BY BRITTANY DANIELLE for WEEKLY VOLCANO 1/30/26 |
At the heart of any music scene, there is a circle of people who gather on a regular basis to commune with each other. I’m not talking about church, although it could be a type of church for some.
Open mics don’t usually look like much from the outside and can be humble in their build. Though they aren’t a grand structure, they are built from a deep understanding of giving the community a place to start. Every host I’ve met through the years is looking to build a space for creatives to try. Try a new piece of material, try a new medium, try their first practice performance. Whatever it is, the message is “try it here, we got you.”
In a world of perfectionism, social media, and the idea that we have to have everything figured out before we show it to people, open mics stand in the way of that and invite messiness. We often don’t talk about how many evolutions our art goes through before it’s professionally released. I’ve played new songs at open mics to see if I even liked the song at all. Other times it was to see if I wanted to add a verse or a bridge. At one open mic, I even played the same song twice in order to hear lyrics switched around, and I didn’t end up going with either version.
There is something that changes in you as the artist when you are vulnerable in the presentation of what you are making. It invites people in and makes you look at what you are making with a different eye. It helps hone your craft and build teammates.
Right now, building community and teams is such a rebellious concept. We have been living in isolation and are encouraged to be our own islands, but when we are separated, we starve. Open mics bring people together in their most vulnerable state of the creative process: showing ourselves and our imperfections.
From seasoned professional to brand new to the scene, open mics level the playing field and remind us that creation is a circle. Sometimes you are at the bottom and sometimes you are at the top of the creative circle, but to be an artist means always starting over. Without open mics, we don’t have a place to start or reinvent ourselves among our peers.
I caught up with fellow musicians I met at open mics and asked them why they believed they were important. Here’s what they had to say.
Sharp Skills of the Rebel Firm shared why open mics are important to him: “It’s like an open gym for musicians. It allows us to hone our craft before we take it to bigger stages. There’s an artistic purity to it. No major fanfare or money involved. Just you, your craft, and whoever shows up. And it creates a sense of community for musicians.”
John Lane, a local singer-songwriter who attends several open mics a week, said, “They can build a sense of community that encompasses songwriters who are seasoned veterans as well as those just starting out. It’s always a pleasure encouraging someone who’s trying out a new song or playing out for the first time. A healthy music scene needs to foster new talent, and open mics can be the perfect place to do that.”
“Open mics can be a place where musicians connect and forge new projects together. A few months ago I met an older guy who could really wail on harmonica. Now we get together at a café most Saturday mornings and jam with fellow musicians.”
Victoria Fragoso of Tuesdays with Toya stated, “Open mics are important to me because community comes first. They create culture through shared experiences of personal expression, where people feel safe enough to show up and be heard.”
Coldboulder, a Tacoma musician and producer, added, “Open mics matter as a showcase for musicians to express themselves in front of an audience of their peers and those looking for new music. It gives an opportunity to play, grow, and practice as a live performer. An open mic can be a gateway for those who have never played in front of a crowd or a way for more seasoned musicians to brush up and try out new songs. Open mics are vitally important to a grassroots musical movement and building community.”
Walker Sherman, singer-songwriter, drummer, and open mic host at Firemind Brewing in Puyallup, said, “Open mics are a place for established artists to try out new ideas before integrating them into the show, a place for developing artists to meet peers and collaborate. They are a place for beginners to get performance experience.”
For me, open mics have been the place to rehearse or try new things. “How do I want to do this cover?” Try it at open mic. “Do I like this bridge?” Try it at open mic. “Should I add a third verse?” Try it at open mic.
As artists, we need community and goals. Open mics give you the opportunity to tell yourself, “Next week, I’m going to have this cover ready,” or “Next week, I’m going to have this song finished,” and then play what you have in front of peers who care about your progress. It is the ultimate space for planting your roots.
