How early do you arrive for an open mic when you don't know the room?

I keep getting the timing wrong. Too early and I spend an hour getting more nervous; too late and I’m trying to find the sign-up person while taking my coat off. If it’s a room you’ve never done before, how much time do you actually want before the show starts? And what are you checking when you get there — running order, mic setup, where the light is, anything else?

1 Comment

SamRunsARoom28 Aug

I’d give yourself enough time to find whoever is running it, say hello and work out the practical stuff without hovering for an hour. The useful questions are usually boring ones: where’s the light, what’s your time, and is there anything odd about the mic or stage. Once you know those, getting more nervous in the corner doesn’t count as preparation.

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