The Harding Campus Activities Board has been offering a student-led open mic night every Tuesday night at 9:30 p.m. in the activities room next to Starbucks.
Students can sign up in the CAB office or tell a CAB worker they would like to participate before the performances begin.
According to CAB worker senior Laura Jo Sawyer, performances generally include singing, spoken word and slam poetry, but all types of performances are welcome.
Sawyer said CAB is using open mic to scout out performances for the Harding Spectacular, which will take the place of the Burksy’s.
“Open mic night is a great platform to find talented people we want to see more of at the Harding Spectacular,” Sawyer said.
Sawyer said they have had a good number of viewers lately, too.
Senior Dustyn Stokes performs at open mic regularly. She said she is encouraged to participate because a lot of people she knows participate. She said it feels like you are performing in front of your friends.
Stokes said a lot of people who perform come prepared with original songs and poetry.
“It gives them a positive audience to perform in front of and a smaller audience so it is less nerve racking,” Stokes said.
Sawyer believes that open mic night is a great venue for people to start performing or just show their talents.
“I love open mic night because it gives people the opportunity to put themselves out there without a huge, terrifying crowd,” Sawyer said. “It is a nice, relaxing break in the middle of the week for those watching.”
Stokes said she usually performs with juniors Taylor Provencher and Forrest Parker. She said they prepare by going to a practice room in the Reynolds and work through the tempo of the song. She said they always try to add their own style to it.
“It gives Harding students an outlet to perform before a small audience instead of having to audition for something big,” Stokes said. “It is a great way to show off their skills.”
Stokes said open mic offers listeners variety from the atmosphere to the styles of music.
“Sometimes it is laid back with a small crowd and other times it is packed,” Stokes said. “It will be different every time you go.”
Participating in open mic could also mean winning a prize.
According to Sawyer, every now and then, CAB will hand out a Starbucks gift card to a deserving performer.
The next open mic night is Feb. 25 and continues every Tuesday, but it will not take place on March 4.
