FANCY an OPEN MIC?
WHY SHOULD YOU?
Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned professional, it’s important to stay in the routine of performing live regularly. This allows you to keep your confidence high, trial out new songs in front of new crowds and inject a lot of fun to your week!
Open mics are a great place to meet: likeminded musicians and performers, those with more experience and knowledge in the field, and industry professionals who may just be on the lookout for a new superstar like yourself.
open mic Types
Types of open mics range from aux-friendly where you can perform with a back-in track, to acoustic only - where you must perform with a live guitar. Higher quality open mics may ask you to perform originals with a live band and prohibit cover songs or aux-accompaniment completely. Some venues run a paid sign-up-prior system, whereas others are free and structured on a first-come, first-perform basis. Occasionally venues offer free drinks for performers, while others give monetary prizes to those who were favoured by the audience most.
It’s often best to do your research into the type of open mic you plan to attend before you arrive, or if you prefer, you could attend on whim to check it our in preparation for performing the next time you go.
OR!
you could just wing it completely and see where the night takes you :) See list of open mic nights we have checked out personally and have been recommended by other fellow musicians. In no particular order..
Phils Open Mic - HoxtoN
Instagram: @phils_open_mic_uk
Day: Alternate Wednesday Evenings
Time: sign up between 6pm-7pm, starts at 7:30pm
Level: All levels welcome. Perform with aux, own band/ instruments (must bring own), or get there early to practice a song with the house band
Other info: Hosted by songwriter , producer and grammy award winner Phil Ramocon, who has collaborated with the like of Bob Marley and Take That!
Video of a performer: click here
2. LADYWELL TAVERN open mic - ladywell
Instagram: @ladywell_tavern
Location: The Ladywell Tavern Pub, 80 Ladywell Road, SE12 7HS
Day: Every Tuesday Evening
Time: 8:00pm
Level: All welcome. Perform with aux, own instruments (must bring own), or send Marco Meloni a message a week before with the song you would like him to play with you the following week. There is a house piano available too.
Other info: Walk-in/ first come first perform. Hosted by songwriter and producer and teacher, Marco who produces for @evaofficialmusic. Marco is extremly welcoming and encouraging. This open mic is a smaller one with a loyal and uplifting local community — great for beginners.
Video of performer: click here
Day: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays
Time: From 6:30pm/7pm
Level: All welcome however geared to wards Intermediate/ Advanced level performers. Perform with aux, own instruments (must bring own). Performance slot duration varies at each open mic venue.
Other info: Pre-book here. Hosted by upcoming songwriters and producers. These open mics vary in size and are better for seasoned performers.
(Please note that the list above is up to date at time of writing, and that details may vary)
4. Other POTENTIAL open mics
We’ve compiled a list of other potential open mics we’ve heard about in passing. Please note that information in this list below may not be completely accurate and that we’ve not attended all of these personally. We highly advise researching into the list below first before attending! (p.s. Kindly let us know how they go, if you do visit, so that we can update this list for the rest of our community :)
Monday
Ori Jam, Colour Factory, E9 5EN -every monday
“Off the cuff” jam, Herne Hill
Ciro’s Pizza Pomodoro Open mic, Knightsbridge
The iron horse pub - Sidcup
Oliver’s Jazz Bar, Greenwich (singers jam), 9pm
Tuesday
Troy Bar, Shoreditch, 8:45pm to 1am
Wednesday
Box Park, Croydon (3rd wednesday)
The Stags Head Pub, Hoxton (alternate Wednesdays) 6pm
Thursday
The Great North Wood, West Norwood
The Morden arms (Greenwich?) Thursday 9-10, cash only
FRIDay
Box Park, Croydon - every Friday, competition, win £200, 7:15pm start
Saturday
Sunday
TAM at Mercato Metropolitano, elephant & Castle, SE1 6DR
Noteworthy open mic, E8 1HR
Olivers Jazz bar Open Mic, Greenwich
The Bucks head pub, Camden showcase (pre booked)
Unknown Day
Andrea Toulouse Lautrec, SE11 4RG
21 soho, Tottenham Court Road
The Pheasantry Open Mic, Chelsea
NERVOUS?
If you’re unsure what to perform, just rehearse 2-3 of your favourite songs (covers or originals) ahead of time so that you feel relaxed upon arrival. Keep your head up when you perform and remember, no-one will know you are nervous unless you tell them!
Some performers like to be vulnerable on stage and openly share personal stories, while others prefer not to. Some prefer an alcoholic beverage to keep then relaxed while others prefer the control that sobriety brings them. I found that introducing myself by name and telling the audience a bit about why I had written or chosen the song warmed them up and usually resulted in better reception - but it’s different for everyone.
to conclude…
There are a number of open mics across London that you wouldn’t want to miss. Ultimately you never know who you may meet, nor will you know how to improve if you don’t get out there. Music is so digitalised these days, that I find it’s always refreshing to hear and be surrounded by live vibrations and new people…who may in turn become some of your best friends!
Why not try one out, or set yourself a goal of doing a set number each month to reduce any fear. Over the course of July 2022, I succeeded in the challenge of performing at 10 open mics in one month. I’d never performed before and was super scared at first, but at the end I loved performing and found it to be one of the most exhilarating experiences. Remember that everyone is on their own journey, so challenge yourself, but do whatever makes you feel comfortable; and most importantly
DO WHAT YOU LOVE!
Oleta Semple x
Founder of Riónce Creative Concierge
P.S if you do attend any Phil’s (1. The Stags head) or Marco’s (2. Ladywell tavern) open mic, let them know I sent you :) You’ll get special treatment!!
FOR MORE TIPS FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @rionce.co & @rioncestudios
Need help with something? Fancy a chat?
Got expertise in a particular field that you’d like to share with our community?