Numerous young and upcoming artists participate in “open mic” nights, engaging in late night coffeehouse adventures with nothing but a guitar. Open mic nights provide a welcoming platform for all types of performers to showcase their talents. From spoken word poetry to acoustic music, this atmosphere gives people from walks of life the opportunity to put themselves out there. Junior Skylar Corby and senior Mccallie Foley perform at these frequently and say that they enjoy every aspect of it.

“Open mic nights are appealing because they are intimate and quiet,” junior Breck Sunlin said. This makes them better because they are not chaotic, like a huge concert.”

These performance opportunities are available at various coffeehouses and eateries, such as Coffee House Cafe and Angela’s at the Crosswalk. Musicians usually sign up to play in advance and then prepare a few acoustic songs.

“A lot of times I take pop songs from the radio and slow them down so people are familiar with the music, but it is still different,” Foley said.

These nights provide performers with a chance to not only gain recognition as an artist, but also create an individualized style of music that the performers themselves prefer and are passionate about.

“I have always done solos in choir but they are always categorized,” Foley said. “I wanted to do something my own that I could be proud of by myself.”

Compared to a full on concert, open mic nights present a calm environment for both the audience and the musicians. This is a place where artists can step out of their comfort zone in a less chaotic manner than concerts.

“It is a nice way to get performance experience without it being stressful, and I’m able to hear other great artists as well,” Corby said. “It is a win-win situation.”

The challenges of overcoming stage fright can be exhausting, but these musicians say that performing at open mic nights help them come out of their shell and give them confidence.

“I get more comfortable with myself in front of an audience,” Corby said. “Getting over those nerves is the most rewarding part for me.”

Open mic nights have an array of benefits to both the audience and the performer.

“To me, open mic night is a fun and interesting way to get your name out there or to just perform because you want to,” Corby said. “It is a confidence booster and it is performance experience. For anyone that performs, I highly recommend it.”