JPF Home Page Forums Southeast US Chapter Message Boards Tampa Chapter Message Board Fish Lips Open Mic Tuesday

The Tuesday night Open Mic at Fishlips Grill is growing in popularity. It has just been added to the openmics.org website. http://openmikes.org/listings/fishlipsgrill. Last Tuesday's event was truly star-studded. It seems that even those who already have fame and fortune still come for the fun and fellowship.

Fish Lips has a great relaxed atmosphere and makes an ideal place to try out new songs, get over stage fright, make someone happy, you name it. Initiated last year by Bob Lever, carried on by the efforts and dedication of Jim Mason and Jeff Blake, it has rapidly become a local tradition. I extend thanks to my predecessors who contributed to the legacy of this haven and to the artists who help keep it alive.

And speaking of legacies, a living legacy has recently stepped up to assist with some of the hosting duties at the Open Mic on the dates that I'm on the road. Most local JPFers know Jerry Jakala as the talented co-coordinator of our chapter. I'd like to welcome Jerry on board. You can visit his site http://www.jerryjakala.com/home.html.

Fish Lips Grill is at 6250 Ulmerton Rd. on the SE corner of Ulmerton and US 19. In case you need to call, the number is 727-216-3866. If you're coming from Tampa, it's just across the Howard Frankland Bridge. Take the Ulmerton exit from I-275 and make a U-turn at US 19. Then turn right into the first driveway. Every Tue, 8-11 PM. Signups start at 7:30.

This open mic has three F's.
Fun,friendly & fantastic.
Steve & I will continue that tradition of course.
It also helps that the staff(Kim the waitress,bar tender etc)and the owners are very supportive of our efforts.
Looking forward to seeing/hearing everyone tomorrow night.
Thanks for the great PR Steve!

I need to rest my pipes from the abuse of singing while hoarse last night, but I'll be out to support. I'll have my guitar and djembe in tow in case anyone wants some impromtu back up.

Good idea, Bill, and get well soon. That reminds me - I would personally love to see more on-stage collaborations. There are a couple of songs I do that could use some educated noodling. And, like Jerry, I spent years as a bass player. You might even see me bring a bass there unless somebody talks me out of it first. So the possibilities at this open mic are . . . ah - well, . . . open.

Leaving shortly for Baltimore. Y'all have fun tonight.

Have a great time in Baltimore,Meyer.
You will be missed!

Yes, and hurry back.

Planning to be there.....

C

Looking forward to seeing Colin,Steve & whom ever else show up.






FUN!

Thanks to the artists that participated tonight and made our weekly gathering a special event for independent musicians:

Colin and Bruce (the song "Couch Potato" is really growing on me)
Jerry Jakala
Don Noble (long time, no see)
Bill Manley

Special thanks to Bruce and Jerry for the generous use of your guitars. Wouldn't ya know, I got mine home and it worked fine - couldn't get it to quit. Grrrr!

Next week you'll see Jerry Jakala at the helm. Drop in and see what all the fuss is about. And support the venues that support local talent.

Bill Manley did an excellent job of assisting Steve on guitar for the last hour of the night.
It is always a pleasure to hear Colin & Bruce.
A dynamic duo to say the least!
Don Noble's highly crafted story songs are unique and a pleasure to listen to.
Don has a new cd out that should be in every one's musical treasure chest.
Steve does an excellent job as host.
Blending cover songs with his own is a treat!
Next week promises to be another musical adventure.
Hopefully a few more folks will come out and help support this fun venue that is kind enough to support us independant muscians.
It would be a real shame to loose another open mic because of poor attendance.
I are done babbling!

For those of you that are wondering about what kind of set up is going to be at Fish Lips on Tuesday May 1st I am bringing a 400 watt Yamaha 6 channel PA with two speakers and two mic's.
Should be enough to keep every one rock n'.

Just bumping!

Come on out and enjoy Jerry's hospitality. I'll return as host in a week. Have a ball, Guys.

Hey...
I'm planning on getting there. I'm leaving work early.

Fish Lips has some pretty good food so come hungry.
Mom & I are there early just to grub out before things get started.
Looking forward to my first open mic as the host.
It will be FUN!
See ya all there!

I'll be there to see your world premeire as emcee (and to enjoy the food, festivities & frothy beverages).

Jeff

We're gonna try really hard to make it out tonight. Am working on the grounds here at Chez Rebal today catching up on the chores. What an absolutely gorgeous day. As long as the Sun doesnt get the best of me I'll be along.
Peace, Al
www.aandrproductions.com

You did a great job hosting Jerry!

Thanks Jeff!
That means a lot coming from a pro.
Thanks to:
Jeff Blake
Miss Goody and her husband Mike
Barry Moses
Jules
Dan Copeland for the use of his PA and delivering and helping set it up and doing a sound check.
Kim and the rest of the Fish Lipians for letting us do our music in their establishment.
A very special thanks to MS Goody for supporting all of us independent artists on her internet radio show,Mellow Melodies.
I was also pretty tickled to see Jules more healthy than ever.
The stars were shining inside and out.
Thanks every one for my first hosting job a very pleasant one.

Proud of ya Jerry. You are one cool dude!
Thanks for the opp to tell about the Mellow Melodies show & RAFFLE.
It was neat to get out again. Thanks.

It was a pleasure hearing you and being able to give back a little.
Mike is so proud of you & what you do I thought I was going to see flying shirt buttons when we were talking outside.
For those of you that haven't had a chance to hear Ms Goody sing or play you are missing something.
I know that she has earned a few new fans tonight.
Thanks for coming out.

Meyer Baron.
Thanks for stopping by and showing your support.
Steve Dockendorf returns next week as host.
See ya all then.

Sorry I couldn't stay longer, Jerry. Thanks for hosting.

Time to shine again this Tuesday! Fish Lips open mic is your ticket to fun, frivolity and uh, one other thing that starts with "f" - oh yeah - more fun!

Fish Lips Grill is at 6250 Ulmerton Rd. on the SE corner of Ulmerton and US 19. In case you need to call, the number is 727-216-3866. If you're coming from Tampa, it's just across the Howard Frankland Bridge. Take the Ulmerton exit from I-275 and make a U-turn at US 19. Then turn right into the first driveway. Every Tue, 8-11 PM. Signups start at 7:30.

Don't forget about the other "F"!
Food.
Fish Lips has a pretty good variety of food to select from.
Mom & I will be there early for our weekly feeding frenzy.

Don Noble & I were the only two that attended last night.
With the numbers dwindling down this far I expect to be ghosting next week.
At this rate I suspect another open mic night will bite the dust fairly soon.
Pretty sad!

Jerry,
I thought Fish Lips has an almost perfect venue. The food is good, the room sounds good & full, and it is within reachability from Hillsb. as well as Pinellas.
I would like to attend again, I just have work obligations that usually run me too late.
I hope there are other musicians that are able to get out on a Tues. night to keep this open mic going.

I think both Jerry and Goody have valid points. If an open mic is not what is needed and wanted by the local artists, or if the location is not desirable or whatever problems exist that are continually not being addressed, then it should die and the sooner the better. On the other hand, if we can provide a safe and friendly atmosphere for showcasing and networking and that meets the needs of the potential participants, then it should be supported and promoted - not just by the hosts and regulars, but by anyone who likes the experience and wants others to share in the benefits.

I'd like to take this opoportunity to inquire as to what could be done to make this open mic more attractive. Is there anyone that has been to the Fish Lips Grill open mic and then vowed never to return because of _____________? Is there something you'd like to see more of? Whatever is the bug, I'd really like to know what we can change to correct it. Email me directly if you'd rather not respond on the board. With monthly chapter meetings on hold for now, this might be the perfect time to meet and greet with your fellows.

I will definitely be in attendance next week with Jerry hosting. I am working in town (usually on the road) but I'm on duty til 8:30 so should be able to make it around 9:00.

Keep the fire burning guys. I have a meeting Tuesday night but I'll try to drop by afterwards.

Jeff

Steve,
For me, it's totally about the night. Tuesday night is never good for me because my daughter and wife are involved in Girl Scouts that night, and my son is too young to bring to an open mic night for hours. Otherwise I'd show up.

Maybe there are other people who can't come because it's Tuesday. I dunno. I'm looking for more open mics, now especially with the chapter meetings gone (for now if not the future.) But monday, wednesday, thursday, and sunday nights are my only options.

I have wanted to come out and play, but I was kind of wondering about music.... Are originals required, or are covers ok? I have some original stuff but I just don't like it very much ;-)
I will do my best to make it out next week and make my JPF debut.

All music is welcome at Fish Lips!
Some of us do covers & originals.
Some folks just play originals.
What ever you want to do.

I hear thet Sean kid comes from good stock .

i have gone there and had fun in the past. mostly i'm just too tired from working all day to go anywhere.( geting old) but if it will help i'll gladly try and make it a tues night thang to do.even for a couple of hours (7-9pm) .as i hate to see these things fail!! most of ya'll know what i do and if you think my style will work / fit in . let me know. cause it's a cool room and too close to home for me not to attend. so i'll do what little i can to keep it goin. (8-12 folks playing 2-3 songs each should be plenty i would think..) i also have a fender passport pa system / stands/ mics/ etc..that ya'll could use anytime if nessc.. just let me know. love, barn.

Style doesn't matter.
There is a real variety of music that gets played at Fish Lips.
Last night I did some Folk,Classic Rock & Blues & Country.
It is all fun & it is all good.
Nothing wrong with popping in to play a few and leaving either.
I realize & I am sure Steve does that our lives are all busy and a lot more complicated than they used to be.
It is good to see every one even if it is just for a few minutes.

Not only is any style welcome, but other forms of entertainment as well. I was talking to a friend today about Fish Lips open mic and he wants to come and do stand up comedy. I was even thinking about introducing improv as in some of the stuff you see on "Whose Line is it Anyway?" Anyone know any non-musical entertainers that want some exposure? I think the more variety the better.

Also a change in the hours might be considered. Is 7:00-10:00 easier than 8:00-11:00? If that means more attendance and a funner time for all, I don't see how the management would object.

Lets keep the dialogue open and see how we can tailor this open mic so much to your needs that it becomes a priority for people who like to perform.

Getting other forms of entertainment is a terrific idea.
I don't know any other entertainers other than musicians myself.
99.99% of my friends are Jpfer's/musicians.
Budda Bill is moving to Hudson this month so unfortunately we probably won't be seeing much of Bill or hearing his music.
I hope he finds an open mic or other place to perform near his new home.
Bill is an excellent musician/entertainer and will be missed.
Good luck in your new home Bill!

It's true that I won't be around as much, but I'll still keep an eye on the boards. Hopefully the folks further north will be hard up for live entertainment and I'll be able to stir up some gigs. Thanks for the kind words Jerry.

You are welcome Bill!
Any one out there know anything about the Hudson music scene?
Richard Maclemale is up in New Port Richie so maybe he could turn you on to a few coffee houses or what ever.
Don't hurt to ask!

If there IS a music scene in the Hudson/New Port Richey area, it's an extremely well kept secret. There are enough great musicians in the area to make an extremely good music scene, but since there is none, they all drive to Tampa. There are some clubs in New Port Richey and they sometimes have "bands" but it's not what I'd refer to as music. It's more like what you'd envision performing at a high school dance. There's an old guy with a guitar at the italian place around the corner from where I live. He's got to be like 90. But he's pretty damn good. Aside from that, there are gigs at the local flea market...

I would LOVE to hear, for example, about a cool coffee house in New Port Richey that has an open mic night, to my knowledge there are none. If I'm wrong, I'd love to know. I'd be first in line.

There are a crapload of people in this area. They're just not well organized enough to have their own cool culture, so they go to clearwater or tampa for books, music, movies, shopping, you name it.

In the interest of helping to provide what is needed by our musical community (including you) here is a short survey.

Please answer on the board or copy onto an email and send to dockendorf2000@yahoo.com.

1. Why do you go to open mics?

2. What could happen at an open mic that would make you want to return?

3. What could happen at an open mic that would make you not want to return?

4. Describe an ideal open mic.

5. How would having a "featured performer" (one who plays for the last hour or so) affect your interest in an open mic? Please answer as if you were the featured performer and also as if someone else were scheduled as featured performer.

I told you it would be short. But answers can be as long as you like.

yeah i know what ya mean. i didn't mean my style. as in music. of course it fits. it's original acoustic florida music! i'll try and make it out on tues. have some dinner and play a couple of tunes for ya'll. let's work ta keep this place going! it's got a nice vibe and the owners ore very supportive of live music . and you guys that don't play professionaly have a place to play. and you're doing a good job. i couldn't see any reason not to attend ..if i start ta fall asleep, give me a shove! lol!!love, barn.

1. I go to perform and to hear other local musicians. It's fun. It's a great way to "be" a part of the local music scene.

2. I want to return to an open mic where the hosts are cool and keep things running nicely, where there are lots of interesting musicians to listen to, where the sound is good, and where the atmosphere is laid back and supportive of everyone, including beginners.

3. I would not want to return to an open mic if no one else was there OR if the atmosphere was negative or hostile. Or if the location was in an unsafe place.

4. The ideal open mic? Would be hosted on a night I can attend, would not be too far away, great hosts, great sounding system, lots of great local musicians of different styles, smoke free environment, people in attendance who are music fans and not just there to perform, good food and/or beverages. It would be nice to do three songs instead of two. Two songs come and go too fast.

5. The featured performer idea for the last hour is interesting. I have no problem with the idea of using a featured performer, but putting them in the last hour is weird to me... in open mics, people come and go during the course of the evening. If you put the featured performer at the end, there's a decent chance that many people would be gone by then. If I were the featured performer, I'd feel like "great, everyone's leaving or left." If I were not the featured performer, I'd feel like "great, if I don't stick around for the featured performer, I'm going to feel guilty, but I REALLY need to get going." That's just my personal opinion. I'd rather see the featured performer maybe do a handful of songs at the beginning, and maybe a handful of songs in the middle. That solves several problems. With most open mics, the first person to go has the smallest crowd so no one wants to go first. And the middle is usually a prime time to perform, ie lots of people there. Just my 2 cents.

Thanks, Richard. Your feedback is appreciated. I'm looking forward to additional helpful responses from our members.

Barney - nice to hear from you and the PA. Does that mean you might be willing to host in a pinch?

1.I go to open mic's to improve my performances and hear other musicians as well.
2.As long as the performers were treated with respect I would return.
3.Disrespect for a fellow performer or the host talking about politics or religion would be two turn offs for me.Hostile or unsafe environment would also be a no no.
4.Have enough performers so the host does not have to carry the last hour by himself/herself.
5.A featured performer is a great idea but I think the beginning or middle would be better.The last hour is usually pretty empty.I've played last at open mic's and there is a very limited audience.The bar tender,Ned the wino and a friend or two of his are about what is left at closing time.

maybe, what does it pay?

25.00 plus 10% of the bar from 7:30 - 11:00. To my knowledge the 10% has ranged from 9.00 to 50.00.

Depending on the number of folks that show up I will be hosting or ghosting at Fish Lips tomorrow night at the open mic.
See you all then!

I'll be there after work, about 9:30.