Guest Artists and Workshop Discussions (30-minute sessions)
For the last three weeks, we have devoted 30 minutes each night for guest artists and workshop discussions. This distinguishes us from some other open mic events. What do you think?
General thoughts
These break up the night so that it doesn't feel like a crush to get as many people across the stage as possible in the time we have
This reduces the number of acts we can host in a night (realistically 10 or 11 max)
Guest Artists
An opportunity to learn from and be inspired by experienced performers
A reason to stay for the night
Add value to our evening's entertainment
An opportunity for the guest artists to share their experiences with an attentive, receptive audience
Workshop discussions
An opportunity to discover unexpressed needs and address them
Give people a place to ask questions and discover shared concerns, find like-minded people, and give people common ground for building relationships
Foster peer-to-peer collaborations
May put off some people who want to come and play or hear music and don't want a lecture
Some listeners may enjoy hearing about the process behind the music
An opportunity to bring in guest speakers for specific topics
Doing something every week?
a. I like the cadence of doing something special every week, although it means hustling to line up the guest artists and write the content for the workshop discussions.
b. If we're predicable, people can decide if they want to come at 6:30 for the workshop discussions every other week, or come later for the music
c. Playing Well With Others was a huge topic and we devoted and two 30-minute sessions to it. Part 1 was uncovering the needs, and Part 2 was to addressing those needs
d. Future topics, being more technical could probably be be addressed in one 30-minute session unless people request a follow-up. Some, might be handled in just 15 minutes.
Please tell me what you think of having Guest Artists and Workshop Discussions
I thoroughly enjoy the workshops before the open mic begins. If it is every week, then people know they could come for the session or arrive a little later for the open week. I would gladly give up a performing spot to accommodate other performers if time were a factor.
How about transition patterns for major chords: ascending or descending patterns, common licks when changing among major chords?
I am loving our sessions. These open mics are unique in many ways: content, community, variety of music, workshops, featured performers, etc. Keep doing what you are doing ST. It is working!