OpenMic at the Ugly Mug - 08/16/06 03:11 AM
Hi guys,
Well I did it! I got up in front of my first open mic.
Last Friday we popped in to the Ugly Mug in Renton to see if they were actually doing one that night. The online calendars said every week, but the outside sign says "every last Friday."
Willie, the owner, is a GREAT guy and was fun to meet. He said at one point if he could take the outside sign down, he would, but he can't.
FYI, it IS every Friday, starting loosely at 9 pm and running till "whenever." We went till about 11.
I'd brought a little cheat sheet, just in case. I wasn't sure if I'd get up though. About 9:15 or so a few other people filtered in--until then it was just me, my hubby, and Willie shooting the breeze for a half hour or so. Then everybody bought their drinks and snacks and we got going.
So--I went up about 4th. There wasn't a sign-up sheet, since there were so few people (about 10 of us). Everyone got 2 turns if you wanted them, 2-3 songs each.
I was scared to death but I did it!
Willie encourages any type of entertainment at the mic--you want to do stand-up, go for it. Poetry, original songs, covers, whatever. He's planning to get an upright piano soon. There was a college kid, Josh, who read his poetry, and a few other regulars who knew each other. One group was visitng from Moscow, Idaho. Overall it was fun music and a very encouraging group of people.
I completely botched my last song--I tried to do a cover. I did fine on my originals. Wouldn't you know it, the cover was the only one I actually *practiced*?
It was the last song of the night, and I wasn't too happy with myself for letting it end on a sour note. The audience was encouraging, but I finally just said, forget it! It's not coming. BUT I was so jazzed about actually getting up and doing it, that I haven't fretted over it too much.
I woke up Saturday morning at 4:30 am with ideas for other sets. My energy was just pumped! Let me also add I am NOT a morning person--I NEVER wake up *thinking*. My body might be movin', but don't ask me a question before 10 AM!!
So that was a weird, unexpected side effect. The energy lasted all day and into Sunday.
I'll have to be careful, this could be addictive.![[Linked Image]](http://www.justplainfolks.org/ubb/smile.gif)
Bwahahahaha!! Somebody try and stop me!
Great to have an audience that doesn't boo and yank you off the stage if you're bad. --Not that I am--I don't know--anyway, I had a blast. I'll go there again. I felt welcome and comfortable.
I'm looking up other open mics too. Do any of you have favorites??
I'll try to post ahead of time when I go again. Friday was more impromptu, something to hunt down and do after dinner, than planned.
And look at me, I'm still shy about saying I went and did it--it's Tuesday already!
Linda
------------------
====================
Linda Adams
http://www.alyssastory.com
Well I did it! I got up in front of my first open mic.
Last Friday we popped in to the Ugly Mug in Renton to see if they were actually doing one that night. The online calendars said every week, but the outside sign says "every last Friday."
Willie, the owner, is a GREAT guy and was fun to meet. He said at one point if he could take the outside sign down, he would, but he can't.
FYI, it IS every Friday, starting loosely at 9 pm and running till "whenever." We went till about 11.
I'd brought a little cheat sheet, just in case. I wasn't sure if I'd get up though. About 9:15 or so a few other people filtered in--until then it was just me, my hubby, and Willie shooting the breeze for a half hour or so. Then everybody bought their drinks and snacks and we got going.
So--I went up about 4th. There wasn't a sign-up sheet, since there were so few people (about 10 of us). Everyone got 2 turns if you wanted them, 2-3 songs each.
I was scared to death but I did it!
Willie encourages any type of entertainment at the mic--you want to do stand-up, go for it. Poetry, original songs, covers, whatever. He's planning to get an upright piano soon. There was a college kid, Josh, who read his poetry, and a few other regulars who knew each other. One group was visitng from Moscow, Idaho. Overall it was fun music and a very encouraging group of people.
I completely botched my last song--I tried to do a cover. I did fine on my originals. Wouldn't you know it, the cover was the only one I actually *practiced*?
It was the last song of the night, and I wasn't too happy with myself for letting it end on a sour note. The audience was encouraging, but I finally just said, forget it! It's not coming. BUT I was so jazzed about actually getting up and doing it, that I haven't fretted over it too much.
I woke up Saturday morning at 4:30 am with ideas for other sets. My energy was just pumped! Let me also add I am NOT a morning person--I NEVER wake up *thinking*. My body might be movin', but don't ask me a question before 10 AM!!
So that was a weird, unexpected side effect. The energy lasted all day and into Sunday.
I'll have to be careful, this could be addictive.
Bwahahahaha!! Somebody try and stop me!
Great to have an audience that doesn't boo and yank you off the stage if you're bad. --Not that I am--I don't know--anyway, I had a blast. I'll go there again. I felt welcome and comfortable.
I'm looking up other open mics too. Do any of you have favorites??
I'll try to post ahead of time when I go again. Friday was more impromptu, something to hunt down and do after dinner, than planned.
And look at me, I'm still shy about saying I went and did it--it's Tuesday already!
Linda
------------------
====================
Linda Adams
http://www.alyssastory.com