Seven Acts Pass On at First A Cappella & Unplugged Open Mic of 2026 http://dlvr.it/TQnrSG

That’s a Rap?

ALT

I still haven’t decided what I’m performing tomorrow, which is terrifying in its own special way.

I was dead set on doing this funny rap I wrote. Pretty sure that I wouldn’t win,

But OK with that, because I’m tired of trying to win. It’s interfering with my writing, and I want to just stop caring about it. I’ve been sad, and the rap would be fun, so that’s what I wanted to do. I can’t do any of my more vulnerable poems right now. My heart is still too broken and I am still too raw to get up there and bleed in front of everyone. I can’t stand up and talk about sexual shame, or feeling like no woman is ever going to love me (if you’re interested, go back through the blog! I have lots of poems on those subjects!). 

I wrote a poem a couple of weeks ago, and I didn’t think I would be able to perform it any time soon. But I read it today, and I feel like I could do it and be steady. It’s about grief, and not letting it destroy you. And now I’m trying to figure out if I should save my rap for open mic night. I don’t have to compete with it in order to do it… but I do really want to perform it at slam tomorrow. Not next week at open mic. Tomorrow. 

But even without winning as a goal, when you do two pieces that are tonally different from each other, and tonally different from the room, it doesn’t land the same way for the audience. And that matters to me— it matters to me that my poem is received well, it matters to me that the energy isn’t off, it matters that I’m not giving people whiplash because my poems are so radically different.

But maybe I should be using this time to build my reputation as a poet who does everything, as a poet who will always surprise you, because that is who I am. But, I can do the surprising at open mic night, and do the more likely to win pieces at slam. But if it’s about going with the tone of the room, then it really shouldn’t matter whether it’s open mic or slam, the tone is the tone. So that really isn’t a very good reason to wait to save the funny rap until next week…

Going around in circles here. I guess part of me still wants to win. It would be nice to win at least once. I also know it means absolutely nothing if I don’t. There are wonderful, incredible writers who never win and never advance to the second round. They just aren’t giving what the room rewards. There is nothing wrong with their writing.

So I can basically decide I don’t care about the competition, and prove it to myself by doing the rap, or I can play it safe, do the other pieces, and hope that gets me to the second round. 

But the thing is, I don’t know that the other pieces that I would be doing are sure to get me into the second round, either. I don’t know what’s good anymore. They definitely aren’t that vulnerable, so if there are people up there talking about more trauma than I am, I won’t advance. Slam wants trauma. That’s the whole point of wanting to detox from caring about slam… I need it to stop affecting my writing.

At the same time: this is my very first time rapping, ever. I don’t expect to win, I fully expect to lose. But then I hadn’t thought about the scores. What if I get really low scores all around? That would be upsetting. It’s one thing to not advance. It’s another thing to have people tell you your work sucks. This would be my very first time rapping, and if it doesn’t go well, I won’t want to do it ever again.

If I save it for open mic night, I know I’ll get encouragement, and I won’t have to see a judge holding up a numerical value to it. If I go the other way, and do the other poem, I’m still unlikely to get into the second round— which I guess means I can just stop being nervous right now.

I’m aware I went to a Sapphic Hangout last night, and owe details on that. But this blog is called Not for Open Mic Night, so I do occasionally have to talk about open mic night. 😅

More info on the sapphic front to come… and hopefully I will have even more to tell you about that by the time I come back.

Alexandra Hotel open mic
All That Matters (sound check)
Windy and Warm
Dublin Blues
Mr Bojangles
The Weight

HAND IN THE AIR LIKE YOU JUST DONT CARE #hiphop

Night Eighteen: Open Mic Night Crush

ALT

ALT

Please excuse the typos. I am honestly so messed up. I wasn’t even sure I was gonna be able to perform at open mic night at all.

Open Mic and Other Vibes

ALT

ALT

Here is the poem inspired by the woman I’m writing about.

open mic tonight @ Craven Arts, Skipton — sharing the stage with so many talented people. my heart is still buzzing.

come and watch me in Leeds at @thepoeticofflicence this bank holiday Monday.

Last night, I attended an open mic in Harrogate, where I received an incredible amount of feedback (as pictured…)

I can’t stop smiling. half of these are about you was announced by the lovely host, it’s real, it’s happening. we’re closer than you think.

thank you to everyone who listened, to everyone who felt something, and to this little guy who makes sure i always come home to love. 🐾

At the Open mic night again

There is an odd appeal to seeing musicians tune their instruments.

these dudes have been trying to tune their violin to their guitar for 7 minutes.

An odd little symphony

Open Mic Sanctuary Maynard MA
Special Host Every Monday 6:00-9:30 PM

1-06-25 ~ JAE MANNION
https://www.facebook.com/jae.mannion
https://www.facebook.com/events/906093685036898/906106268368973

1-13-25 ~ ALAN GOODRICH
https://www.facebook.com/alan.goodrich.79
https://www.facebook.com/events/906093685036898/906106271702306

1-20-25 ~ JACQUELINE BURNS
https://www.facebook.com/jacquelineburnsmusicofficial
https://www.facebook.com/events/906093685036898/906106265035640

1-27-25 ~ MILT REDER & DAVE BECKER
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069304844706
https://www.facebook.com/events/906093685036898/906106275035639

Sanctuary - Cultural Arts Center
(in their Back Bar & Lounge)
82 Main St, Maynard, MA 01754
Phone: 978-298-5237
https://www.sanctuarymaynard.com

$10 Cover Charge
Includes One Drink Ticket (Beer/Wine)

Promotion by Northern Music
northernmusic@yahoo.com
https://www.facebook.com/MusicInNewEnglandhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/OpenMicsInNewEngland
https://www.facebook.com/groups/NewEnglandMusicNetwork

#OpenMic #Open #Mic #live #music #folk #rock #blues #country #acoustic #show #Sanctuary #Cultural #Arts #Center #Maynard #Massachusetts #NewEnglandMusic

🎉 Happy Independence Day! 🎉

Join us for the “Samyak Event” with the theme AAJAD PARINDEY! 🌟 Step into the spotlight and showcase your talent—music, poetry, comedy, storytelling, and more.

📩 DM @samyak.events on Instagram to register!

📞 Call us at 9.105.106.105 for details.

Powered by Samyak Computer Classes.

Alley Cats @ Barley Mow, with Peter
Honky Tonk Women
Diving Duck Blues
Stealin’ w/ harmonica

Alley Cats @ Admiral Drake
Anji
Mr Bojangles
Ooh La La
In The Ghetto

Last night at @ paintedladyossington, I sang Seasons Of Love (which the bar seemed to enjoy!) after a very intense bout of trivia! 🍀

#livingmybestlife #seasonsoflove #rent #openmic #thepaintedlady #bluehair #turquoisehair #drinks #cheesecake #swipe #stpatricksday

The Department of #JournalismAndMassCommunication of #MangalayatanUniversity, Aligarh has organized an event an open #MicCompetition🎤 where students get the #opportunity to showcase their oratory #skills. This Event was organized to evaluate and sharpen the oratory skills of the students and to encourage the “POWER OF COMMUNICATION

September 6, 2023 event - BlockHeadz Poetry Club - Open mic 1st Wednesday of every month.

September 6, 2023 event - BlockHeadz Poetry Club - Open mic 1st Wednesday of every month.

Don’t forget to like,share,subscribe,invest, share and anything else we don’t want to do!

If any body is in the DMV on Thursday I’m hosting an open mic