Is that your guitar?

"Is that your guitar?" I asked, as the narrowboat began to move out of the lock. The steerer nodded."What do you play?"
"A bit of blues." He said, quietly, in that nonchalant and understated way that musicians are wont to use.
"Cool! Where do you play?"
"At home or on the boat. He replied. His tone still warm and friendly.
"It just happens that there is an open music night in Kilsby tomorrow. If you'd like to go, I can get you a lift."

There was a slightly uncomfortable pause and then came the rejection. "No I don't think so. I don't perform in public."

I know that there are musicians that are very hostile towards open mic nights, seeing them as ways in which pubs can provide entertainment at no cost to them, but like my boat driving friend, I had never performed in public before and it was an open mic night that allowed me to murder Bob Dillon's Don't think Twice, and I was applauded me for my effort.





It doesn't matter how many times you practice in your bedroom, or in front of your partner, playing to an audience is something else. Many accomplished performers have used the open mic nights as development venues, allowing them to try new material or just hone their patter skills.

The author sings an original composition about mouldy brown bread and cheese. The audience don't look to impressed.

Over one year on and I've played at a few venues, sometimes with accompaniment, sometimes alone, sometimes through a pa, sometimes unplugged. The quality of performances have varied from pretty good to dire, but there is always something to learn, and always something to be enjoyed.