few years ago. Some people listened but most were talking loudly and ignoring me, which was par for the course at that place.
There was a terrified guy on after me, it was his first open mic and he was doing a pretty good job on a Bob Dylan song. A drunk woman came up to him mid-song, put her hand on his strings and shouted "Stop playing other people's songs. Can't you play one of your own? Don't you write your own songs? Play something ORIGINAL!!!"
The poor guy looked like he was going to cry. No one did anything, the host just looked away and no one at the bar cared. It was the last open mic I went to, and probably the last one that guy went to as well.
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Post by scorpiodog on Jun 18, 2015 17:00:11 GMT
I played a couple of original tunes at the last open mic I went to a few years ago. Some people listened but most were talking loudly and ignoring me, which was par for the course at that place. There was a terrified guy on after me, it was his first open mic and he was doing a pretty good job on a Bob Dylan song. A drunk woman came up to him mid-song, put her hand on his strings and shouted "Stop playing other people's songs. Can't you play one of your own? Don't you write your own songs? Play something ORIGINAL!!!" The poor guy looked like he was going to cry. No one did anything, the host just looked away and no one at the bar cared. It was the last open mic I went to, and probably the last one that guy went to as well. That's a shocking story WV. It takes such a lot of courage to get up and play to a room full of strangers and , as you say, he may well never do it again. And as for touching a guitar when it's being played... She's lucky she's still got the use of her hand!
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Post by scorpiodog on Jun 18, 2015 17:03:44 GMT
Ian. I am lost for words. If there's anybody who should get out and play it's you. Come over to our little gathering. You'll get an extraordinary reception I promise you!
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Post by jackorion on Jun 18, 2015 17:20:09 GMT
There's a few open mics I go to in and around Exeter (in fact I'm off to this one www.facebook.com/131796416868706/photos/pb.131796416868706.-2207520000.1434647656./904538796261127/?type=1&theater) tonight!) and I haven't encountered any really rude behaviour from musicians, but occasionally there are people there who aren't attending for the music and just happen to be in the venue who can be a little rowdier than ideal As long as they're respectful I don't mind talking etc as I remember that people can be enjoying the music and the atmosphere without sitting cross-legged at the front intensely listening. I'm guilty of talking to people whilst other guys are playing, but that's part of the reason I attend - to socialise with other musicians and friends as well as hear some music. Even if I'm talking I'm listening and, if someone really catches my ear, I'll shut up and, to be fair, if someone puts on that good a performance almost everyone hushes down anyway. The thing that frustrates me more than anything is musicians complaining about the sound and fiddling with the PA or loudly giving advice to the host/other musicians - generally open mics are low-key affairs where the PA is stuck in the corner and there's a lot of ambient noise - you have to accept that and just play, if you want a perfect monitor mix you need to play theatres!
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Post by andyhowell on Jun 18, 2015 18:28:27 GMT
I ran a club for years and this used to drive me mad. It is one of the things I don't miss from those days. However, my sense it that this is getting worse and I often rack my brains as to why.
It is not just young people and open nights and some artists are just as bad. Near me is a Sunday evening club run by two long standing musos. They run for two hours and offer 4 artists/small groups half an hour each. It is a great format and quite useful for those wanting to play a decent number of songs in the hands of a decent sound man. I went up on Sunday. The first two acts were folks I guess who were moving beyond a two song spot for the first time. Both were, I suspect, early retired or retired and had decided to play and sing. One of them was a guy playing a National Guitar and singing some country blues standards. It was rough and ready but the audience — mainly musicians themselves — were very courteous and supportive. Both of the first two acts simply left after they had done their thing. There was quite a bit of muttering from the people I was with about that. These guys seemed to want the opportunity but were not prepared to give the respect to others. Actually, they could have learnt something about stagecraft from watching the others.
Open mics have this problem writ large. I used to challenge people who behaved like that and know of a couple of good musician run clubs that do the same. It is unacceptable behaviour.
A lot of us here in Birmingham are sick to death of playing to noisy audiences who come to music clubs and then treat us like muzak. We know put on occasional evenings as we did on Saturday. Six great acts with some experience and an audience of mainly musicians. We crammed the pub room we were using indeed people couldn't get in. Why? Because these were good turns enjoying themselves in an atmosphere of total respect. One visitor described it as a gem of an evening. It was. Because everyone showed respect to each other.
I would mention it to the club organiser. A lot of these things don't last long and this is one of the reasons why!
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Post by vikingblues on Jun 19, 2015 6:28:21 GMT
Not a surprise to hear this about open mics, but sad none the less. Another huge reason to not seriously consider ever going to one to play. I will now put a rug over my knees and grumpily complain about the "bad behaviour of people these days". I've given up going to see live music at all in large part because of the incessant racket of people yakking. Even when they've paid to see a gig most of the audiences seem to reckon they and their "thoughts" are the most important thing there. Puts me in mind of the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy and Ford Prefects theory to account for this strange behaviour of humans. If they don't keep on exercising their lips, he thought, their brains start working. Mark
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Post by pnut on Jun 19, 2015 7:58:40 GMT
Not just a problem with open mike nights it sometimes happens to established artists as well! I'll never forget a night I went to see Thea Gilmore at the Brook in Southampton around about the time she released Rules for Jokers, there was woman near the back of the audience with a really loud voiced who was continually yacking including through all the really quite and atmospheric ballads, not surprisingly she got told to shut up by another member of the audience who was also happened to be another woman. As the show progressed this happened several times with the exchanges between the two women getting increasingly curt and severe. Then just before the end of the show a full on fisty cuffs fight broke out between the two women, they were both quite large and stocky and at the risk of being stereotypical I seem to remember one was definitely scouse and the other may have Glaswegian! We're not talking a bit of posturing and girls hair pulling here, it was a full on wade in boxing match! The bouncers were brilliant, very quickly they pulled the two apart and instantly dispatched them out of the fire exit onto the main road outside, before closing the fire exit to,let the show continue. meanwhile on stage Thea was looking more than a little bit bemused, I've seen her at the brook several times since and she still sometimes refers to the event in passing commentary even today.
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Post by whaleblue on Jun 20, 2015 8:56:22 GMT
Well, that's put me off the half-thought of seeking out an open mic in a few months or so!
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Post by andyhowell on Jun 20, 2015 9:29:28 GMT
Well, that's put me off the half-thought of seeking out an open mic in a few months or so! An, sorry - do seek them out as they are not all like this. Get your music out there and see what people will think. One complimentary comment from just one member of the audience will encourage you for months! Honest.
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Post by Martin on Jun 20, 2015 9:29:37 GMT
Ach, you'll be better off just doing your thing at Halifax, anyway
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Post by whaleblue on Jun 20, 2015 14:37:21 GMT
We'll see - I'm only a few months into playing and mostly only ever going to be a lounge player, playing covers that I enjoy, so don't expect to be thrilled at Halifax!
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