I signed up for a songwriting competition. A crazy thing to do, really, for a couple of reasons. The first one: I play music with other people; nothing tops the great feeling of blending our styles and sounds to make something sound richer and sweeter. What an odd concept that I will be competing against other musicians, with somebody, at the end of the day, winning. The second and more deep-seated: I left music because of competition and the pressure of high expectations. I rediscovered music as something joyful, not attached to an adjudicator’s comments or audition result or exam mark, but something I do for fun. The main goal: fun. The primary outcome: fun. The lasting impression that stays with me for days after a session: fun.
So what would possess me to sign up for a songwriting competition? I think I am ready to venture out of my comfort zone of playing with and for familiar faces who support and applaud my creative attempts. (I say “I think” because I am not at all sure – I’ll confirm or denounce this theory after the experience is over.) I am curious to see if my lyrics resonate with strangers as well as with my family and musical friends who know me well. And – it’s a test. A test to see if the dreaded performance anxiety monster has been tamed or is lurking in the wilds of Waterloo Region waiting to pounce when I least expect it. We shall see. . .
If anyone feels compelled to launch themselves into this creative and educational endeavour, you can sign up for venues in Fergus, Waterloo and Cambridge – just one or all three (“triple play”). The competition starts January 2011, hosted by Robbie Hancock who also hosts the Tuesday night open mic at the University of Waterloo Grad House. There is an early bird rate if you register before October 28th so don’t delay. Details and registration forms can be found at: http://rjentertainment.ca/. And if you do sign up, let everyone know about it! Leave a comment at the bottom of the post – the place beside “Read the whole story” that says “no discussion yet” or “2 comments” or something similar.
Once a month (or so) on a Thursday (or Friday) the Berlin Bicycle Café serves up a participatory evening of music along with gourmet treats and coffee. Hosted by Janice Jo Lee, the open mic starts off with 10 minute sets – music and spoken word/poetry welcome – and has a feature performer half way through the evening.
Graham, owner of the Berlin Bicycle Café (there are actual bikes downstairs), also hosts concerts at his venue. Check out the FB page for upcoming concert dates and future open mics.
