You Can Learn Everything From An Open Mic Night

Looks easy. Near impossible.

It was my “normal” back then. I was playing in two different bands — drums for one and vocals/guitar for the other — and I was writing a TON of songs. No, I mean for real…a lot. Probably around two or three songs a week…which, if you haven’t written songs before, let me tell you, that’s A LOT.

Now don’t get me wrong — the majority of these songs were absolute shit. I mean, steaming piles of total garbage. The worst. Some made me want to kick my own ass, but like most everything, you have to get through the crap to get to the gems.

Part of my routine between playing in bands, working, and going to business school at night, was to hit up as many open mic nights as I could. I have a weird love/hate relationship with open mic nights — I love to hate them.

So terrifying. So vulnerable. So worth it.

Open mic nights are strange things because none are the same. The open mic night at one place might be more of a piano crowd, while the one in the south part of town is more of a country vibe, while the one on The Hill is more of a pure singer-songwriter vibe except for Phil who is there every damn Thursday and is always playing some Goo Goo Dolls cover. Ok, Phil. Baby’s black balloon makes her fly. We fu**ing get it.

But the more I used to frequent open mic nights to “test drive” new songs, the more I realized that open mic nights are amazing because it’s a unique environment where everyone is usually in the same boat.

We’re all here just trying our damn best.

You should do it. Yes. You.

Here’s the thing, if you’ve never done one, you need to go do one. You can start by just going and getting settled in with how they all work, what the level of talent is, etc. But eventually, your “going” has to evolve into “doing.”

Do one.

Do a standup comedy routine or sing a damn song. Maybe go to one of those poetry reading ones. I promise there is one out there that you can both do and be a healthy amount of terrified of.

Once you do the first one, it’ll suck and you’ll totally bomb, but the spark will be lit and you’ll see that it’ll only get better from there…so you’ll keep going. This will 100% happen. Successful careers have been made from this happening.

Doing open mic nights makes you better, not just at what you’re doing up there on stage standing next to that wobbly old stool, but at everything.

6 lessons from doing open mic night:

1. Be terrified. I mean absolutely terrified to where you’re almost paralyzed from fear. Then, get your ass up there and do your thing. Human nature tells us to avoid fear — run from it, distract yourself from it, get over it — but really, the best thing to do is just stand still, be f***ing scared, and get used to being there. Like that scene in Batman where all the bats are swirling around him like crazy, but you know…without the cool cape (unless you have one, then rock that thing).
2. Think fast. You’re going to forget a line or the punchline of a setup and it’s going to be a mess. Thinking fast without looking like you’re thinking fast is a skill that we all need in this world. It’s like those ducks at your local park — they look pretty relaxed swimming around the lake, but underneath the surface they’re paddling like crazy.
3. It’s all you. There is no better place in this world than alone on an open mic night stage to teach you how to be 100% accountable for everything that happens when you’re up there. Success is all yours. Failure is all yours. Either way, you made it and it belongs to you. Own it. There’s no room for scapegoats in here.
4. Do you. There’s value in looking around town to find an open mic night that fits your vibe, but there’s also value in occasionally going to the one where you’ll stand out like a sore thumb. Lucky for me, I’m of Indian descent so I stand out regardless (No, sir, I’m not a doctor, I’m here to play my heart out on this here guitar, so please stop asking me if that’s infected. Gross). Know that there is strength in getting up there and being different without feeling like you have to fit in with the vibe. Sometimes you have to screw the vibe.
5. Karma works fastest at open mic nights. It’s true. It’s science. Look it up. Really though, the more often and louder you clap for others, the more support you’ll receive when it’s your turn. That fraction of a second between your last note and when you say, “thank you” into the mic can last an eternity. Believe me, I know.
6. Know that you’re in the right place. It might not feel like it, but you are. Everyone in here is scared, and everyone in here is looking fear and vulnerability right in the damn face and doing this shit anyway. For something that can make you nervous, the people in that room are the most supportive, understanding, and non-judgemental people you’ll ever not meet. Even Phil.

“And up next is…”

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, or a parent, or a teacher, or a doctor — what you can learn from doing an open mic night is valuable and will always stay with you.

Familiarity with the feeling of having to do something difficult — and do it well — not only comes in handy often, but is kind of relevant with every single moment in life.

Breathe in.
Breathe out.

You’re on.
You got this.

#bewhatyoumake