ALL ARTS OPEN MIC IS MOVING TO FIRST SUNDAYS FOR 2025!
Held on First Sundays, join this all-arts open mic presented by Story Parlor and Speakeasy Improv. Prepare a five minute original piece in whatever medium you so choose — storytelling, music, poetry, literature, comedy, dance — or simply come to enjoy and support the local arts community.
THE LOW-DOWN
Rolling artist sign-up starts at 5:30pm. Show is generally limited to 15-20 performers. Each performer has a total of five minutes.
SOUND EQUIPMENT: Basic sound provided including a Bose S1 Speaker, wired microphones (vocals, acoustic instruments), 1/4" instrument jacks for electric guitar, keyboards etc. (BYO cables if possible!), auxiliary music input, chairs/stools, stage space approx. 8x12 for dance. Artists are welcome to bring their own amplifiers. BYO cables recommended. Photos of the space available to view here.
Open Mic Guidelines
The host curates the event and determines the run of show based off of representing a variety of art mediums each evening (ie, the order in which you sign up may not be the order in which you perform).
There is no guarantee that all who sign up will perform, but you have the best chance to snag a performance slot if you sign up early.
Each performer has a maximum of 5 minutes on stage.
Be mindful of the stopping cue. If you go over your time, your mic will be cut off and the host will take the stage.
The host reserves the right to stop any performance that uses hate speech.
Audience members may be asked to leave the event if the host or house manager deem it necessary.
Equipment on stage is not to be moved.
FREE - DONATIONS APPRECIATED.
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Dedicated to cultivating an environment that nurtures creative expression and storytelling through all art forms, Story Parlor is unwavering in its investigation of identity, culture, and humanity. As such, we’ve crafted a few guidelines to ensure we present a program that is inclusive, inspirational, and true to our mission, along with (hopefully) most everything you’ll need to know about the cadence of the space and event.
About your piece….
Please share an original piece.
Your piece may not include hate speech, racial slurs, or bigoted material; further, someone else’s identity should never be used as a punchline.
We kindly ask artists to refrain from sharing pieces solely focused on religious or anti-religious themes; or political messaging/fundraising. (Briefly mentioning/alluding to religion or politics is okay so long as it’s done respectfully.)
If your piece requires some sort of trigger warning, please take the initiative to preface this before sharing. (Note: This includes bright flashing lights of any kind to protect guests who may be subject to epileptic episodes.)
Keep to your time limit! Practice in advance staying within the 5 minute allotment.
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Story Parlor is a multi-disciplinary arts space dedicated to storytelling and the exploration of the human condition, for the community and by the community. Committed to impacting positive change through the transformative power of storytelling through all art mediums, Story Parlor champions the artists of Western North Carolina through events, classes, community building, and advocacy.
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Speakeasy Improv strives to be a place of play and growth for every person who has a desire for creative collaboration.
