Bump!

Tonight's the night.

Hint: I have a "proper" show at TJs on midwinter night, June 21st, and I'm always looking to "promote" people from open mic nights.

Uhm, no responses yet? Allow me to offer the following piece of contemplated and well articulated advice:
"Go"

Unfortunately I'm not going to be able to make this one but I am in the process of trying to shuffle my regular Thursday commitments around so that I can attend more of these.

If I go I want to partake, and afraid I'm not quite well enough prepared yet. See you there soon!

X-rated Bob wrote: Come one! Come all! Bring your acoustic axe and plug in or be miced up. Slots are 15 minutes max.

Venue: Marks Park sports club, Judith Road, Emmarentia, Jozi
Time: First act goes on at 20:00, doors open at 19:30
Admission: R20 Correction (my bad) R25

TJ's provide mics and a small PA. Slots are allocated on first come, first served basis, so get there early and pick a slot that suits you.

Plenty of parking. Food and drinks can be ordered.

Play solo or in numbers. Covers or originals.

What was the turnout like last night Bob?

CostaFonix wrote: What was the turnout like last night Bob?

Very good. We had to get extra chairs in, and the roster of performance slots was filled up nice and early. I took a guitar along in case there was a shortage of people wanting to play, but in the end I just helped Fingerpicker with the soundcheck and that was the extent of my playing activities for the night.

There were new faces in the audience and amongst the performers, and some of the performers were very good. It was also nice to see people who been tentative on the first try be more assured on the second.

thats great,
I'm sorry I missed it, will definitely make a plan for the next one.
:yup:

CostaFonix wrote: thats great,
I'm sorry I missed it, will definitely make a plan for the next one.
:yup:

Last Thursday of the month.

Nitebob wrote: If I go I want to partake, and afraid I'm not quite well enough prepared yet. See you there soon!

The audience don't expect perfection at an open mic night - at least not at TJ's.

Another way to look at it is testing your current level of preparation. You might be surprised in some respects, and it may help to identify what you need to sharpen up.

XRB, do you have to fill a 30 minute slot at TJ's or how does it work?

Nitebob wrote: XRB, do you have to fill a 30 minute slot at TJ's or how does it work?

No, only 15 minutes, and that's not much. You rarely get to fit more than 3 songs into a 15 minutes slot.

Why don't you swing by for the next one so you can get a feel for how it works? You'll also get to see the average level of performances which might help you decide whether or not you're on par (but I think you are).

I plan on being at the next one and I might even take my guitar with and put my name down. But even if I don't perform, I'll be quaffing a cold one and enjoying the social.

I actually think this is a great idea. There are too many of us (myself included) that have the longing to perform, but are too frightened to get on a stage or don't bother to prepare some songs properly.

Although I am from the Pta region and have rehearsals on thursdays, I will try and make one of these. Besides the music, Deefstes put it fantastically:to enjoy a cold one with fellow forumites!

Should be great ?

Okay Pieter, let's you and me bite the bullet... Last Thursday in May, we load our guits in my Indian Hummer and fall out at TJ's. I've been threatening forever to go...you in?

Nitebob wrote: Okay Pieter, let's you and me bite the bullet... Last Thursday in May, we load our guits in my Indian Hummer and fall out at TJ's. I've been threatening forever to go...you in?

You mean last Thursday in April? Of course you're more than welcome to go on the last Thursday of May as well but I won't be able to make that one.

PieterHefer wrote: I actually think this is a great idea. There are too many of us (myself included) that have the longing to perform, but are too frightened to get on a stage or don't bother to prepare some songs properly.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. This is a good open mic night because the core audience understand that it's an open mic night and are there because it's an open mic night. They're friendly and supportive and that makes it a bit easier for novice performers.

It's also a goal for the player. You've got 3 songs, maybe 4, and you want to perform them well, so it gives you an impetus to work up 3 or 4 songs to a level at which you're happy to present them to other people.

Nitebob wrote: Okay Pieter, let's you and me bite the bullet... Last Thursday in May, we load our guits in my Indian Hummer and fall out at TJ's. I've been threatening forever to go...you in?

Aha! The host for that open mic night is .... (consults roster).... me.

X-rated Bob wrote:

Nitebob wrote: Okay Pieter, let's you and me bite the bullet... Last Thursday in May, we load our guits in my Indian Hummer and fall out at TJ's. I've been threatening forever to go...you in?

Aha! The host for that open mic night is .... (consults roster).... me.

I'm starting to see a pattern here... :yup:

Nitebob wrote: Okay Pieter, let's you and me bite the bullet... Last Thursday in May, we load our guits in my Indian Hummer and fall out at TJ's. I've been threatening forever to go...you in?

Ok XRB I think it sounds like a plan. You also from the Pta area?

Yeah...I live in the Moot...

PieterHefer wrote:

Nitebob wrote: Okay Pieter, let's you and me bite the bullet... Last Thursday in May, we load our guits in my Indian Hummer and fall out at TJ's. I've been threatening forever to go...you in?

Ok XRB I think it sounds like a plan. You also from the Pta area?

No. I live in JHB, about 15 minutes drive from the current TJ's venue. I host 4 or 5 events a year for them, some open mics and some "proper" shows were I have to invite performers. One reason (but by no means the only one) that TJ's run an open mic night is to look for performers to "promote" to the formal shows.