Input please, awkward situation for a host

[coolsongz]

Last night was the first open mic for this year at The Cozmic Cafe. I'm a returning volunteer host. Management had to set forth new rules this season because of licensing issues. The Cozmic pays out ASCAP fees but has recently been hounded/visited/phoned and billed by the two remaining licensing companies. Management asked me to announce that there could be no covers done at open mic until further notice . As you can imagine, people got pissed. One guy accused me of creating the rule because as he put it "don't you do only originals!?"(not necessarily true I do covers too, And I found out about the rule right before opening) Another guy yelled sarcastic obscenities at me and another went out to the parking lot to "warn off other musicians". I tried to soften things by asking management if medlies could be done (am I right? less that 30 sec of each song is ok?) I also offered up to the thinning crowd that if they knew their presentation was unlicensed or ASCAP licensed there was no problem. I feel bad that we pissed off so many people, but the Cozmic is facing threat of lawsuit so I understand managements’ position too. I haven't done this in 4 years. Have people really gotten meaner? Did I drive 30 miles and bring some of my own equipment to get yelled at? All in all we were left with about 8 acts. Some guys went out to the bar to write a song, then came back in and played it. And we ended with a little jam. So all was not lost. Still, next Thursday when the alternate host is there (and probably me too), more people will find out and it'll happen all over again. How do we make this transition smoother? Info is already on the web site. I suggested that perhaps calling it an “artist showcase” might help. I’m out of answers. Tam

[jimc]

I think the onus is on the club to pony up the fees. I can't see how they can realistically expect to hold jams or open mics (or even gigs) if no cover songs are allowed.

I appreciate that they might not be able to afford these fees but this is going to lose them business.

Constable Jacks has been holding benefit concerts to cover their fees, maybe you can suggest this to the Cosmic Cafe?

And people were well out of line to be yelling/venting at you

[thump]

Royalties will likely be a growing issue as other revenue source decline; it's an unfortunate consequence of an evolving industry. New venues should somehow be made aware of their responsibilities, as should musicians. Anyone playing music publicly that isn't aware needs some basic education. The fact that a number of folks were incensed speaks to the level of their education...

[kennans]

Please allow me to act as 'turd' in this punch bowl;

How many people were there for open mic night? This is a Thursday night? You were the 'volunteer' host - a,k,a, "Unpaid"?

Hmmm...on second thought, I think "recommend a benefit" is a far more diplomatic solution than I can muster.

Times are tough all over, but remember this axiom; No favor ever done for a nightclub/bar is ever repaid.

[coolsongz]

It's true , times are hard, but even when they weren't, nobody made any money off of open mic traffic, unlike blues many it's just not a drinking or dancing crowd. If the Cozmic was able to stay open it happened. The only reason open mic happens at all over there is because of the host volunteers. And it's been that way thru 4 owners and 10 years. Artists and poets show up to support artists and poets, and thru the years we have watched many of them, including myself, evolve into working musicians, and published poets. I have no problem volunteering for the twice a month task, in fact I offered, because there was no open mic going on yet. I know that I'm not taking someone's job away or filling a night that would be otherwise used for someones gig, and I love to see someones name billed locally who I know that I was the one who once coaxed on to stage at an open mic. In fact , the person who once got me on stage still works the board occassionally too. It's just that yesterday was the first time I experienced a whole audience of ticked off artists. First time for everything I guess. I appreciate the input that you guys have offered. The responses are refreshingly mature on this site.

[kennans]

Very cool, Coolsongz. I respectfully turn off the "turd" light.

[vladimir]

i think this is a great opportunity for the original music
open mike doesn't mean blues jam ..... or play that song i can hum
and people who come there should now that ahead of time or stay home....
just put the word out for original acts,have different styles and stuff nights,of course smarten skill level ,and ethics are a must and they will bring there own fans and play for nothing ,it sounds like that is what the owners are going for...
plus there are songs and progressions that are not copyrighted if you want to get technical with ascap
v.

[nickyn99]

May 8, 2009 11:43:23 GMT -8 kennans said:

No favor ever done for a nightclub/bar is ever repaid.

So true!!!!!!!!

[coolsongz]

Thanks you guys, well it looks like things smoothed out nicely for the Thursday open mic at the Cozmic. Even though we announce regularly that ASCAP fees are paid opening it up to a whole lot of cover songs, people have just kept doing their originals. In fact there have been only a few covers played in the last few weeks. There's some amazing talent up here in the foothills, there's also been some pretty good jams after the show. The audience last thursday was 90% musician so even though open mic went until 10:00, we all played till about 1:00. It's all good.