Stage Guidelines for Open Mics

Stage Guidelines

Your Set, Your Spotlight When it’s your turn, you choose the songs and whether you want accompaniment. This is your fifteen minutes to shine and share your passion with the audience.

Fifteen Minutes

Our stage is filled with exceptional talent, and we’re excited to give everyone a chance to shine. Each performer has fifteen minutes, including set-up and exit. Whether you share three songs, one long piece, or several short tunes, the time is yours. Introducing your songs is okay, but remember that the clock is ticking.

Please prepare before you come up:

• Tune your guitar. This ensures you’re ready to give your best performance.
• Select your songs in advance. This helps you feel confident and focused.
• Make arrangements with musicians who will join you beforehand so everyone is ready. This creates a seamless and enjoyable experience for you and your audience.
• Set up keyboards, amps, pedals, or other gear during breaks or come early (6:15 pm). This ensures you have ample time to prepare without feeling rushed.

When you hit the stage

• Don’t play or sing while others are setting up. This helps maintain a calm and respectful environment for everyone.
• Keep track of your start time. This helps you make the most of your performance.
• Do not ask for extra time or additional songs at the end of your set. This ensures fairness and respect for all performers.
• Be mindful of your time to ensure everyone gets their turn. This fosters a supportive and inclusive atmosphere.

Supporting Musicians

Do you want to play along with others? Harmonica, saxophone, bass guitar, lead guitar, percussionists, and other instruments are welcome.

• Note your presence on the signup sheet and check if the performer has invited supporting musicians. This shows respect for the performer’s wishes.
• Only join in if invited by the performers. As a courtesy, talk to them before the set starts. This ensures everyone feels comfortable and prepared.
• Do not play along from the audience. This keeps the focus on the performer and their moment.

The Whiteboard

The whiteboard determines the order of play.

• Put your name in an available slot. This secures your chance to perform.
• Indicate if you’d like other musicians to join you. This helps you create the performance you envision.
• If you want to change the order, discuss it with everyone listed after you. This ensures smooth transitions and mutual respect.
• If you skip your turn, put your name at the end of the list unless you’ve arranged to swap slots. This keeps the flow fair for everyone.
• Do not book two consecutive slots for the same people, even if roles change. Choose another non-consecutive slot. This gives everyone a fair chance to perform.
• If time permits, we’ll start again from the top of the list. This offers additional opportunities for everyone.