EVERYONE'S INVITED!

Come play your instrument at TAP HOUSE!

THE RULES OF OPEN MIC:

1. Respect the Format / Equipment:

Listen to the open-mic host. If he or she cuts you off because time is up, end it quick. If he or she tells you to do 2 songs, for the love of god, don’t try and sneak 3 songs in by combining 2 song into a “medley”. It’s never worked. Everyone automatically labels you a hack, and you can be sure that people will be commenting on it behind your back for the rest of the night.

2. Respect the Equipment:

Check with the open-mic host for when its okay to plug and unplug. You risk damaging the equipment, and giving everybody a earful of noise otherwise. Treat the house equipment in general with respect. Don’t drop the mic. Adjust the mic-stands appropriately by loosening, adjusting and then re-tightening. If there’s a house guitar, treat it nicely.

3. Cut The Jabber:

One of the biggest mistakes to make, and an easy way to draw the ire of your fellow musicians is to spend the first several minutes on stage telling a long shaggy dog story about your song. A little bit of intro is fine, but people want to hear you perform. Remember that when you’re using your time to casually converse with the audience: You’re cutting into other people’s time.

4. Get Your Gear Ready Ahead of Time:

Similar to (2). This is the classic amateur move. Taking several minutes on stage to tune your guitar, or setup electronics, where it could have been done ahead of time. There’s a bunch of musicians watching you, exasperated that you’ve made them wait another 5 minutes – and now another musician later down the queue can’t perform a second song. Occasionally, you’ve kicked a fellow musician off the queue entirely because there isn’t enough time. Likewise – break down your equipment and get the off the stage as soon as you’re done. Remember: You’re cutting into other people’s time.

5. Cut the Extended Outro/Xth Refrain:

These are typical tricks that amateurs use to try and extend their on-stage time. By repeating the final verse several times, they hope the repetition will get people to remember the song better, and give them a few extra minutes. Instead it’s making the other musicians upset, because: You’re cutting into other their time.

6. Do Original Songs:

This isn’t a requirement so much as an aim. Unless you’re doing a really interesting spin on an existing song, you’re missing out on an opportunity to write a song and present it to people.

7. Don’t Just Do the Hits:

Also more of an aim as opposed to a requirement. Some open-mics can be pressure situations where you feel you have to “perform” in order to get the respect of your peers. But there are many people who can hear if you’re good – even if you mess up on a new song – and respect the fact that you’re putting something new out there for the first time.

8. Talk With Your Fellow Musicians:

Open-mic is one of the few places where you can engage in intelligent discussion with other musicians about their work and your own work. You can get a lot of helpful feedback at open-mics, and you’re wasting your time there if you aren’t actively seeking out feedback. If you’re looking to network, bring a card that has your info on it, and if you’re getting along well with a fellow musician, hit them up on any social media platform you all might have in common.

9.Respect Your Fellow Musicians:

When you do talk with your fellow musicians, make sure you’re not interfering with whoever is on stage. Find a quiet spot off to the side or in the back, or talk during the interludes between performers. Looking for an opening line to talk to a performer? Telling them they did a good job, and observing a specific thing that you liked about their performance is a good way to start.

10. Try to Do a Good Job but Don’t Worry About Messing Up:

It goes without saying. If you aren’t taking the performance seriously, you’re wasting everyone’s time, including your own. So, for instance, don’t get too buzzed to perform. But also, don’t worry about messing up. No need to apologize for not doing your best, and just soldier on. Good musicians can hear what you intended to do, and will ignore the small things.

11. Stick Around and Watch the Other Acts:

Other musicians see it when you perform and then leave the venue as soon as you’re done, and they remember who you are. It turns out, other musicians are a great resource for performance and networking opportunities – but they only share them with people who demonstrate a modicum of good faith. When you cut and run, you’re actively burning bridges, and publicly telling people that you’re not worth connecting with. Stick around and really listen to the other performers, because you’re likely to hear some very good work.

12. Don't Accept Free Alcoholic Beverages from TAP HOUSE Staff. (this is illegal and TAP HOUSE does not accept this behavior from our on-site staff or event coordinating partners):

We might give you a free pizza or something that's not free alcohol, but we WILL NOT give you free alcohol.

Suggestions on additional general rules to add to the canon are welcome!