Ryan Michael Galloway's "Songwriters, Get Out Of Town" notes that he's doing the Open Mike tour thing, and using the openmikes.org "I'll Be There" feature to do it.
He seems to have left out the link to his profile / upcoming open mike list, so I'll point it out myself: openmikes.org/profile/ryan-michael-galloway.
Marissa "Con Gusto" Meizel's Open Mic Ranting definitely merits a look. I'm definitely all for a "tuning for longer than 30 seconds counts as a song" rule.
12. ACTING LIKE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS NOT THE SAME AS KNOWING WHAT YOU ARE DOING. ... I am talking about getting onstage, throwing a fit about the sound or your mic, or whatnot... and then being out of tune or off-key.
And remembering the last time I hosted a night, if you're one of the "hang out outside, run in for my set, then leave" types, damn right I'd remember you next week and slot you dead last.
Maybe everyone should host an open mike for a few weeks, just to gain some perspective on what the horrible, mean ol' host is dealing with.
Check out Jeff Miller's "Acts of Daring" in this week's LA Times Calendar section -- he spent a couple weeks visiting a bunch of area nights and writing up his impressions. Definitely a familiar ring to a lot of these nights, although this one caught my eye...
[At Suzy's in Hermosa Beach...] Regardless of whether he knows the performer, the host sings harmonies from his seat.
Just speaking for myself, but I'd probably want to beat the guy senseless. Just ask first, you know? It's OK if, for a few minutes, attention is not on you.
This is what I get for posting before I've had coffee. I'm sure he's a perfectly nice guy.
But still, ask.
