The Openness of Open Mic

I am currently sitting in the local coffee shop waiting for the open mic night to begin. I have so enjoyed getting back to music lately. What is so great about open mic night is that you really have no idea what you are going to get. Everyone is sitting around waiting their turn to sell their souls on stage and see how much applause they can get. The skinny kid with long hair half covering his eyes turns out to be an amazing guitarist and the girl who reads poetry really ... shouldn't. It's like that whole box of chocolates deal except you don't have a plastic map that explains which candy shapes are caramel and which are coconut. You see, some are really bad and you have to wonder if they know it or not. But there are others that have real talent and the occasional one that blows you away.

I wonder what I will sing tonight. I usually don't like to plan my set list because each night is different. You don't really know when you are going to feel like singing a song that makes you cry or that makes you laugh until your there, ya know what I mean ...

Sometimes I wish that everyone would just be still and quiet and close their eyes, feel the music as I do. I can remember the day and place where I wrote each song. I remember the feelings and there are times when I play that I can be transported back to that place and have those feelings all over again. It isn't always sweet but it is so raw. I wonder if people can feel it when I strain with the tune or waver with the lyrics just so.

And the music goes on. My name didn't get picked in the drawing of names for tonight's ten minute slots. I'm a little disappointed but I still smile at the old man singing a classic through his long mustache. I have played and been to open mic nights in several states and countries but it always seems as though there is that one older guy that comes every single week playing his beat up guitar and surrounded by the younger crowd with their loud voices and braces. He inevitably sings songs about armadillo's or the loss of a lady.

Oh no, here comes the only black guy in the scene attempting to rhyme his "free-styling". I clap any way. Oh my, I think they've been smoking something as well. He literally just said "I've gotta get me some fan base son". Us white folks aren't so good at this kind of thing boy.

It's a good night