6 years ago I started exploring the possibility that I could actually play my songs without the moral and musical security of a band. Before that my solo playing had been restricted to the safe confines of my own home. I'd even present my songs to any band as rough recordings rather than play them. I'd played plenty of gigs on keyboards in bands and never felt particularly nervous, and then when I started singing lead it didn't trouble me too much either. In a band you have a lot of security in the other instruments. There's still a carpet of sound going on if you somehow screw up, drop out, forget your words. You can hide in the pack a little bit: strength in numbers. Playing solo can be lonely and scarey.

My first solo gig was a terrifying experience, but perversely one I was very eager to repeat. Nothing really totally prepares you for the solo experience of having to play and sing alone infront of an audience other than the experience itself. Your body and mind do wierd things in this situation. Things you really don't think will happen when you practice alone. Your throat might dry up and make you sound hoarse, you might suddenly find you can only shout, your voice sounds completely different on a stage coming through monitors, that can really throw you if you're not used to it. What about when you get the shakes? It might be your hands which can mean the certain death of any delicately played music. I know I frequently used to get shakey piano sustain pedal leg. Mercifully and fingers crossed I seem to be cured of the ailment. The solution is aversion therapy. There really is no way to prepare for playing infront of an audience it than the experience itself and open mics are a great place to do this.

A lot of towns have open mics. You're probably not too far from one wherever you might be. They generally happen in bars looking for a way to fill a quiet night. Open mics can form the backbone of the music scene in much the same way a collection of practice rooms does. Generally it's musicians playing for musicians, which can be a bad thing and a good thing. Bad because musicians are not really a proper audience. Good because it's a good place to meet people who are playing in your local scene and share what they know about the scene and help each other out. Sometimes open mics have a 'normal' public. For me those are the best kind of open mics, because you get a real response to your songs. Some open mics are not actually 'open'. You have to sign up several days beforehand to ensure you get a slot. I've heard of cases where you even have to audition. Personally I feel that is against the spirit of the thing. The quality should vary dramatically: from nervous singer songwriters armed with three chords and a head buried in a lyric sheet to full blown pros with all the chops and a national reputation to boot. It can be intimidating if the quality is high, but don't be put off if you're not quite the finished item yet. Everyone has to start somewhere, and anyway, very often the most polished acts at an open mic carry the least charm. Open mics are all about rough diamonds and you very well might be one of them, so if you're undecided about wether to take the plunge, I say go for it.

Here in Switzerland, as far as I know Zürich has two open mics, Bern has one, Luzern has two, Basel has one and Biel has one. There are very probably others, certainly over in the French speaking part. If you attend a few of these on a regular basis it's really not long before you get to know a pretty good cross section of the musicians actively playing across your area. It's a small music scene here in Switzerland. I've made a few friends across the five open mics I've been too, which alone makes it worth going too. Apart from that it's led to a few gigs in other places with other musicians so it does lead you forwards musically. You should never consider yourself too inexperienced OR too experienced to play an open mic. And if you don't play at them it's generally an entertaining evening where you'll catch at least one act you love, so go along and support them. They are a really crucial part of having any kind of music scene in your area.

Here's links to the open mics I know of here. Please leave links to ones you know of where you are in the comments. It would be cool to have a big list of open mics on this article!

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SWITZERLAND

 Zürich:

Heinz Bernbegger has an open mic he doesn't have a website for the open mic though. It runs every two months and breaks over Summer. Needs a previous sign up. Here's his myspace:-

http://www.myspace.com/heinzb  

myspace.com/msbrandysopenmic  no previous sign up, Brandy will fit you in. Grab her at the start.

Luzern: 

www.myspace.com/openmicluzern  sign up advisable, but not obligatory, try it over myspace

Basel:

http://www.myspace.com/openmicbasel needs previous sign up, try it over myspace

Bern:

http://www.myspace.com/thebridgebern  no idea. never been.

Biel:

http://www.myspace.com/openmicdaluigi  no idea, never been