Friday Extended Play Nights at the Thirsty Mind

If an Open Mic is an entry point for emerging performers.  Extended Play is the next step--a one hour performance spot in front of a live audience for Open Mic veterans who are ready for more than 2 songs/ten minutes and out.

Extended Play began Feb 22, and has been by all accounts, a tremendous success:

                                           Songwriters Chris Goudreaux and Dan Daniels
                                           shared a triple bill . . .

                                           . . .with Susanna Holstrom in the Thirsty Mind's 

                                           annual "Ides of March Spectacular."

The schedule so far will appear below. The way this works is that one person each night will have primary responsibility for setting up the mics, and p.a. and making sure things are put away properly at the end of the night (If you want to use the house equipment). It is also possible that you could play with your own

gear or no gear at all. A number of people are trained already, but if you need to know more, ask Scott or whatever non-uniformed personnel look like they know what they're doing.

Some things to keep in mind:

1. One person per night will be designated as set-up/take-down person. Their role is to make sure things are set up by 7 and that things get put away at the end of the night.

2. An important responsibility to our hosts (Thirsty Mind staff:  Nick, Sarah, Jessica, Lauryn,) is that we end the night in a timely manner (starting to wind down by 9:45 so we can send everyone out the door happy by 10:00). Also, make sure to acknowledge and thank them because they are working hard on behalf of the Thirsty Mind to make a pleasant experience for everyone in the place.

3. Since you have advance notice, make an effort to get the word out about your performance--invite friends, family, co-workers astrologers, ex-wives, thesis advisers, and parole officers, personal trainers, plow guys, and of course Yellow Sofa friends. Our goal is to build something that supports you in your growth as an artist, and that helps the Thirsty Mind be even more of a community hub.

One final note--bringing friends helps stack the deck in your favor. There will always be people coming in, but if they didn't come for the music, they are students and people using computers, or people who came to talk, maybe loudly, and maybe during your set. There's a lot to learn just by being on stage for an extended period of time. One thing you may learn quickly, is how to stay focused and confident when there is a lot of noise in the background, and when you are playing in front of people who don't know they are at your very special concert. This is a good thing to know how to do, but if you want to save yourself the some of the rigorousness of this experience, plan to bring at least 3-5 people and be ready to stay for all three sets to support and enjoy the other performances. This will mean that there will be a solid rooting section near the stage to minimize existential questioning of all sorts during the hour of your performance.

Feb. 22

7-8 p.m    Nikia Camp

8-9 p.m.   Christopher Griffin 

9-10 p.m. Jack Dwyer

March 1

7-8 p.m    "Tony"

8-9 p.m.   Felix Harvey

9-10 p.m.  Jackie D'Agustino

                                            Felix Harvey rocks the 'Mind

March 8

7-8 p.m     Jim Eagan  guitarist, songwriter, interpreter of classic alt. country

8-9 p.m.    Ben Grosscup  singer/songwriter member of People's Music Network, activist

9-10 p.m.  Dave Stern  rock and roller, Beatles maven, songwriter, author

March 15

7-8 p.m     Christopher Goudreaux

8-9 p.m.    Dan Daniels

 Dan Daniels--Interdimentional Man of Mystery seen sloughing off Higgs-Boson particles during his set.

9-10 p.m.  Susana Holmstrom

         
March 22

          7-8 p.m     Rob Douglas

          8-9 p.m.    Jeremy Kent

          9-10 p.m.   Michael Silverstone 

March 29 

April 5
7-8 p.m. Calvin Bentancourt  singer/songwriter
8-9 p.m. Laura Mustard   singer song/writer

                                                                                                                 
April 12

         7-10 p.m The Varlets & friends

          May 10
           7- 8 p.m.Singing Lords
                         
[check the yellow sofa website:  http://yellowsofaopenmic.blogspot.com for additional bookings as they emerge]