Being an open mic host can be a pretty thankless task. It’s definitely a labour of Love, and one that can get you down. I’ve been hosting open mics since 2008 or so and have been attending them since I learned of their existence in 1993 or so. By 95 I was playing with others on bass, a couple of years later I’d picked up guitar and was immediately off and playing my own songs. We’ve played open mics all over the country and I’m pretty opinionated, and really – really – really believe in them. They’re where people get started, where people get polished, and where the polished get to hang out and play with others and pass their skills to the next generation… it’s a mixer where people swap styles and skills and sounds… they can be awesome.
And man, people can make you miserable all because you do something you Love.
I Love it still, but man – one bad apple does ruin your day.
Jocelyn Faro! Vinnie Valerio! Jonny! Koye Berry!
Over the years, as a host, I’ve been threatened, I’ve been cursed. I’ve had two guys call me a fascist – once because I felt that pulling a knife on an audience in a coffeehouse wasn’t a legitimate artistic expression and once because I wasn’t going to allow someone to bring in someone else’s CD to perform over. (I ain’t no karaoke bar!). Hell, we’ve had knives pulled twice – once for the sake of art, once for the sake of a father “defending the honour” of his daughter. Sigh. I’ve been told that two songs is bullshit. That I’m obviously “reimaging” what an open mic is, and that that’s a bad thing.
I’ve people throw my gear, try to Thwart The Man (that’s me, btw), buck the system (also me) and fight the power (and me). I just can’t imagine what kind of awesome world it would be if these people devoted their energy to like… a cause or something.
Today I’ve been informed that because I won’t allow a performer to play an Eagles CD while he solos on top of it that I’m part of the reason that original Live music is dying. Go ahead and make sense of THAT one. All-in-all I let these sorts of complaints run around in my head too much. I even try to reason with these people. I really shouldn’t. If someone’s going to actually bother to sit down and write an open mic host hate mail, they’re PRRROOOBABLY not looking to be terribly open to other arguments.
Sigh.
But I keep thinking “oh, they’ve just misunderstood – if I could just rework the sentence they’d understand!”
Yeah. No.
Maybe I’m just a little grumpy. A couple of days ago I was shut down by the police at an open-air folk event. Well, at least I was given a stern talking to. Generally I’m pretty good with cops, and also pretty understanding of where they’re coming from. But this guy was just so obviously simply throwing out random made up bullshit to make his case. He’s a cop. The end of the conversation really CAN be “you’ve got a noise complaint, turn it down”. He doesn’t have to make up a theoretical noise limit of “65 decimals” which just highlights the fact that he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. (for a point of reference 60 decibels is a “regular” conversational level).
I thought about throwing my gear around. Making a scene, thwarting the man (I’ve got a decibel meter in my pocket…), bucking the system (I’m pretty sure there’s no law quite like that) and fighting the power (the crowd was certainly on my side), but it sure was easier to just turn it down, grab an acoustic cello for Kristen, and gather the crowd in closer. It’s LIKE being a folk hero, but I didn’t get shot.
(no, I’m not saying Takoma Park police would shoot a person for a noise complaint, I’m mostly just mentioning the inherent danger of folk music)
Like I said. Largely a thankless job. Thank you so much to those of you who represent, support, give your Love and your earballs to us. We wouldn’t do it unless we Loved it. And we wouldn’t Love it as much if you didn’t Love US.
Oh crap… y’all are one band?
ilyAIMY doing their thing at Dogfish Head in Falls Church, VA. It was a good night and we had a decent house and a great time. Also – cilantro pepper beer. Torrential downpours made the night interesting. It probably kept some people away, but it also kept some people with us. Metro Gallery’s an interesting place – but especially so recently. They’ve got a video installation up AND they’re regularly hosting Justin Trawick’s The 9 Songwriter Series in Baltimore, MD. It makes for a great aural and visual landscape. ilyAIMY performing at the 9 at the Metro Gallery in Baltimore, MD. Well – actually it’s rob Hinkal being accompanied by Heather Lloyd as we were NOT a duo tonight but 2 of the 9 accompanying one another. Madness. I was surprised – I’m never a hot commodity during the 9s – but this time around I got to play with Tony Denikos (above), Russ Haire, Heather (of course), Joe Scala AND Justin Trawick! I didn’t get to sit down for the second half of the second half! T’was flattering! All in all it was a very fun night. Light turn out unfortunately, but the performers were great and as always it was the mashup nature of the performances, off the cuff and on the spot jams, that made the night so special. Angie Miller, Tony Denikos, Joe Scala, Justin Trawick, me, Russ Haire and Heather Lloyd. 2 of the 9 had made his escape!
My friend MaryAnn Ryan ran across a porch festival in Boston around this time last year. Hundreds of performers on perhaps a hundred porches all across the city. She brought it home – and went swiftly from “who can I get to make this happen” to “how can I make this happen” and created the marvelous Takoma Porch festival this year. About 20 porches, 45 performers or so – I set things up on the House of Musical Traditions’ porch for Lulu’s Fate before going forth and wandering the neighbourhood. Lulu’s Fate got the benefit of my sound system, the police quickly griped about MY use of it.
Wandering around Takoma Park, MD, mOsno and I eventually ignored our maps and just followed our ears. It was a rainy, misty day – but beautiful despite that. The temperature was perfect and the moist punched all the colours – and Takoma Park BLOOMED. A wonderful group of trad folk and Celtic artists playing hammered dulcumer and bouzouki – all sorts of good stuff. Takoma Porch was over but Joshua Lavendar wasn’t done and we found him on the steps outside House of Musical Traditions playing sad songs to the coming rain. Aw – my original other half! Original ilyAIMY member Audrey Engdahl performing with a couple of friends at Takoma Porch in Takoma Park, MD.
