I 
started running Open Mic nights in 2002 around Melbourne when the Rochester Castle Hotel in Fitzroy had asked me to help them. After hearing that I had been going to alot of inner and outer city Open Mic’s in order to get my confidence back up after an injury. I ran the Rochester’s Tuesday night Open Mic for a year and a half and assisted the venue in booking the standout acts that passed through it. I then went on to run nights like this for Sagi Bar, All Nations Backpackers, Brunswick Hotel, Grandview Hotel, Whole Lotta Love and Tago Mago in which again I liased with the venue to pick acts from these nights and booking them for a Wednesday or Sunday gig. I then went on to run the Ascot Vale Hotel right up until Melbourne’s first lockdown at the start of 2021.
I am now available to assist venues to get their nights up off the ground with promotion, networking and the running of the night itself. Let’s bring the music back to life!
I support venues that look after Musicians and provide a space where both new acts and more experienced artists were able to get up and perform. It gives members of the public a chance to check out FREE local entertainment and the opportunity for new arrivals to the Melbourne Music scene to network with other artists, pitch or plug a show, build an audience and most importantly.. Support one another.
Open Mic’s are generally FREE entertainment and crowds for the venue and I have always been an advocate of giving back something to the artist whether a free drink on the night or the chance of a paid gig, photo’s or video’s taken even to help with the artist/venue’s promo. The best Open Mic’s I have run or visited the venue had cared about the music and the artists, and the host was there for the crowd, venue and musicians, and set the atmosphere of the room as a lively, safe and enjoyable show to be at.
I appreciate the effort both hosts and venues go to in running an Open Mic.