Looking for a quality spot to enjoy or perform at an open mic can be daunting. If you're in a popular city, it will likely be easy to come by or hear about in your social circles.
If you live in a less-populated area, it can be a real challenge to find, and you'll have to be willing to go a bit further than others will.
If you live in a spot where literally nothing is going on, you may want to look into virtual listings from the options I recommend below.
Eventbrite is great to use for those who are in popular cities. You can find open mics along with the costs, recurring dates, like the event, and share the event with friends.
You can even contact the organizer of the upcoming event if you have a unique question that isn't explained in the detail section of the post. Many of the events listed through Eventbrite are established and hosted by well-known brands in your area.
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If you're looking for a more laid-back atmosphere where you can find like-minded people looking to connect without any pressure, look into the open mics listed on Meetup.
This site has a ton of local groups that you can join based on interest and location. Many events listed in creative performance sections on Meetup involve open mics and jam sessions.
Classified sites like Craigslist are well-known for listing events like open mic nights and talent showcases in the musicians' section. Many of these listings are from established venues looking to bring more people into their place of business.
Some opportunities may be less established and will be more of an informal gathering of strangers, similar to what you may find on Meetup.
Be on the lookout for posts that look fishy or scammy since a lot of craziness goes under the radar since anyone can post on these sites.
Open Mikes is a well-organized directory that is focused on finding open mic nights by location in the US and Canada.
They also have a cool feature that lets you filter results by the type of open mic, including music open mics, poetry open mics, and comedy open mics. The contributors to this directory are mainly volunteer users who are dedicated to finding good open mics in their area.
Browsing through restaurants and bars locations near you on Yelp with the keyword "open mic" in your search will give you results based on people's reviews of the location.
Many times, you will be able to find positive feedback for a spot that has recurring open mic nights available. These locations may have really great open mics that they just don't advertise on sites like Eventbrite or Craigslist.
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If you're having a tough time finding a spot listed on sites like the ones above, try making a post about your search for open mic nights near you on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram.
Social media is a great way to get positive results through word of mouth. A friend that you haven't spoken with in a long time or a friend of a friend may know a great place near you that isn't posting their event online.
In the opposite direction, look into Facebook groups and follow location-specific event promoters on your other social profiles like Instagram and Twitter.
You will also see a lot of open mic flyers coming across your timeline if you are following the type of people who like to go to and promote music events.
Look into the quality of the post for the open mic. You will often be able to tell how good an event is by the picture presented and how organized the event's details are when listed on a site.
It would help if you also looked into Google and Yelp reviews of the location to get a feel for what to expect.
Free open mics are always appealing since every open mic, in theory, should be free. But in popular cities, you may want to shoot for the spots that charge a small fee, especially for comedian open mics, which are known for having fees.
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Reach out to local musicians, artists, or performers in your area and ask them if they know of any open mic nights. They might have insider knowledge or be involved in organizing such events themselves.
Many coffee shops and cafés host open mic nights as a way to attract customers and support local artists. Keep an eye out for flyers or ask the staff if they have any upcoming open mic events.
Check out local music or arts festivals in your area, as they often feature open mic stages or events. These festivals can be a great opportunity to discover new talent and connect with the local creative community.
Community centers, community colleges, and universities often organize open mic nights as a way to encourage artistic expression within the community.
Check their event calendars or contact them directly to inquire about any upcoming open mic events.
If you're unable to find an open mic night that suits your preferences, consider organizing your own event.
Approach local venues or community spaces and propose the idea. With a bit of effort, you can create a welcoming space for artists and performers in your community!
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As a session singer, writer, and producer that has worked with over 300 clients to provide high-quality jingles, singles, and features, Yona spends her time creating and marketing new music and helpful resources for creators. Check out Yona’s latest releases on her Spotify, her Youtube and share if you like it!
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