Open Mic' questions

[teleblaster]

I'm bringing my daughter to the rally this year. I'd like to have her do a few numbers at one or more of the open mic' stages with me accompanying her. What are the guidelines for the open mic's? Do you have to be a TAXi member to perform? Is it OK to do covers? Thanks in advance

[dynamicalan]

Hello Everyone,

I would like to be part of the open mic. I am a relatively new member and I haven't developed relationships in the collaboration corner. I would like to bring some songs to perform with other musicians and collaborate some song with some musicians as well as help perform if other musicians would like. If this is the case please send me a private message so we can prepare. If this is not the case for you then there's no need to reply.

[mazz]

I believe the big room open mic is by lottery, so you put your name in the hat essentially and you may or may not get called. There has also been an open mic that is a signup deal up in the smaller auditorium. I'm sure more information will be forthcoming as the date approaches. I would imagine covers are fine.

[neilzim]

Hi Erich,

My musical & business partner Elizabeth & I will once again be hosting the Road Rally 2010 "Upstairs Open Mic", which is held in the Westin LAX's theater at the top of the escalator.

This Open Mic is first come, first served walk-up signup. It runs from 8:30pm-11:30pm the Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights of the Rally. The line to sign up usually starts forming around 7:00pm at the front doors of the theater. We start taking down names at 7:30pm.

As you can imagine, there's a ton of people who want to perform. We went through 130 individual performances over those three nights last year. Due to the huge volume of performers, everyone who makes the list gets to perform one song.

We usually take about 35-40 signups a night. Occasionally we can squeeze in alternates if we're running ahead of schedule, or someone doesn't show up for their slot.

A keyboard is provided, as well as (of course) mics and 1/4" plugins for guitars. I can't guarantee we'll provide a guitar, but there was one there last year....plus you've got a roomful of musicians at this event, so borrowing a guitar is often not a problem if you don't bring your own. I still always advise people to bring their own, because they're so much more used to their own instrument.

Hope that helps. We look forward to seeing you at the Rally!

--Neil Z & Elizabeth of Pairadeux
http://www.Pairadeux.com

[h3l3n5]

That's great that you're doing the open mic thing! I will be there in the line-up and look forward to meeting you!

H

[hummingbird]

I'm bringing my daughter to the rally this year. I'd like to have her do a few numbers at one or more of the open mic' stages with me accompanying her. What are the guidelines for the open mic's? Do you have to be a TAXi member to perform? Is it OK to do covers? Thanks in advance

Only TAXI members may perform at the "big" open mic, which is by the drawing of names... you may only perform once during the Rally at this event if your name is called.

TAXI members and guests may perform at the "little" open mic. I suppose covers are fine, but... since it's a songwriting convention, I would be more apt to listen if it was an original being sung. You may only perform one song. You can sign up each night though.

[neilzim]

Hi Vikki (and Teleblaster)!!!!

First, VIKKI: looking forward to seeing you again at the Road Rally!

Secondly...I THINK TAXI has changed the rules this year for theConcourse Ballroom Open Mic. This is from the last email from Michael, with the preliminary Road Rally class schedules and such:

>>>8:30pm -11:30pm: Open Mics (2) – Concourse Ballroom (2nd floor) and the Mezzanine Theater (top of escalator). Both open mics are first come, first served, and open to members and guests alike.<<<

Haven't talked to anyone at TAXI directly about this, but the fact that the statement is in the email indicates it's probably something they decided to implement.

Good news!

[Casey H]

Hi Neil!
Looking forward to seeing you and Ms. E again!

Best,
Casey

[admin]

Hi all,

We have changed some things for one of the open mics this year. Neil and Elizabeth will keep doing what they've done so well in the 200 seat theater at the top of the escalator, but the main ballroom open mic is getting moved and the format changed.

Over the last few years, we've seen dwindling numbers in the grand ballroom open mic because people don't like the lottery approach and the limiting the performers to TAXI members only (guests have been able to accompany them). So many people drop their slips in the box (yes, some people even try to stuff as many as they can in there, but we do our best to stop them), then leave the ballroom and go upstairs and to get on the list for THAT open mic as well. The result is that our MC ends up calling SO many names of people that aren't in the room, that we waste a lot of everybody's time calling out names. It's become kind of sad to see people performing their hearts out to a 3/4 empty ballroom.

The experiment for this year (and we think it's going to work really well) is that we're moving the grand ballroom open mic to the Concourse Ballroom on the second floor. It's the room where we do the mentor lunches. It holds 300 people at rounds of ten and will have a stage built from risers and a PA provided by Bose. We're going to let all attendees perform there (like we do in the theater), and use the same first-come, first served approach that has worked so well for Neil and Elizabeth in the theater.

Because we'll have rounds of ten in there, we think it will give it a nice nightclub-ish feel. Both open mice will be on the same floor. The hotel has agreed to put some bars on the second floor to make it easier for people to get drunk We're also going to open up some of the classrooms on the second floor at night for collaborating and jamming. Basically, we're going to go after the Road Rally Alley theme that we attempted years ago at the Renaissance in Hollywood. It didn't work all that well there, but that was due to the hotel being so spread out and having a strange floor plan.

The hotel we're at now has a much better flow and feels cozier. The grand ballroom will be closed at night. Frankly, one of the reasons we kept it open all these years was to drive traffic to the sponsor booths at night. But guess what?!! The people who work the booths don't want to work at night. They want to party like everybody else

The lobby bar downstairs (and the "pit") will still be a hub of activity at night, AND the hotel finally has the new restaurant open! I've eaten there twice. The food is better and the restaurant itself has a really nice bar, including what appears to be a smokers area outside with nice outdoor furniture.

So there you have it, some nice incremental improvements for this year's Rally. We think it will help get more people on stage and revive the feel of the larger open mic.

BTW, we've already exceeded our room block at the hotel. They've expanded our block, but it's at their discretion, so they could turn off the Rally discount if they see an uptick in non-Rally reservations. In other words; if you're planning to attend the Rally, and you want to stay at the host hotel (which is the smart thing to do), then you'd be wise to book your room now and know that you've got the discount.

Hope to see you soon,
Michael

[hummingbird]

that sounds just great, Michael!!!