Local Talent Open-Mic Night Can Be Nerve-Wracking For Performers, Wild Ride For Audience

It’s the musical equivalent of the mystery grab bag at a novelty store: the open-mic night. Sure, it’s a bargain. But will you wind up with a bag full of whoopie cushions or one bursting with sparkling gems?

But that’s the fun of it. The adventure.

“You just never know what it’s going to be,” said John Adams, who works the sound booth at Ichabod’s North open-mic nights on Wednesday. “It’s just so cool.”

You might hear a snippet of heartfelt poetry. Or maybe an out-of-tune warbler on a twangy guitar. Or maybe a professional musician, taking a break from the big city with a visit to Spokane.

And while open-mic nights around Spokane and North Idaho vary in atmosphere and attendance, they share a common goal: to give folks their 15 minutes of fame.

“It’s a moment of glory,” said musician Matthew St. John, who hosts two open-mic nights in Coeur d’Alene.

But it can also be a moment of terror.

A few minutes before Spokane poet Sofie Leonard took the stage at a recent Blue Spark open-mic night, she didn’t have much to say.

“The only thing I know is that my legs are buckling,” Leonard said.

That was how Spokane singer-songwriter Tiana Gregg felt the first time she performed six years ago at an open-mic night at the Big Dipper.

“It was really scary,” said Gregg, who went on to start and host the Blue Spark’s open-mic night. “It’s OK to be nervous. Everyone should be nervous. You shouldn’t not play because you’re nervous. You’re your worst critic.”

Gregg helped create Spokane’s most eclectic and organized open-mic night. (She turned over the emcee reigns to Spokane musician Dave Johnson a few months ago).

Blue Spark performers are limited to 15 minutes on stage. So many musicians, poets and others turn out at the Blue Spark that — even with the time restrictions — the show lasts into the wee hours.

Sometimes an open-mic performance can turn into a paying gig.

St. John, whose friends call him the “jam master,” because he runs the two Coeur d’Alene jams, said he’s seen that happen several times.

One young performer, St. John said, started out shy and self-conscious, but blossomed after several months of open-mic performing and left town to pursue his music.

“I have seen such incredible talent,” St. John said. “There’s a lot of people, they just grow, they shine.”

Heather Black-DuPree and Shanna Mavone Clarkson got a paying gig at the Blue Spark after their first open-mic performance.

Both women have considerable musical experience; Black-DuPree sings in the band Manito and Clarkson sings and plays percussion in Slo-Motion Walter.

But the open-mic experience still gave them a few jitters.

“I’m out of my element doing this,” said Clarkson, who played guitar for the open mic. “I’m used to being in a band of seven people.”

The duo is scheduled to perform at the Blue Spark later this month.

A relaxed attitude is one of the keys to their success, Black-DuPree said.

“Don’t be afraid to just suck,” she said. “Don’t take it too seriously.”

This sidebar appeared with the story:

Here’s a selection of open-mic nights around Eastern Washington and North Idaho. All shows are free:

The Blue Spark (15 S. Howard), Mondays at 9 p.m.

Eichardts (212 W. Cedar), open blues jam at 7:30 p.m. Mondays.

Fourth Street Alehouse (1320 N. Fourth, Coeur d’Alene), Sundays at 7 p.m.

Ichabod’s North (1827 N. Division), Mondays and Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m.; Tuesdays, open blues jam begins at 9:30 p.m.

Moon’s Saloon (204 N. Second, Coeur d’Alene), Wednesdays at 9 p.m.

Mootsy’s (406 W. Sprague), Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

For poetry-only open-mic nights, check out the Spokane Valley Barnes & Noble at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesdays of the month, or the NorthTown Mall Barnes & Noble on the second and last Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. (except December, because of the holidays). The NorthTown Mall group is a poetry discussion that includes readings of original work.