If you’re working to establish a music career, don’t underestimate the power of an open mic. Not only are they a great form of practice, they also offer an opportunity to begin establishing a fan base. Furthermore, you can connect with other artists who could be potential collaborators and friends. While you can set up a home studio, post covers from the comfort of your own apartment, and interact with your audience online, these are not replacements for in-person interaction. If you’re a local, check out this list of open mics in Miami to help you get started.
Tea and Poets Events
A spacious tea / coffee shop and community space, Tea and Poets‘ is known for having a supportive open mic audience. Their weekly is open to people of all ages and talents, and occurs every Wednesday. The welcoming environment makes it a great place to potentially do a longer set once you’ve put the reps in by going to the open mics frequently. Tea & Poets open mic starts at 7pm. If you’re going to an open mic for the first time, be sure to go early, as sometimes sign-ups can fill up really quickly. This is especially true if you have work in the morning. Usually, the earlier you sign up the early you’ll get to perform (unless there is a lottery system).
View this post on Instagram
Thank You Miami
Thank You Miami is a cocina and beer house that hosts an open mic every Wednesday. Sign-ups start at 8:30 pm, and the show begins at 9pm. They host a number of other artists friendly events like Comedy Night, Karaoke, etc. A weekly open mic is a great commitment to make if you want to improve your performance skills this year. You can even check out different ones and decide which feels like a better fit for you.
View this post on Instagram
KAVA
Located in the Little River neighborhood, Miami Kava and Coffee hosts an open mic on the last Thursday of each month. Sign-ups start at 7pm, and the show starts at 8pm. If you’re new to open mics and feeling nervous, we recommend going to an open mic night as an attendee first so you know what to expect. This can be one of the best ways to get a feel for the crowd and see what each venue offers in terms of equipment and sound system quality. Note that Kava has multiple locations in the Miami area, so make sure you’re going to the right one!
View this post on Instagram
Savage Labs
Located in the Wynwood neighborhood, bar and lounge Savage Labs offers a curated open mic that features professional musicians as well as those that are new to performing. Their mics are held every Tuesday at 7 pm, and you can sign up directly on their website up until the day before the show. Regularly drawing a large crowd of music lovers, this is one of undoubtedly one of the best open mics in Miami.
View this post on Instagram
Magic 13 Brewing
Located in Little Haiti, Magic 13 Brewing Co. was named Best Live Music Venue by Miami Herald. Their diverse range of live music events include Reggae nights, karaoke, Samba parties, etc. This casual, pet and family-friendly establishment hosts open mics every Tuesday.
View this post on Instagram
Conclusion
Even if you’re already booking your own gigs, open mics still present an opportunity to practice new material and “get the hours in.” It can be humbling playing to an audience that is not your own. Let us know what your experience has been like with open mics. Our Bay Eight Recording Studios Miami is here to help you level up your music career. For tips on preparing for your first studio session, check out this article.