openmikes.org blog

I've gotten more and more submissions in the last year for pay-to-play open mikes. I'm not talking about venues where there's a cover or minimum for everyone — that's an interesting argument to have (see the many listings here where that very argument goes on), but I don't see it as particularly preying on people desperate to perform.

On the other hand: a $20 performer's entrance fee? $5 to sign up? Those need to be deleted, and new ones will not be accepted. openmikes.org exists for the benefit of the performers, first, last and always. And this crap in no way helps musicians, poets or other artists.

I'm not immediately going through all 2,000+ listings — let me know if you see one that's still here, and I'll take it down.

(Comedy open mikes are excepted from this rule, as this would otherwise eliminate a huge chunk of the listings.)

Posted by Paul Roub at 4:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

There's a new feature in the works -- a new (hopefully better, certainly more fun) way to search for open mikes near you.

Just enter your location -- could be just a city, could be a full address -- and get a Google map of the area, with upcoming open mikes highlighted. You can zoom in and out, drag the map around to look at other areas, and pick what upcoming days you want to see. The map will update automatically.

Want to see just open mikes really close to you tomorrow night? Easy. Everything in the next seven days in a wider area? Also easy. Click on any of the markers, or the club names down the right-hand side, to show a bit more detail about each night. Click on the details to take you to the full listing for that open mike.

Feedback is very welcome on this; as is your understanding that this is brand-new, not-yet-thoroughly test code.

Go here to try out the new search. And head over here to let me know what you think.

Posted by Paul Roub at 3:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Instar Music News: The Best and The Worst of Open Mics

I've shared so many of these annoyances... or perhaps caused them.

Posted by Paul Roub at 12:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

The Day Job blog ("true stories of real performing artists changing the world, one day job at a time") had some awfully nice things to say about openmikes.org. Erin at Day Job takes a witty, interesting look at the world, from a perspective most of us should find familiar. Go, now, read, subscribe.

Posted by Paul Roub at 2:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Proof-read one too many user comments today. Mind if I vent just a bit?

It's "clique", not "click", when you don't know the other performers as well as they seem to know each other. Also, the world is not high school. Feel free to sit at the popular table if you want.

"Chill" is a verb, or a noun. Speaking of high school, have you seen Mean Girls? Remember when that girl kept describing things as "fetch"? That's how "chill", as an adjective, will sound in about six months.

And please, let's all re-read Bob's Quick Guide to the Apostrophe.

Posted by Paul Roub at 9:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Having read a somewhat-incendiary comment re: ASCAP here, I decided to try and get some answers. Rather than call, and possibly misquote, the person named in the comment, I figured I'd address the issue in writing. I've emailed several apparently-appropriate folks at ASCAP, asking the following:

From: admin@openmikes.org

Subject: Questions re: performance of original works in a non-ASCAP-licensed establishment

I run a website (openmikes.org) listing music open-mike nights across the US and Canada. Listings often include the "originals-vs-covers" policies of the establishment -- the understanding being that you can't go performing licensed works without the venue being under ASCAP, etc. licenses. The further assumption being that if I'm performing my original works, it's a non-issue. Even if I'm an ASCAP member (which I am, by the way), I can't really infringe on my own rights. I notice, for instance, on your website (at ascap.com/licensing/about.html) the following:

"Whenever music is performed publicly the songwriter and music publisher, who created and own that music, have the right to grant or deny permission to use their property and to receive compensation for that use."

So no problem. I own my songs, and publish them, under ASCAP in both cases. I grant myself the right to perform them, and grant the club the right to have them performed. Ta-da.

However, a commenter on one of the listings has posted the following:

"As per Sarah Alana of ASCAP it is ILLEGAL to play live music, even if it is an original piece of work and your a member of ASCAP. If the location that you are playing at is not a member of ASCAP. This is a violation of Federal Law and copyright infringement. For further questions or inquires you can contact Sarah Alana of ASCAP at (800) 910-7347 ext.89"

Apart from the "this is a violation of Federal Law..." sentence, which sounds fairly paranoid and wrong, I was hoping to find out from ASCAP what the deal really is, and post a response / rebuttal in your own words.

Does ASCAP really concern itself with performers playing *their own* compositions, whether licensed or not, at non-ASCAP-licensed establishments? If so, *why*? If not, thanks for confirming that the world still makes sense.

I'll publish any response, in full, with no edits, at openmikes.org/blog (where this email is also posted).

Thanks for your time.

Paul Roub

Benevolent Dictator, openmikes.org

I'll keep you posted on any responses.

Update 1: restaurantlicensing@ascap.com, although listed on the site, isn't actually a valid email address.

Posted by Paul Roub at 1:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You know those photos you've added to listings on openmikes.org? If you decide one's got to go -- it's an ad for a long-past featured performer, or your drummer didn't approve that particular likeness for public display -- you can just head to your profile page, scan the "Your Photos" list down the left side, and click the little [X] next to that particular photo.

You can't "undelete", so be careful. Of course, you can always just upload the picture again.

Posted by Paul Roub at 11:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)