Misplaced Pages

#509490

43-540: The original MuzikMafia was born from an open mic night in Nashville. While they aren't official members, people who have performed at the MuzikMafia jams include Kid Rock , 3 Doors Down , Velvet Revolver , Bon Jovi , Stephen Cochran , Jewel , Bobby Brown , Sisqo , and Saliva . The Muzik Mafia, (Musically Artistic Friends In Alliance) was a ragtag collection of unique and talented musician friends and collaborators. It

86-434: A designated stage area and use a microphone with amplification as an industry standard. Open mics for comedy have no minimum requirements to perform, a format which is known as "show and go". At a typical comedy open mic, acts will get 3–7 minutes of stage time. The routine of a five-minute slot requires approximately three minutes of material. All stand-up comedy performed must be an original creation. The host of

129-442: A full house'. Conversely, when shows were not sold out and audience members had more room to spread out among empty tables and chairs, audience members were less likely to relate their experiences as one of entertainment or enjoyment." The host introduces each act by reciting the name that was placed on the sign-up list and asks the audience to give the performer an introductory round of applause. Performing first at an open mic puts

172-506: A live audience without having to go through the process of getting normal music gigs, which is very difficult to do without experience or a demo recording. They provide an outlet for singer-songwriters. Prior to their popularity, the only outlets generally were folk clubs , which were not always friendly towards creators of new music and preferred traditional popular music. They also suggested that music performed by acoustic musicians or solo artists in this manner would necessarily be folk music,

215-406: A misconception that still commonly exists today. Some organizers have chosen the title "acoustic night" or "acoustic club" in an attempt to indicate an event run broadly on the lines of a folk club, but with a much wider range of musical styles. Open mic events are most commonly held in the middle of the week or at the very end of the weekend when footfall through venues is low. They rarely occur on

258-539: A normal format, but performers reserve spots one week to one month in advance. Bringer shows are presented in a showcase format, with each performer being required to bring 5–15 people with them (with a cover charge and a two-drink minimum per person) in order to secure stage time, but this is widely seen as exploitative. Poetry and spoken word open mics feature a host, who is normally a poet or spoken word artist, poets and spoken word artists, and audience members. Sometimes open mic nights have featured readers, or are part of

301-426: A reality show. The six-episode series included behind-the-scenes footage of life on the road during their first stadium tour, The American Revolution Tour (Sponsored by Chevrolet). Documenting the community’s rise to national prominence the show became an instant hit. Ivan Dudynsky (producer of MuzikMafia TV) of Live Animals Productions approached the godfathers in late summer 2004 with the idea of producing something on

344-434: A rock & country sound to a bluegrass riff to a reggae swag. It was a tribe of serious, and seriously open-minded musicians. The godfathers founded MuzikMafia with an ideology of anti-commercialism—a response to Music Row’s commercial hegemony in Nashville. One of MuzikMafia’s numerous connections to these earlier phenomena is that each contributes to the idea of artistic events as spectacles. For MuzikMafia members, culture

387-428: A stage, often the upstairs or back room of a pub or bar, or at a bookstore, college campus, rock club, or coffeehouse. Less commonly, they are also held at venues such as strip clubs and comic book shops. Comedy clubs may be the only open mic establishments that have a green room , a backstage area for performers waiting to go on stage where no audience members are present. Open mic nights give emerging comedians

430-502: A stand-up comedy open mic tries to maintain an equilibrium of mood within "the room". Hosts will try to seat audience members close together near the designated front stage area because that seems to maximize the audience's feelings of enjoyment and may lead to increased laughter; of one such event, a reviewer wrote, "Tightly arranged seating within the comedy room created physical discomfort for audience members... yet audience members often talked about how much they enjoyed 'the feeling of

473-430: A well-established stand-up scene; the major examples include Boston , Chicago , London , and New York City . Stand-ups also use open mics for networking to find both paid and unpaid work opportunities, for making friends, or as a form of therapy . "The room" is the term for the setting of a comedy performance; comedians are said to gauge the audience by their ability to "read the room". Stand-up performances have

SECTION 10

#1732898333510

516-627: A writing workshop, but generally a sign-up sheet is available for anyone interested in participating. Each participant is then called to come to the microphone and read a selection or two. Writers may attend an open mic to try out a new piece for an audience or to find out more about the local writing community. Others attend poetry open mics just to listen. Poetry/spoken word open mics range from laid back, serene settings to lively sessions where readers and/or performers compete for audience applause. They are usually held in libraries, coffee houses , cafes, bookstores and bars. Each poet or spoken word artist

559-634: Is most responsible for the birth and early feeding of country acts like Big & Rich, and Gretchen Wilson. It was the creative brainstorm of four friends known affectionately as the original founding “Godfathers,” Big Kenny , John Rich (of Big & Rich ), R&B/rock/country singer-songwriter Jon Nicholson, and music publisher/executive Cory Gierman. All four were steeped in the same eclectic musical mix. Together they decided to get together periodically in one place and play together. They made an informal pact – no competition, only cooperation and mutual support. Mixing styles and genres, gatherings could go from

602-400: Is often asked to keep their performances to a minimum/specified time slot, giving each performer enough time to share some of their work with the audience. The host or MC acts as a "gatekeeper", determining which performers are suitable for the event. If a performer goes over their time limit, the host diplomatically thanks the performer for their contribution and asks them to yield the stage for

645-595: Is the opportunity for exposure. Open mics offer attendees the opportunity to discover new and local talent. Performing in front of open mic attendees exposes a performer's material to people who have never heard it before. This allows attendees the opportunity to connect with a performer and share a performer's material with friends and family with similar taste. Experience is also another benefit for performers at open mics. Many performers at open mics are just beginning their career as performers or have been performing for years. Either way, performing at an open mic gives performers

688-517: The Chicago Tribune named it one of the top ten English-language magazines, describing it as "the cool kid at the school of rock magazines". Owner Alpha Media Group closed Blender March 26, 2009, going to an online-only format in a move that eliminated 30 jobs and reduced the company's portfolio of titles to Maxim alone. Blender 's final print issue was the April 2009 issue. Subscribers to

731-460: The Los Angeles Times , USA Today , Entertainment Weekly , The Tennessean , Country Music Today , Billboard Magazine , The Washington Post , Blender Magazine , Country Weekly , and The New York Times . Magazine covers such as Country Weekly and Entertainment Weekly were shouting, “ The Muzik Mafia wants you!” MuzikMafia TV was both a television documentary and

774-449: The MuzikMafia did not promote a single musical idiom might seem like a disqualifying factor in the industry. Their unifying trait was its diversity. The roster included artists who specialized in blues, rock, pop, rap, country, bluegrass, gospel, R&B, and soul that, collectively, are representative of Nashville’s rich history of musical diversity and the city’s current identification as “Music City, U.S.A.” The rapid growth in popularity of

817-411: The MuzikMafia for CMT. The first episode of MuzikMafia TV premiered on 15 January 2005 on CMT. By the summer of 2002 it was evident that the MuzikMafia was a significant part of the Nashville music scene. The Pub of Love’s performance area was small; barely 12’ X 20’, and the building was in disrepair, including an upstairs ceiling that was sagging in several places. The Pub was incapable of accommodating

860-806: The MuzikMafia was the result of its two breakout acts, Big & Rich and Gretchen Wilson, who celebrated combined record sales of approximately five million units just from May through December 2004. Kid Rock invited the MuzikMafia to perform with him on several tour dates in February and March 2004. The first took place on February 12, 2004 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Similar MuzikMafia performances with Kid Rock took place in Memphis on 6 March and in Detroit on 20 March that year. MuzikMafia received massive public exposure in 2004. From The Wall Street Journal , Rolling Stone ,

903-423: The comedian at a disadvantage due to the audience being "cold" and is considered the most challenging spot to perform in. Stand-ups usually use the second person to address the audience. In 2011, writer Rob Durham said that an open mic night should be no longer than 90 minutes and consist of no more than 15 acts. A comedy open mic will not normally exceed 30 people, which comedian Hannibal Buress has cited as

SECTION 20

#1732898333510

946-522: The commercial music industry and beyond. In October 2005, Muzikmafia members were receiving their booking engagements through William Morris Agency. The early panelists include Open mic An open mic or open mike (shortened from "open microphone") is a live show at a venue such as a coffeehouse , nightclub , comedy club , strip club , or pub , often taking place at night (an open mic night ), in which audience members may perform on stage whether they are amateurs or professionals, often for

989-527: The evening, either preparing a full performance of their own or filling in at short notice when a performer is unavailable. Open mics are somewhat related to jam sessions , in that they both see amateur performers being given the opportunity to perform. The difference is that jam sessions often involve musical ensembles, possibly even a house band or rhythm section , and may involve the participation of professional performers. Open mics provide an opportunity for emerging musicians to gain experience performing to

1032-657: The first forms of digital advertising. Felix Dennis published 15 digital CD issues, and launched a web version in 1996. The final CD-ROM issue was published in June 1997, issue 14. Dennis started publishing a print edition again in 1999 which became the final distribution format of the title. Blender CD-ROM showcased the earliest digital editorial formats, as well as the first forms of digital advertising. The first digital advertisers included SonicNet, Time-Life/Philips, Calvin Klein , Apple Computer , Toyota and Nike . In June 2006,

1075-401: The first time or to promote an upcoming performance. As the name suggests, performers are usually provided with a microphone plugged into a PA system so that they can be heard by the audience. Performers may sign up in advance for a time slot with the host , who is typically an experienced performer or the venue's manager or owner. The host may screen potential candidates for suitability for

1118-416: The godfathers, “the worst night of the week." and to avoid the club crowd that frequented weekend Nashville locales. Focusing more on those who were dedicated to an intensely intimate and social musical experience at an inconvenient time and day of the week. Each performance was free-of-charge and featured musicians from diverse genres, spoken-word artists, a juggler, a fire-breather, and a painter. Everything

1161-530: The hallowed Friday and Saturday night time slots, when venues are busy with weekend customers and any live performances are professionals who have been booked. The most common night for an open mic in the United Kingdom is Thursday, with Wednesday in second place. A popular open mic arrangement in the United States is the "Blues Night". In this format, a bar or club will dedicate a particular night, usually in

1204-433: The light". In modern times, this is done with the flashlight from a cell phone so as not to distract the audience with a larger or brighter light. If a comedian ignores this light and continues to perform past their allotted time, this is known as "blowing the light" and may get the comedian banned from performing at that venue. Other types of comedy open mics include "booked shows" and "bringer shows". Booked shows have

1247-428: The magazine were sent issues of Maxim magazine to make up for the unsent Blender issues. The Indian edition of Blender was the title's first venture outside the United States. It commenced publication with its May 2008 issue, which featured Mariah Carey on the cover. The magazine was targeted at educated male city dwellers aged between 18 and 34. The magazine was launched through Dennis Media Transasia India,

1290-422: The maximum number of people who should be there. It is common practice for stand-ups to record their sets for later review and rehearsal. The collective feedback from different audiences has a significant impact on how a stand-up routine is shaped. The host will flash a light at the comedian one minute before their time is up as a signal to finish the joke they are currently telling, a practise known as "getting

1333-405: The middle of the week, as being "open mic blues night". The establishment may supply a house band , typically guitar, bass, and drums, and sometimes a keyboard. Singers, guitarists, and harmonica performers who wish to play sign up, usually with the host. This person is tasked with screening the performers, choosing and ordering, and getting the performers on and off stage in a polite manner. Since

MuzikMafia - Misplaced Pages Continue

1376-423: The next performer. The terms "open deck" (where "deck" refers to the kind of turntable used by a DJ) and "open reel" (where "reel" refers to a 35 mm film reel) are used for more niche open mic events where keen amateurs can meet to exhibit and critique their skills/artform. A decrease in the cost of consumer video technology combined with the powerful editing capabilities of modern PCs has caused an increase in

1419-471: The opportunity to practice their stage presence and figure out the best way to perform their material that engages audiences. Blender Magazine Blender was an American music magazine published from 1994 to 2009 that billed itself as "the ultimate guide to pop culture". It was also known for sometimes steamy pictorials of celebrities. It compiled lists of albums, artists, and songs, including both "best of" and "worst of" lists. In each issue, there

1462-428: The opportunity to practice their stand-up routine, which they cannot do without a live audience. The audience for a typical comedy open mic is other comedians. Those underage must have their parents attend clubs with them. More experienced comedians may use open mics as an unpaid opportunity to work out newer material or a new character. Open mic comedy nights are most widespread in larger English-speaking cities with

1505-538: The popularity of DJing and amateur filmmaking, but these types of events are still very rare. Performing at open mics as a musician, comedian or poet provides many benefits. One of the benefits of performing at open mics is the opportunity for performers to engage in networking . Novice performers are able to connect with seasoned performers who can offer advice on stage presence. These connections are also useful when it comes to organizing future appearances as well as collaborations. Another benefit to networking at open mics

1548-474: The rapidly growing fan base, several weeks in the summer of 2002, the MuzikMafia performed outside in the adjacent parking lot. Unable to contain their Tuesday night fans, 2002 to 2007 MuzikMafia moved to larger clubs: Tin Roof, 12th & Porter, Mercy Lounge & Fuel. Occasionally, when there was not a weekly show, some of the members would show up to play on Tuesday & Thursday nights at Dan McGuinness, where there

1591-561: The songs chosen need to be simple enough so that a band of musicians who have not played together can perform them without practice, blues standards are used. Songs might be announced as a "12-bar fast shuffle in C" or "slow 12-bar blues in F", or similar phrases that should be familiar to all concerned. Lead singers, keyboards, horn players (usually saxophones), and various percussion instruments are common additions. Stand-up comedy open mic nights can be held at established comedy clubs but are more commonly held at other venues with or without

1634-496: The venue and give them a time to perform during the show. Open mics are focused on performance arts such as comedy (whether it be sketch or stand-up ), music (often acoustic singer-songwriters), poetry, and spoken word . It is less common for groups such as rock bands or comedy troupes to perform, mostly because of the space and logistical requirements of preparing equipment and soundchecking such groups. Open mics may have very low entrance fees or no entrance fees at all, although

1677-432: The venue itself may prepare a gratuity jar , a "pass the hat" for donations, or a raffle with various prizes. Venues that charge no fees profit from selling drinks and food. The performers are not typically paid, although the venue may give them food or drink. If the host is an experienced professional and not the owner or the manager of the venue, they are usually paid for their services and may perform at some point during

1720-542: Was a review of an artist's entire discography , with each album being analyzed in turn. Blender was published by Dennis Publishing . The magazine was created by founding Editor-in-Chief Regina Joseph as the first digital magazine, delivered entirely on CD-ROM disc and before the development of graphical browsers required to view the web. She brought in co-founders Jason Pearson and David Cherry, and Blender's original publisher, Felix Dennis/Dennis Publishing, UK. Joseph's CD-ROM editions of Blender also featured

1763-469: Was acoustic and usually performed on guitar accompanied by a percussionist who played a set of older conga drums with drumsticks. Regardless of age, ethnicity, sex, gender, financial status, social ranking, or belief system welcoming everyone at performances, promoting an atmosphere of acceptance. Tuesday shows were an opportunity for MuzikMafia musicians and audience members to be themselves, rather than representations of socially accepted norms. The fact that

MuzikMafia - Misplaced Pages Continue

1806-724: Was another weekly show called "Dirt Pharm" formed by musicians associated with the MuzikMafia. The final MuzikMafia show was held in January 2008 at the Sam Phillips Music Celebration, in Muscle Shoals Alabama, after a disagreement between members. The core membership of the MuzikMafia was small—less than twenty individuals. Separately, they are artists, each of whom has experienced relative degrees of success and failure, respectively, in their personal and professional lives. Together, they contributed to significant change in

1849-574: Was primarily “lived” through experience rather than emphasized on, a reflection of, or adherence to industry norms of how commercial musicians should look or sound. Their original intention was to create a weekly jam session in which like-minded individuals could enjoy a variety of styles in an informal setting. The first “official Muzik Mafia” was born from an open mic night at the Pub of Love, Nashville, TN on October 23, 2001. They held shows intentionally late each Tuesday evening because Tuesdays were, according to

#509490