RiverCity Rock Star Academy’s monthly Open Mic Night returns to the Garage Stage on Friday, October 30th from 7:00–9:00 PM. Costumes welcome!
As always, the event is free, open to all ages, and open to musicians of all experience levels. Whether you’ve been performing for years, you’re preparing for your first time in front of an audience, or you simply want to come listen and support local musicians, you’re welcome at the RiverCity Garage Stage.
An Ideal Format for Solo Performers, Duos & Bands
To help the evening run smoothly and give different types of performers an opportunity to take the stage, we’re dividing the December Open Mic into two sections:
7:00–8:00 PM — Solo Performers & Duos
The first hour of the evening is designated for individual musicians and two-person acts. Singers, singer-songwriters, instrumentalists, acoustic performers, and other solo or duo configurations are all welcome.
8:00–9:00 PM — Full Bands & Groups
Beginning at 8:00 PM, we’ll turn the stage over to full bands and larger groups. This hour is an opportunity for musicians to perform together in a live setting, whether you’re part of an established band or have simply put together a group of friends to play a few songs.
How Much Time Does Each Performer Get?
We want to give as many musicians as possible the opportunity to participate. Each performer or group will initially have up to two songs or 10 minutes of stage time, whichever comes first.
Once everyone on the sign-up list has had an opportunity to perform, we’ll circle back through the list and invite participants to play again if there’s additional time available.
Because the number of performers varies from month to month, we encourage anyone interested in playing to arrive early (6:45pm or so) and get their name on the sign-up list.
A Place to Get Comfortable Performing Live
One of the goals of RiverCity’s Open Mic Night is to provide musicians with a comfortable place to gain real-world performance experience.
Playing in front of an audience can be a big step, especially for someone doing it for the first time. The Garage Stage offers musicians a chance to practice performing in a live setting without the pressure that can come with a traditional club or concert environment.
You don’t have to be a professional musician, and you don’t need extensive performance experience. Students, hobbyists, working musicians, and anyone who simply enjoys making music are encouraged to participate.
For more experienced performers, Open Mic Night is also a chance to try out new material, perform songs that might not fit into a regular set, or simply spend an evening playing alongside other musicians from the Salem area.
Come to Perform—or Just Come to Listen
You don’t have to take the stage to be part of Open Mic Night.
Friends, family members, music students, and anyone who enjoys live music are invited to come out and support the performers. You’ll hear a variety of musicians, instruments, genres, and experience levels throughout the evening.
RiverCity Rock Star Academy’s Garage Stage provides a professional yet intimate, all-ages setting where musicians can share what they’ve been working on with a supportive audience.
October Open Mic Night Details
Friday, October 30th
7:00–9:00 PM
RiverCity Rock Star Academy – Garage Stage
Free admission • All ages
7:00–8:00 PM: Solo performers and duos
8:00–9:00 PM: Full bands and groups
Each act initially receives two songs or up to 10 minutes. If everyone has performed and time remains, participants may have an opportunity to play again.
Whether you’re working up the courage to play your first song in front of an audience, looking for another opportunity to get your band onstage, or simply want to spend an evening listening to local musicians, we hope you’ll join us for the final RiverCity Open Mic Night of the year.
Performers are encouraged to arrive early to secure a spot on the sign-up list. Bring your instrument, bring a song or two, and come make some music with us!
