Spring Break
Open mic finals to offer $200 certificate to winner
Performers enjoyed event throughout semester
Samantha Bilharz / Staff Reporter
Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: News
Two years ago, Sean Tyree decided to participate at Open Mic to get over his stage fright.
"When I first started playing Open Mic's, I'd get really nervous playing for people on a stage, which I wasn't used to in high school," he said. "But now after playing Open Mic for the last two years, being on stage is like being at home."
Tyree will be performing in the Open Mic Finals at 8 p.m. today in 7th Street Underground in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.
The finals are for every student who participated in Open Mic throughout the semester.
The audience can expect a range of performances from rappers, comedians, musicians and singers. Some students perform original songs.
The winner of the finals will receive a $200 certificate to Ticketmaster.
Judging is based on originality, how many people a performer can bring to the show and their stage prescience.
For the students participating, the Open Mic Finals mean more then just winning.
Tyree said he doesn't like to look at Open Mic as a competition. He likes to look at it as a way to have fun and as a way to network.
He said he likes the atmosphere of playing at Open Mic.
"Open Mic to me is more personal compared to playing a show at a bar," he said. "I get a little more nervous playing Open Mic because usually, I'm playing by myself rather than with a band."
For Scott Chaplinski, the true prize at Open Mic is just getting the opportunity to perform and being able to meet so many great people along the way.
"Winning is more than impressing a few judges or the crowd," he said. "I have met a lot of people through functions such as this, and that's the truest prize I could ask for."
Chaplinski has performed at Open Mic for three years now. When he first started performing at Open Mic, he would perform with his friends, and they would sometimes be the only people there.
His experience now is a different one.
Chaplinski now arrives early just to get a chance to play because so many people want the opportunity to perform.
He said he sees Open Mic as a way to network with musicians, a way to play his music and a way to meet many different people.
"I'll play for an audience any time," he said "New people means my old songs are fresh. I've met a lot of people through Open Mic and started networking with all sorts of musicians."
Chaplinski has performed for many years at bars, coffee shops, outdoor events and at Eastern.
This event, sponsored by University Board Main Stage, began last year because Matt Caponera wanted students to have an opportunity to win Open Mic one last time.
"The audience can expect great talent along with great music," said Lauren Phillips, UB mainstage coordinator. "I expect people to come out to show their support to their fellow students and friends."
A total of 10 performers can sign up for the finals, but so far only five students have.
The number of songs students can perform depends on how many students register.
With five students signed up, the students can perform anywhere from three to four songs.
Tyree said the first song he plans to perform at the finals is "Bang Bang" by Dispatch, followed by "Sweat Pea" by Amos Lee.
Chaplinski said if he could only perform one song at the finals, he wants to play a song he wrote with a friend called "Sweet Lady." In addition to the original song, he would probably play a classic 12-bar blues.
Samantha Bilharz can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENnewsdesk@gmail.com.
"When I first started playing Open Mic's, I'd get really nervous playing for people on a stage, which I wasn't used to in high school," he said. "But now after playing Open Mic for the last two years, being on stage is like being at home."
Tyree will be performing in the Open Mic Finals at 8 p.m. today in 7th Street Underground in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.
The finals are for every student who participated in Open Mic throughout the semester.
The audience can expect a range of performances from rappers, comedians, musicians and singers. Some students perform original songs.
The winner of the finals will receive a $200 certificate to Ticketmaster.
Judging is based on originality, how many people a performer can bring to the show and their stage prescience.
For the students participating, the Open Mic Finals mean more then just winning.
Tyree said he doesn't like to look at Open Mic as a competition. He likes to look at it as a way to have fun and as a way to network.
He said he likes the atmosphere of playing at Open Mic.
"Open Mic to me is more personal compared to playing a show at a bar," he said. "I get a little more nervous playing Open Mic because usually, I'm playing by myself rather than with a band."
For Scott Chaplinski, the true prize at Open Mic is just getting the opportunity to perform and being able to meet so many great people along the way.
"Winning is more than impressing a few judges or the crowd," he said. "I have met a lot of people through functions such as this, and that's the truest prize I could ask for."
Chaplinski has performed at Open Mic for three years now. When he first started performing at Open Mic, he would perform with his friends, and they would sometimes be the only people there.
His experience now is a different one.
Chaplinski now arrives early just to get a chance to play because so many people want the opportunity to perform.
He said he sees Open Mic as a way to network with musicians, a way to play his music and a way to meet many different people.
"I'll play for an audience any time," he said "New people means my old songs are fresh. I've met a lot of people through Open Mic and started networking with all sorts of musicians."
Chaplinski has performed for many years at bars, coffee shops, outdoor events and at Eastern.
This event, sponsored by University Board Main Stage, began last year because Matt Caponera wanted students to have an opportunity to win Open Mic one last time.
"The audience can expect great talent along with great music," said Lauren Phillips, UB mainstage coordinator. "I expect people to come out to show their support to their fellow students and friends."
A total of 10 performers can sign up for the finals, but so far only five students have.
The number of songs students can perform depends on how many students register.
With five students signed up, the students can perform anywhere from three to four songs.
Tyree said the first song he plans to perform at the finals is "Bang Bang" by Dispatch, followed by "Sweat Pea" by Amos Lee.
Chaplinski said if he could only perform one song at the finals, he wants to play a song he wrote with a friend called "Sweet Lady." In addition to the original song, he would probably play a classic 12-bar blues.
Samantha Bilharz can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENnewsdesk@gmail.com.
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