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.

311 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.

274 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.

253 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.

263 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.

126 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.

4 events welcome this

Open Reel (Video)

Original videos, short films and animations displayed by projector or TV. Venues who advertise Open Reel will exhibit moving image works. This is a rare category but often warmly received due to the novelty factor.

1 events welcome this

Open Mic UK Music Competition Open Magic Nights Poetry Open Mics Comedy Open Mics Open Mic Aldershot Open Mic Ashton-In-Makerfield Open Mic Bath Open Mic Battersea Open Mic Belfast Open Mic Beverley Open Mic Bewdley Open Mic Birmingham Open Mic Bognor Regis Open Mic Bolton Open Mic Bournemouth Open Mic Bridgwater Open Mic Brighton Open Mic Bristol Open Mic Burnham on Sea Open Mic Burton upon Trent Open Mic Cambridge Open Mic Camden Town Open Mic Cardiff Open Mic Chelmsford Open Mic Chichester Open Mic Chippenham Open Mic Chipping Sodbury Open Mic City of London Open Mic Cowfold Open Mic Dewsbury Open Mic Edinburgh Open Mic Epsom Open Mic Exeter Open Mic Falmouth Open Mic Frome Open Mic Glasgow Open Mic Greenwich Open Mic Guildford Open Mic Hammersmith Open Mic Hartlepool Open Mic Heckmondwike Open Mic Islington Open Mic Kings Cross Open Mic Leeds Open Mic Londonderry Open Mic Loughborough Open Mic Maidstone Open Mic Manchester Open Mic Midhurst Open Mic Mile End Open Mic Milton Keynes Open Mic Milverton Open Mic Minehead Open Mic Newbury Open Mic Newcastle Open Mic Newquay Open Mic Newton Abbot Open Mic Orpington Open Mic Oxford Open Mic Penzance Open Mic Petworth Open Mic Plymouth Open Mic Pontypridd Open Mic Poole Open Mic Portsmouth Open Mic Reading Open Mic Redruth Open Mic Ringwood Open Mic Rochford Open Mic Salisbury Open Mic Shepton Mallet Open Mic Sidmouth Open Mic Southampton Open Mic St Helens Open Mic St. Ives Open Mic Stamford Open Mic Swindon Open Mic Sydenham Open Mic Taunton Open Mic Tintagel Open Mic Torquay Open Mic Wadebridge Open Mic Walthamstow Open Mic Wellington Open Mic Wells Open Mic Westminster Open Mic Weston Super Mare Open Mic Wigan Open Mic Wolverhampton Open Mic Woolwich Open Mic Yeovil Open Mic York