OPEN MIC NIGHT IS A SUCCESS

10/17/2013

By Alexandra Puffer

Comment Staff

On a campus of commuters, clubs and organizations often find it difficult to fill every seat at events, especially on a weeknight and amidst midterms.

That wasn’t the case at last week’s Open Mic Night, put on by the Program Committee and Bridgewater Entertainment at Night (B.E.A.N). Every table was filled in the Rondileau Campus Center ballroom and students lined up against the three walls of the room as well.

More than a 100 students saw Nate Gordon, a Criminal Justice and English major from the class of 2016, take the stage. He stood on stage introducing himself as “Mayest”, with just his acoustic guitar.

He started out saying into the microphone, “This goes out to my girl,” and then plucked single strings and sang softly until his first chorus came in with rhythmic chords and strong vocals.

Gordon said he enjoys performing at Open Mic nights because the audiences are smaller and there is applause for every performance. He added that the most difficult part of performing at an open mic is playing just one song. To all starting performers, Gordon suggests, “Go all in and be you.”

Open Mic night is not just an event for musicians. Talented comedians and poets also shared their work. Jill Boger, an English Education major also from the class of 2016, read a poem about a boy and shared with the audience her innermost thoughts on a poisonous relationship. Her first Open Mic performance was in November of 2012.

Jill Boger reads her poetry. Shavon Stokes photo.

“It was really nerve wracking, the anxiety of getting on stage,” said Boger. “You have to be willing to put yourself out there.”

Ismaris Ocasio, a Communication Studies major from the class of 2014 is an event organizer of the Open Mic nights. She credits the success of the events to the performers and regular attendees.

“They are all for the most part very loyal to open mics and have become very familiar and comfortable with one another, setting an awesome atmosphere for student performers,” said Ocasio. “Once performers feel the atmosphere and see other performers go up, they build confidence to keep coming back and building on their performances.”

The next Open Mic Night is November 2 in Crimson Hall.

Alexandra Puffer is The Comment’s Digital Editor. Follow her on Twitter at @AlexandraPuffer or email her at apuffer@student.bridgew.edu.