A number of years back, I made the transition from avid musician hobbyist to professional performer. Since then, I`ve made my living in the music business.
If you`ve thought about `going pro`, I`ve got something that you`ll find very helpful.
I`ve written a book and it`s now available for the first time!
Barbara Cloyd is an accomplished songwriter and mentor in Nashville. She has hosted the most famous open mic ever at The Bluebird Cafe for twenty years.
Barbara shares her vast open mic experience with us in these fascinating articles.
The world`s greatest percussion company, LP, is now offering FREE video lessons online.Check it out!
The "Indie Bible" is the 'Holy Grail' for musicians trying to promote and sell their music. With over 9,000 entries, this 300+ page book is the best reference guide on the market.
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Mic Give-Away
"Mic-A-Month" Give-Away!
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OpenMic.us and Electro-Voice are giving away a "Mic-A Month".
Click the mic to get your chance to win the amazing new PL80a mic.
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Just click HERE and print this coupon and take it to your local Sam Ash store and you`ll get $10.-- off any microphone purchase.
Head down to your local Sam Ash Music store today! SamashMusic.com
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New Open Mic Story - By Bob Sarnataro
In 1977, I was part of a 3 piece acoustic group called “Cheapshot” in Houston TX. One night we were going out to play at an open mic. We were fairly new at performing and were nervous as cats about playing out for the first time. We all barely knew 3-chords, but we had more nerve than talent and we decided to go for it.
One of the songs we were going to play was “You’ve got a lover” by Shake Russell, a local and favorite songwriter whose album ‘Songs on the Radio” had just recently been released. Just before we were to hit the stage I looked over at the bar and there was Shake himself leaning against the bar and sipping a beer. I told my band that I’d be right back and walked up to him and said; ‘Hey, I just came over to apologize to you’. He asked why and I told him that we were about to butcher one of his songs. He laughed and asked which one. When I told him, he very graciously said to go for it. In fact he said you can perform any song of mine that you like, all I ask is that you give me credit for writing it anytime you play one. I thanked him and went on stage. He grinned through our painfully amateurish version of his song and gave us a thumbs up sign.
To this day I still play some of his songs in public and never fail to mention him as the songwriter. I’ll never forget that night and will always appreciate his kindness. Now I host a couple of open mics and try to be as kind and generous with my time and talent as Shake was to me. It’s all about the music. What a great fraternity we all belong to.
Have open mics played a role in your music journey?
Do you have an interesting/humurous story from an open mic? Email it to us and we`ll share it with our nationwide family of musicians.
D.C. Area Open Mics
Click HERE and submit an open mic!
/ JOIN your nationwide open mic network today!
Monday
- Champion Billiards - www.myspace.com/championbilliardsva - 2620 S Shirlington Rd, Arlington, VA, 703-521-3800 / 7:30 pm
Tuesday
- Front Page - 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, 703-248-9990 / 9 pm
- Molly's Irish Pub - 36C Main Street, Warrenton, 540-349-5300 / 9 pm - The Soundry - www.soundry.net - 316 Dominion Road, Vienna, VA, 703-698-0088 / 8 pm - World of Wings Cafe & Wingery - www.wingery.com - www.myspace.com/freestylemovement - 3010 Waldorf Marketplace, Waldorf MD, 301-632-6755 / 8 pm (2nd & 4th Tue)
Wednesday - Dahlak Restaurant and Bar - 18th and U street (1771 U St NW), Washington, D.C., 202-332-2110 / 8 pm - IOTA Club - www.iotaclubandcafe.com - 2832 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA, 703-522-8340 / 8 pm
Thursday - Bobby Lew's - www.silkydave.com - 2006 18th St. NW, Washington, DC, 202- 234-5397 / 8 pm - Firehouse Grill - 3988 University Dr, Fairfax, VA, 703-383-1030 / 9:30 pm - LA Bar & Grill - 2530 Columbia Pike, Arlington, 703-685-1560 / 9 pm - Old Town Theater - www.oldtowntheater.com - 815 1/2 King St., Alexandria, VA, 703-864-5003 / 9:15 pm - The Potomac Grill - www.thepotomacgrill.com - 1093 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD / 7:30 pm - Zoo Bar Cafe - www.zoobardc.com / www.myspace.com/BigBoyLittleBand - 3000 Connecticut Ave, DC, 202.232.4225 / 8:30 pm (Blues Jam)
- The Old Brogue - 760C Walker Road, Great Falls, VA,703-759-3309 / 9 pm / (1st & 3rd Thu)
Friday - American Legion - 2013 Viers Mill Road, Rockville, 301-424-4486 / 8 pm (1st & 3rd Fri) - Modern Times Coffeehouse - 5015 NW Connecticut Ave, DC, 202.362.2408 / 8 pm
- The Potter`s House - 1658 NW Columbia Road, DC, 202.232.5483 / 7 pm /
(4th Fri)
- Kings Court Pub - 2-C Loudoun St., Leesburg, 703-777-7747 / 9 pm - Fat Boys Country Store - www.fatboyscountrystore.com / www.TheIdleAmericans.com - 41566 Medleys Neck Rd., Leonardtown, 301.475.6820 / 8 pm (Blues Jam) (1st Fri)
Saturday - Fat Boys Country Store - www.fatboyscountrystore.com / www.TheIdleAmericans.com - 41566 Medleys Neck Rd., Leonardtown, 301.475.6820 / 8 pm (Blues Jam) (3rd Sat)
- The Coffee House Of Occoquan - 202 Commerce Street, Occoquan, 703-492-8976 / 7 pm
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