I’ve been hosting live-music open mics since 1997.

When running an open mic, I try to put myself in the shoes of the participating musicians.

When I first started hosting, I thought about my personal experiences with other’s open mics. I made of list of things that I liked, and things that I didn’t like. I ran my open mic according the the list and sought feedback from the musicians.

At one point, my company, Open Mic Entertainment, operated 30 open mics per week in five cities.

As the word ‘host’ suggests, while running an open mic, you should treat your performers as if they were guests in your home.

When they first arrive, make sure that you greet them. Smile and make them welcome. Ask how they heard about your event, and direct them to the signup sheet.

If someone is new, introduce them to other players. If a person feels welcome, they will leave with a warm feeling, and hopefully, they will return to play again.

Always introduce the person to the audience on the mic prior to their performance. Even if you think that everyone knows who they are, it is a critical part of the ‘ceremony of performance.’

Upon completion of their set, ask the audience to show their appreciation for a ‘job well done.’ Again, it may not seem important to you, but it means world to the player.

Make a point to personally approach and congratulate each performer on their set. Invite them back and watch your open mic blossom.

OpenMic.US – The musician’s online community.

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