open mic, part I

i went to open mic night last night. not to play, but to support my housemates. only one of them ended up playing, and he was pretty nervous and his voice gave out on him a little. but it was the first step and a great performance of stepping up to the plate --- which is always the perfect piece to start out with.

i live in a small town and "open mic" could be semi-corny, with a meager audience and meager talent.

but this wasn't like that.

the cafe was packed -- crammed packed full. we had to sit on the floor. there were musicians (singer/songwriters, guitarists), poets, a magician, and comedian, and even a heckler (i don't think the heckler was actually signed up to perform).

and the overall the performances were really good. people practicing, people doing something brand new they had learned that day, people doing works they had honed and honed and honed. someone was even selling cds after their ten minutes were up (and i think she sold them all).

my goal: joining their ranks by april first. that gives me three weeks.

and i want my housemate to go back again and again and again to beat the nervousness and to get better and better and better.

it made me wish carrie wasn't leaving. i would love to have sung or have done a reading or something with her. maybe when she gets back.