October, 10th, 2006
last updated July, 3rd, 2009

Viewed 2316 Times

Programs:

Open Mic

by Chris Sunami

• Read the Open Mic Blog
  
• Read an article about the Open Mic

1. Address

   Parsons @ Whittier, NE corner, across from the Post Office
   Parking 1 block north at Stanley
   
   United Methodist Free Store / Church For All People
   946 Parsons Avenue
   Columbus OH, 43206
   
   Call (614) 313-9925 for more information.
   

2. Upcoming Events

   5/4/09
   
   This will be our last regular Open Mic Talent Showcase until September, and will take place at Washington Avenue United Methodist Church (lower level)
   
   346 E Markison Avenue @ Washington Ave

3. Schedule

   We are midway through our fifth season and we are generally on site every Monday during the school year. Please join us any Monday at 7pm for free shows, vocal lessons, drum lessons and guitar lessons!
   
   First Mondays: “Talent Showcase” and/or “Competition” - This is our big event for the month, and features a larger audience, a more formal program and songs that the participants have worked on during the entire previous month.
   
   Policy: Please wear formal clothes or a performance costume of some sort if you are able. This establishes the event as an important and special occasion, and increases the entertainment value of the performances. Please invite at least five people. People work hard for this event, and deserve a wider audience. Please sign up in advance, and perform something that you have rehearsed thoroughly. This is the event we work towards, and we should offer as professional an experience to the audience as possible.
   
   Second Mondays: "Song Selection Rehearsal Week" - This is the week when performers select new songs and begin to rehearse them.
   
   Third Mondays: "Open Mic" – A casual, informal performance, featuring the first performances of the songs chosen the week before. The theme of this week is that everyone can be a performer, and that everyone is welcome to share their talents.
   
   Fourth Mondays: "Advanced Rehearsal" – This is a time to work on performance enhancements and refinements, such as choreography, and to put a final polish on the act for the talent showcase.
   
   Fifth Mondays: Instrumental Jam and/or Community Singalong – A chance to share the joy of music with the larger community in a informal, open setting.
   
   We are persistent and consistent in presenting our program. This builds a sense of stability and encourages the organic growth of our program.

4. Original Videos

   Videos taped at the All People Open Mic
   
   
   (Three O’ Clock World...Wonderful World...Lean on Me...Teenage Christian...Orange Juice & Friends...Documentaries...Hero...Behind the Scenes...Do Not Pass Me By...Fields of Gold...Three O’ Clock World Live...You Deserve the Glory...Jesus is the Prettiest...Fire & Rain...Guitar Teacher and Student...Christmas '08...Angels...Why Should I Cry?...Strong Enough...Come On In The Room......)

5. Activities

   
   (Performances...Open Commenting...AI Style Competition...Superlatives (Proposed)...Concert...Coffeehouse...Music Video...Recording Sessions (Proposed)...Workshops...Sing-a-Long...Instrumental Jam...Setup & Cleanup...Acknowledgments......)

6. Goals & Values

   
   (Universal...Global...Local...Program...Session...Personal......)

7. Looking For

   We are currently looking for musicians who would be interested in working with our participants or in forming a "house band".
   
   You must be:
   
   
   • Proficient in your instrument
     
   • Enthusiastic and patient
     
   • Willing to work with amateur vocalists of all ages and skill levels
     
   • Consistently available on Mondays, 7-8:30pm
     
   • Able to play in a variety of styles
     
   • Able to pick up new songs quickly and accurately
   
   
   We are also seeking songwriters and sound techs/engineers.

8. Missions

   CURRENT MISSION - The Motown Project
   
   The overall goal is to create an all-volunteer version of Berry Gordy’s Motown --a multi-faceted artistic community covering every aspect of the music-making process, including vocals, performance, choreography, instrumentation, songwriting, costuming, publicity, recording & videography.
   (The Open Mic Project...The Talent Showcase Project...The Motown Project......)

9. Roles

   
   (Administrative...Coaches...Events...Auxiliary...Overview......)

10. Budget

    We operate without a budget. All our material needs are donated, on loan, or provided by participants. This policy teaches us to use all available resources with maximum efficiency and effectiveness. This in turn fights the culture of materialism and helps us live in a way that is more sustainable. This policy also ensures independence from economic downturns and loss of funding sources. It empowers participants by teaching them that they can create and enjoy art without needing money. In addition, this policy ensures that the goals of the program will never be made subordinate to fundraising.
    
    This teaches people is that their destiny is in their own hands. An expensive program that consumes a lot of resources can give people a good experience, but it’s nothing they can duplicate on their own without financial assistance.
    
    In addition, a lot of great programs have either been forced to shut down or to change their philosophy when their funding source got pulled or their funder decided to start dictating conditions.
    
    Although we do have have personnel and equipment paid for through the church, a worthwhile version of this program could be done with no expenditures at all.
    
    

11. Partners & Contributions

    
    (Church For All People/Community Development For All People...Harmony On the South Side...South Side Settlement House...United Methodist Free Store...Community Donations......)

12. Theoretical Basis

    This porgram was designed according to the theory of "Emergent Design," utilizing the following principles:
    
    
    1. Start small, with clearly defined values, goals and structures.
       
    2. Establish a schedule that cycles repeatedly through a limited but contrasting set of phases.
       
    3. Push agressively for continuous, organic, modular growth.

13. Past Events

    Thursday March 26 - 6pm
    Free Concert & Refreshments
    
    This week only --the consummate professionals of the All People Band (Ed Moed & David Boyd on keys, Joe Yancy on bass, "Rev" Chris Ciampa on lead guitar, Shane Willis, percussion, Eileen Howard & Sam Ciampa, vocals) join forces with the talented amateurs of the All People Open Mic (Dee, Juan, Sparkle, Chris, Craig, Rose, Heath, Shala'a, Joey & Randy). Featuring the world debut of "Why Should I Cry" w/ lyric by Glenn Rondo.
    
    On February 16th the All People Open Mic was proud to feature as our guest artist the Elder Statesman of Columbus poetry, poet/playwright Brother Is Said.
    
    
    
    On Monday, February 2nd, the All People February Talent Showcase featured as our guest artist critically acclaimed violinist/fiddler, singer & songwriter Megan Palmer. We were also proud to welcome guest judge Marvin the Robot.
    
    
    

14. People

    
    (Eileen Howard...Christopher Sunami......)