Do you guys allow open mic"
1. Any and all of the time?
2. Never?
3. Sometimes but not always?
4. If sometimes but not always When and how do you decide?

This is about to drive me nuts worrying about this.

Boo,
There is no one answer. Some places you play don't want sit-ins, some don't care as long as they are not bad. A few encourage them.
I will normally allow anyone to sing a song. If they are any good, I may ask them to do another. If they aren't, I'll say "how about a hand for ___", and turn off his mic.
You MUST read the audience to see if they would be receptive to guest singers. If there is a large group and they all want one of their number to sing, I let them, IF I know a song they want to do.
I do insist they know the words and key. If they don't, they won't do well, so why embarass yourself and them.
As far as just a general "open mic" rule, (that WAS your question) I would say that is extremely risky, unless the entire night is advertised and featured as Open Mic night.
Also be aware, you'd better know a LOT of songs and can play them in their key.
Can of worms!!!
If I were doing a true Open Mic night, I would be certain to load the audience with pros or at least good K****** singers.
I would charge at least triple for such a night.
DonM

AAAAGHHHHH!!!!!!!! NOOOooo! et tu DONus ?

[This message has been edited by Uncle Dave (edited 12-01-2002).]

That was theoretical of course!
Don

Since I started using a headset mic, the number of aspiring singers coming to the stage has diminished drastically. I carry extra mics if needed for announcements and for any singers I know...but those that don't will hit several speed bumps with me. And, yes, first thing I ask is the key they sing the desired song in.

Now...if its the guy signing the check ...well, there are exceptions to every
rule.

One club I work in has live entertainment Wed and Saturday... with K singers on Thursday. So, I refer them to Thursday. So far, that seems to solve the problem.

But, make no mistake...there are some really good singers out there....and that really ticks me off.

btw... good point. What if he/she is a lot better than you and steals your gig!

That's your own fault if it happens. There will ALWAYS be someone capable of taking your job ..... it's up to YOU to become as IRreplacable as possible. Be uniqe so no one can duplicate your style. there are TONS of great singers out there that would LOVE to do what we do for money, but have NO clue how to start. "K" is giving all these wanna-bees the fuel for their fires of passion.
That's why you must stay at the top of your game ..... keep up with the technology ...... keep your repertoire fresh ....... etc ...etc .....
MAKE yourself in demand.
Only you can control your destiny in this crazy business.

"Also be aware, you'd better know a LOT of songs and can play them in their key."

Many, MANY thanks for the 'transpose' button ...

"Open Mic"??? ... Not if I can help it..
As stated, there are some clubs that will NOT allow this, but others encourage it ... This is a lot harder to deal with in a private party situation, because family and friends are usually encouraging the 'star' to perform ...
I too will ask that they know the words and the key, but how often do they start and then it's "la la laa" unless we are feeding them the lyrics??? ....
And I am SURE that most if not all of us, except possibly UD, have run into the situation where for whatever reason, the crowd is not responding, but when one of the family gets up to sing, they go crazy!!?!! ... I've sometimes tried to work that to an advantage and incorporate that person into some 'party' type song to get the crowd going....
At one restaurant/lounge where I was doing a steady gig, I walked in at the beginning of the evening to see Jerry Vale and his family having dinner ... His daughter lives in RI and he and his wife were visiting. After dinner, he takes his little grandson over to the piano bar ... BOY did I feel like the pressure was on .... but I heard him say to his grandson something like " the music is pretty isn't it" and I felt more relaxed ... No, he didn't sing, and even though I know a lot of the Italian songs he sings, (and had the transposer button ). I felt I would be imposing to ask him to... He actually is a very personable guy ...
t:
PS .. for you youngsters, Jerry Vale is a very good singer of songs, ESPECIALLY Italian music.... worked a LOT in Vegas, back in the day.....
t.

There have been many times that my performance was just "hanging in the wings" until the "guest star" (good or bad) brought the crowd to life. Sometimes you get a break from a sit-in. It can wake up the room and make you look like a great humanitarian.
Last Friday a friend asked me to "suck up" to some guests she brought in to see me from Brooklyn, so I used as many ways to tie in a NY theme as possible. (Even slamming those stinkin' Giants !) hee hee.....

As the night went on ..... the "guests" had their fair share of Cozmos (the new HIP drink, I guess)and one of the ladies asked if she could sing a song to her husband. At first I was leary, but they had spent a ton of money already and were so nice .... I gave her the shot. She had some pipes !
She was not trained, and she was nervous, but every so often, she would belt out a note that sent the crowd wild. I backed her with lots of juicy harmony, and made her feel at home, and we ALL had a great time with it.

Sometimes you just KNOW when a guest will be well received, and it would be musical suicide to NOT take the oportunity to enhance the show ... no matter HOW you do it.

It's a sign of maturity and confidence to turn over the stage to a guest, and if done in a classy manor ..... you will look like a million bucks if you back someone and make them sound good. The crowd loves it, the guests will usually tip you well, and the whole pace of the room benifits from the experience.

Just beware of the drunks that have no clue .... no head for lyrics ....... and no sense of timing. It's not unusual for me to just shut someones mic off and make up any excuse to get them back in their seat. Even if I have to fake a power outage ...... it's better than bringing the room down. I won't give THAT kind of control to ANYone. It's my stage, and it has to be under MY control at all times. That's why I get the big money.

Couples that come out for a nice dinner and music should not be expected to pay premium prices for professional entertainment and then be forced to accept the rantings of an alcohl-induced rendition of "whatever", just so they can chant their musical "booty call" to their chosen prey ! Not on my time, sorry.

UD... My "steal your gig" comment was actually tongue-in-cheek. Guess I forgot the ! However, you bring up some good points related to your being in charge and working the room. The bottom line is for you to make the crowd have a good time. Accomplish that and they stay longer, spend more money, come back next week, and you're the hero!

Glenn