This past year has been an amazingly eventful one for me. Lots of travelling, meeting new people, wins and losses. It has been extremely challenging and rewarding. I have received so much support from Boston Hassle and so many other individuals and organizations. Since I was 14, I have been creating music and art in my bedroom. Since I was 17, I have been showcasing and performing anywhere I can. This past year, I spent a great amount of time performing all over the city of Boston. Big venues, little venues, the subway, the park. Anywhere with a microphone. The majority of people I have created connections with have been from open mic events. I would like to share the top ten things I learned from performing at open mics with this list entitled:

The Top 10 Things I Learned About Performing At Open Mics

10. No one wants to accommodate your music being on CD.

9. The DJ will be asked to turn the beat up.

8. You’re no longer friends with the host after you do two songs without asking.

7. At some point, a frequent open mic-er will decide to audition for The Voice.

6. Performing a new song every week gets the crowd interested.

5. Two thirds into your set, you realize no one else is coming and these 4 people are all you have.

4. There’s always a chance of space on the list if you show up late.

3. If you are at a bar and make everyone go quiet, you are probably doing a good job.

2. The host will say one name wrong per night.

1. Always go prepared with multiple songs. Feel out the crowd/vibe when you get there.

Thanks for reading. See you somewhere in the new year. -Nick Shea