Performance Mediums
In order to make Open Mic Finder as useful as possible I have come up with the following definitions of performance styles. I am basing these categories on my experience of open mic. It is common for venue owners to have specific visions of the kind of ambiance they want to create.
Acoustic Music
Instruments with no electronic modification to sound other than straight amplification. Electro-acoustic instruments have a built in pick up but other than that are completely in line with traditional types.
641 events welcome this
Poetry
Poetry, prose and spoken word. The range of open mic'ers that this category encompasses is huge! From the lively expressive to the abstract. Through the quirky humorous types and out the other end to the sombre hushed tone readers.
500 events welcome this
Rock/Punk/Metal
Instruments whose sound is modified with electronic devices. Including but not exclusively limited to gain, distortion, delay, loops, pitch-shifters. Loud shouty vocals, goaty beards, black t-shirts and piercings that breach food-hygiene laws.
448 events welcome this
Comedy
Stand-up comedians are welcome. Welcome to die on stage? No lets not be cynical. In fact every comedian starts at open mic nights.
473 events welcome this
Rap/Hip-Hop/Beatbox
Rap, hip-hop, beatbox and all associated genres. Not always but sometimes aggressive and containing potentially offensive words this medium is often unwelcome in traditional venues but commonplace in cosmopolitan locations.
219 events welcome this
Open Deck
DJs, turntablists and producers bring their skills and record collections. Open Deck is a controversial category as it most often relies on playing recorded music. To convince an audience this is a skill takes much more than just pushing play.
15 events welcome this