Open Mic Etiquette

I’ve been performing at Open Mic nights at various venues in Colorado for over 3 years now. Why? To get gigs at those venues and video/photo content for advertising. Each host has their own way of running the show and communicating with the audience and performers. Here are a few rules to follow when performing at an Open Mic:

1. Ask Before Acting

   You’re probably excited to perform in front of people, and maybe it’s a new venue to you, or maybe it’s a comfortable spot that you’re familiar with. IT IS NOT YOUR HOUSE NOR YOUR GIG. Ask permission for WHEN set up equipment and WHERE. Even if you’re setup time takes long, ask the host before setting up.

2. Tune your instrument offstage

   No one wants to hear the acoustic guitar song “Standard Tuning”. Five to Ten minutes before your performing slot, find a quiet spot that won’t interrupt another person’s performance and get your instrument ready. 15 minutes is not a lot of time, and the audience wants to hear music - not tuning.

3. Wait your turn

   You’ve signed up, you’ve waited for other performers, and you’ve just tuned your instrument just in time to get on stage. WAIT UNTIL THE HOST INVITES YOU ON STAGE. Instruments are personal pieces of equipment and accidents are more prone to happen in a crowded situation. Patience is a virtue, you’ll have an easier time getting on stage when it’s clear.

4. Consider repertoire selection

   A majority of Open Mics have performers that sing and play acoustic guitar. Slow and sad songs are okay to play, but don’t drown an audience with pity and sorrow - your audience is likely to be drinking alcohol, a depressant. If you do play a slow/sad song in your 15 minute set, sandwich that slow/sad song with happy/upbeat songs, so that you don’t end your set on the slow/sad song. People love original music, but people also like songs they recognize. Consider tempos and song keys for your set. Do you want to play everything in G Major? Do you want every song to be the same tempo and do a 15 minute mash-up? Do what is best for you to get the gig.

5. Tip the Bartender

   If you want to see venues continue to support live-music, spend money there and tip your bartender. I have worked in the Beer Industry for over three years, and my income is 1/3 paycheck and 2/3 tip money. The bartenders need tips for their income, but also they are valuable sources of information for your next gig. Say you get done playing your 15 minute set, and you want to try to get a gig. Order something, leave a fat tip, ask the bartender for their name. That person might be able to vouch for your performance in a more positive manner.

I’ve created a list for any Open Mic Host to use at any Venue. Feel free to download and print it off for the next Open Mic!