By Chris Nauman I love being part of the open mic scene for several reasons. One, is the opportunity to work on new material before a live audience. As a singer/songwriter, I am always interested in how my new song connects with an audience, my listeners. Also I am interested in how the song feels…
By Mark Sandman My wife doesn’t get it! She understands my love of music and the pleasure I get playing guitar, writing songs, and interpreting the music of others. But, what perplexes her is why I like to perform in front of an audience. To her, it’s like volunteering to be put in front of…
by Mark Sandman Yes, I admit it. I’ve been performing since Moby Dick was a minnow and I still get stage fright sometimes. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t. I never know when or why it happens. The best solution I’ve found for stage fright, as well as for any anxiety-inducing situation (except driving) is…
By Mark Sandman Singing into a microphone sounds like a no brainer, but learning how to use a microphone correctly can be one of the most challenging things for a new open mic performer to master. This blog discusses basic live performance microphone techniques. Almost all mics, used at live performance venues, are what are…
By Mark Sandman Busking, or street performing, is a centuries-old tradition of entertainers performing for tips in public areas. A friend of mine, was one of the first street singers to perform on the streets of Boston and Cambridge way back in the 70’s. He shared with me that when he first started performing, it…
Jam'n Java Open Mic 