New Open Mic on Ottawa!

I've gotten off my butt and started another Open Mic in Ottawa.  This one is a "Father and Sons" near Ottawa University.

I have set up a facebook group.
http://www.facebook.com/groups/55662625450/

List is out at 9:30 and start time is 10PM.

More open mic fun!

I am so excited about how the Open Mic at the Georgetown pub is growing. Every week it gets bigger and better. With an excellent mix of regulars and brand new performers, every week is different. The best part is that the crowd is extremely friendly and supportive so you will always meet a ton of new friends.

Here I am loving what I do;


The list is growing every week so make sure that you get there nice and early to be sure you get on. Depending on the number of performers you will have between 3-5 songs. However, if you bring a crowd with you, I've been known to give an encore song. :)

See you Wednesday at Open Mic at the Georgetown with Tim Melanson.

You may be wondering what is new at the Georgetown Open Mic with Tim Melanson.

Well... The students are back and the musicians keep coming. We have so many new people coming out every week and it doesn't seem like it will slow down.

Here's a little view from the stage while regulars Jessika and Gary rock the crowd with some Bon Jovi.



The other new development is DRUMS!



Georgetown's very own, Silas, has decided to bring his kit whenever he can. This is so exciting! We have so many incredible musicians every week and since I've always got at least a Djembe with me, this will just take it to a new level.

Come on out and show your stuff!

Summer Fun

I haven't posted in a little while, and I thought it was about time. At the start of the summer I had foolishly considered suspending the open mic... I'm so glad that I decided to keep it going. It has been going quite well through the summer and every few weeks, we get a huge crowd.

It's funny how time flies, I've been hosting this open mic for close to 9 months now, and I'm still amazed at the new and regular performers that are walking through the door. One that I'd like to bring up is a sitar player that came out a couple weeks ago.



Imagine my surprise when this guy lays out his blanket and starts playing beatles songs on his sitar! It was awesome.

At Open Mic with Tim Melanson, everyone is welcome and encouraged to take their 15 minutes of fame!

Let the Good Times Roll

It's been a while since I've posted another note on here, so I thought I'd add a quick update.

Open Mic at the Georgetown is still going strong! We are attracting so many awesome musicians and every week we get to hear from a new singer or two. I'm so excited that everyone is reacting so well to the Open Mic Karaoke concept.


Here we have one of the regulars, Zoe rocking out with me to LaBamba! Too much fun.

If you are looking to get your rock star experience but you don't know a guitarist to come out to an open stage with, just come on out! I have a book full of songs for you to choose from. Also, chances are, if you print out the guitar chords and bring them with you, I will probably be able to play it for you.

See you at the Georgetown Pub! Every Wednesday Night!

The good times continue!

This is so much fun!

I am in my second month running the open stage at the Georgetown Pub on Wednesday nights and I am having a blast. The last month has been incredible. The bar is busy every week and the list is full. There are plenty of artists showing off original songs as well as their favorite covers. Here is a little taste of last week's Open Mic. People are always welcome to come up and sing along with me, and here are a few regulars showing their stuff to Aretha Franklin's RESPECT!



If you are new to the open mic world I'll give you a few tips.

1. Prepare at least 1 cover song. You can be creative and make it your own, but it is much easier to win an audience if you catch their attention with something they know.
2. Bring your own guitar. I have my guitar there, but I will be watching you like a hawk and if you hurt it, I will not be happy.
3. If you make a mistake, ignore it! Chances are no one noticed!

I hope to see you out on Wednesday!
Tim

Open Mic at the Georgetown

What an awesome night last night at the Georgetown Open Mic! I just had to post.

The bar was jam packed almost all night and our newest regulars (Spencer and Emma) had the crowd's attention all night!





As usual, I brought my trusty red binder with a ton of songs, and Emma joined me on stage for a few songs. It's an open mic with a Karaoke spin. :)

Ottawa Open Mic : What to expect with Tim Melanson...

Ottawa open mic (or open stage) at what used to be Rasputin's, was my first exposure to the Ottawa music scene. I remember going up on stage for the first time... It was exhilarating and exciting. The two musicians that were with me were first timers as well. They were both crapping themselves out of nervousness, but I remember being fairly calm. I've always loved the spotlight so I just felt natural on stage... plus I had INCREDIBLE players with me, so I knew that we'd be fine... Ok... Sorry for the rant ;)

The point is I'm not new to open mics and I think I've been able to draw from the different styles of other open mic hosts and put together a fun supportive experience.

The stage is a good size... you can definitely fit a 4 piece up there. Plus, the sound system is fantastic with a separate monitor so you can hear yourself! If you've never been to an open stage, you will soon know how important this is!

I also cater to singers who would love the experience of singing into a mic in front of a crowd but just need a guitar player. I have a book full of lyrics (that I bring every week) with a extremely wide and diverse collection of songs to sing that I can play and sing backup. Of course, if you really want to sing something specific that I don't already know... Just let me know the song and chances are I can play a "reasonable faximile". ;-)

So whether you sing or play, you definitely should come out and play a song or two... Or just listen in and have a few cold ones.