I enjoy writing poems, but I’ve always been anxious about sharing my work with others. When my best friend took me to my first open mic back in March last year, I was eager to go check it out but told them I would not be performing. That was not the case in the end, as I ended up reciting one of my favourite poems to an audience, as well as reading out loud one of my own.
There’s something so rewarding about sharing your art with other people. I really enjoyed being on the stage and performing for the audience despite how nervous I was beforehand. I even had people come up to me afterwards who wanted to talk about my original piece.
Since then, I’ve gone to several open-mic events where I’ve read my poems. The evenings present themselves with what I love most: connecting with other poets, musicians, singers, and all other sorts of artists. I’m very excited that those events are starting up again this fall.
Queer Open Stage is held from September through May on the third Wednesday of the month. Located at 722 Cormorant Street, doors open at 6:30 pm, and the event starts at 7:00 pm, typically running for an hour and a half, but it has run a bit overtime in the past. You can sit and listen or sign up before everyone hits the stage. There is usually one featured performer and 10 other spots available. This particular gathering was my first open-mic event and I absolutely loved it. It’s a smaller space and feels a bit crowded at times, but the performers are so captivating you barely notice. They have snacks and refreshments provided and it’s a free event, which I always appreciate.
One that I haven’t yet attended, but am very excited to check out this fall, is held at Russell Books every Friday evening from September to June, with a brief break in December. It’s called Planet Earth Poetry; doors for this event open at 7:00 pm, and sign-up is available between 7:00 pm and 7:20 pm, before it starts at 7:30 pm. If you’re interested in performing, there are more details and rules on their website. They also have a livestream of their featured performers that starts between 8:00 pm and 8:15 pm for at-home poetry lovers.
Planet Earth Poetry also runs some afternoon events at the New Horizons Centre, with one more planned reading in the fall, on November 7. Doors at 1:30 pm, and event at 2:00 pm.
If you’re more into music, there’s a Sunday afternoon jam and a Wednesday night jam at The Loft (229 Gorge Road E). Note: it is a pub, so no minors are allowed. But for those who carry valid ID, there are open-mic slots to sign up for; the Sunday one starts at 3:00 pm and the Wednesday one at 6:00 pm.
All the events mentioned above are free to attend. The sign-up sheets fill up quickly, so if you’re planning on performing, get there as soon as the doors open.
It’s been fun getting to hear other people’s works and share my own. The poem I read at my first open mic has recently been published in Camosun’s Beside the Point journal, and I don’t think I would have had the courage to send it in if I hadn’t already shown it to others.
These events have really helped myself and others get art out there, and I’m excited for the new season of open mics.