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I've been asked to host and manage open mic nights at Musketeers, a pub in Conabor Rd, Malvern, Queensburgh.
These will be held every Tuesday evening starting from 9th August. The open mic begins at 7pm and ends at 11pm.

The platform is to encourage new / inexperienced musos to come and play three or four numbers to get experience playing in front of an audience. Of course they are also encouraged to bring their 'fan' base with them. The more experienced players are also most welcome.

The audience there, the regulars, are a forgiving bunch and are super-supportive of new talent.

Performers can play solo, in duos or in a whole band... in any genre... anything goes. I expect mainly guitarist / singers to attend but all musos are welcome... from oboe to trombone players.

I will be supplying a PA with two mics and a guitar amp. Bass players will have to bring their own amps, and of course musos must bring their own instruments.

I'm starting off from a near-zero base of performers, so to begin with you can just pitch and I'll fit you in. As and when it becomes more popular (hopefully) I will have to start booking places in advance.

Entrance is free, the food is good and the booze flows freely.

I hope to see the Durbs contingent of GFSA members there.

PM me if you want more details.
    PeteM wrote:
    Entrance is free, the food is good and the booze flows freely.

    i am sure you will have packed venues if the facts about the "entrance" and the "booze" where exchanged.

      I think there's a great need for evenings like this. My experiences with TJs have shown me that there are people "out there" with talent and ideas but, for whatever reason, no outlet for their creativity (too old to start joining bands or whatever). This applies to professional musos as well - we've had very good pro players come to TJs, thankful for the chance because although they get to play a lot they are usually playing for somebody else and playing somebody else's material and they seldom get a chance to give their own ideas some air.

      This is good for the audiences as well. I've seen from TJs and the open mic sessions that Keira used to run that the standards can be very high and the entertainment can be very good.

      So break a leg and all that. This kind of evening provides a valuable and necessary platform.
        +1 Bob. I'm even doing one every 6-8 weeks here in Napier and it's amazing what I have dredged up in the way of musicians.
          Nice one Pete.
          If you use an existing pub as a venue I guess you won't be able to use the TJs formula.
          We hire a room at a sports venue and charge R25 per person. Half of that plus food and drinks sales go to the venue. So if we have 50 people that means we would make R625 per evening. We re-invest this in equipment and gradually upgrade so that we now have good equipment.
          We do not pay musicians or sound people (ie me). If we were to, what would you pay the sound guy who works from 4pm to 11:15 and what would you pay the musicians who play for half an hour each? It gets complicated.

          The amazing thing is the quality of young (less than 30) musicians that just keep on arriving and playing really serious music. Ten years ago I thought the ability to play an instrument was dying out with the old dudes. NowI see we are getting drilled at our own game!!!!
            So sad that I now live in Ballito. Used to live 2 minutes away from that pub. Am super keen to come though, will see if I can make it every now and then ?
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