The Other Side of the Mountain
by: Julie Pinsonneault
“Initially, you’re just nervous as hell, but I got enough positive response that it encouraged me to keep going,” says Epstein. “The more I did it, the more confidence I got. Now I’m enjoying it, and I’m not just doing it for myself, I’m doing it for other people.”
Epstein started playing guitar during his childhood, but his shyness prevented him from sharing his music, apart from with close friends and family. During his 20s, Epstein gave up music to pursue a career in journalism and Web design. “Music was a hobby, but after a while I sort of let the hobby go,” he explains.
Around 1995 Epstein’s interest in music was re-energized when he heard a CD by Boston singer Eva Cassidy. Soon after he bought a guitar, relearned some chords, and started composing original songs. After his 48th birthday in April 2005, Epstein decided to challenge his persistent fears at the Caribou Coffee House. Now he’s performed in more than 20 open mikes in the Washington, DC, area. “Having achieved that goal was very fulfilling,” says Epstein. “It made me see how important it is to try things.”
Low Pressure Zone
Fast becoming a regular part of the entertainment scene in communities large and small, open mike nights can be found in cities and towns from Maine to California. Depending on the location, open mike objectives can vary, but typically beginners and experienced players use them to showcase their own tunes or covers in a nonpressured situation.
Open mikes take place at bars, coffeehouses, colleges, libraries, and elsewhere. Participants sign up either during or before the event. Each performer is granted the same amount of time, specified by a person who runs the open mike. More than likely the host is a skilled musician, such as Spook Handy.
Handy, 38, moderated the longest running open mike in New Jersey history, spending 20 years at the Corner Tavern in New Brunswick. He’s witnessed thousands of beginners at open mikes throughout the years and knows the positive benefits these events can have on inexperienced performers. “I think open mike events and public speaking have a lot in common. In both, you’re presenting yourself to people,” said Handy. “In order to be successful in life, you need to be able to present yourself.”
Confidence Boost
In other words, breaking through the fear barrier at an open mike event and becoming comfortable performing in front of others can help you succeed in the workplace, whether you’re a secretary, teacher—or a lawyer like Adam Strengel. Strengel runs a private practice in Manhattan, where he also performs guitar and sings at open mikes. His first experience was with Handy at the Corner Tavern almost 20 years ago. Now 38, he touts the benefits of open mikes.
“It’s not like I was hit over the head with a mallet. I gradually built up my confidence. Performing at the open mike just helped me develop as a person,” says Strengel. “Within three or four years of me starting to do open mike night, I think I was an entirely different person.”
Strengel credits open mikes with giving him a confidence boost in his career. He says that during trials he flashes back to his first open mike experience. He remembers the rising tension and the anxious feelings he got before his initial performance, but he also remembers how good it felt to conquer his fear of public presentation. “I’m not sure I’d be able to do my job without first having had that experience,” he observes.
Performing Better
Nervousness is common among first time performers at an open mike event. Take Stephen Dolle for example. Dolle began playing open mikes in 2003 in the Newport Beach and Santa Anna areas of California. “I was extraordinarily nervous, even though the environment and the other artists were very supportive,” said Dolle. “They made me want to work harder at it. I knew that performing held the key. There’s something on the other side of this mountain. I just had to get to the other side to see.”
In 1992 Dolle suffered head injuries caused by a car accident. He was left with decreased faculties and a brain shunt that continues to hinder him today. While Dolle was on disability, he picked up the guitar and started playing in open mikes. Soon, he was playing the djembe drum, guitar, piano, and singing at his performances.
Last year at the age of 49, he started his own communications company, Dolle Communications, and became a member of the Toastmasters International speech club. This new functionality and boost of confidence he partly puts down to his open mike experience.
“I have discovered ways to use musical performing and percussion to boost my level of function, performing better with a crowd,” said Dolle. “I had a lot of difficulty speaking and performing in front of people following my brain injury. I have now gravitated toward public performances, and the open mikes have played a huge role.”
Watching & Waiting
To overcome some of his uneasiness, Dolle utilized a technique that works for most beginner performers: know your material. When Dolle plays melodic instruments he brings sheet music to his open mike gigs, but for most people, just memorizing and practicing helps to quell anxious nerves. Once you know the song, you can concentrate your efforts on public presentation.
Another tip for open mike beginners is to check out open mike venues before you play. Sit in on a couple of sessions at different events before you sign up, that way you know what to expect. It helps you to become comfortable with your surroundings. Dolle said he watched open mikes for two months before he signed up. And if that doesn’t work, you can always picture the audience in their underwear.
You can locate open mikes by using resources such as www.openmikes.org. This site lists open mike venues throughout the country and includes reviews posted by participants. Creator of the site Paul Roub, 38, who is a software developer based out of Melbourne, Florida, said he’s met some of his best friends playing and running various open mikes on the peninsula. The nurturing atmosphere at open mikes encouraged Roub to create the site for people of all skill levels.
“I think an open mike is a more forgiving and friendly environment as opposed to paid gigs or contests,” said Roub. “There’s an understanding that you’re not Dave Matthews.”
There are other ways to find open mikes events. You can look in local papers for weekly listings in the music section. You might also hear about them through word of mouth or you could call your local bar or coffee shop to see if they regularly schedule these kinds of events. Just remember, have fun and take a chance. It just might change your life.
