London: City of Open Mics

A lot of musicians ask me to put on shows for them or ask advice for starting out in music in London. Even though open mics are generally, as a rule, brutal, they ARE a pretty good place to start. If you haven't played your fair share of coffee houses and open mics, the music gods aren't going to look fondly on you.

My advice: play originals and play often. Eventually you'll be good enough that I (or someone else) will want to book you. You'll also probably meet people while you do it... and then they might want to start a band with you, and you won't be that loser playing acoustic guitar and singing by yourself.

Here are some open mics in the city:

• EVAC (east village arts co-op) has just begun an acoustic/open mic style music series. The first one is on March 13th. I think this will be good.. and better than most open mics.. it's not a bar at least. Facebook Event. Email or msg them to play.
  

• The London Music Club has an open mic every Friday in the main hall. $2 cover, sign up sheet available after 8pm.

• Moon Over Marin hosts an open mic with Davita G every Sunday night. 6pm-10pm. Free admission. Sign up day of.

If open mic isn't your cup of tea, maybe start off with Karoake. Get your fix at the Richmond on Sundays, Molly Blooms on Mondays, Club Lavish on Thursdays (by far the best in the city) and I think Scott's Corner still rocks a Karaoke night sometime.. maybe saturdays.

But above all... please... for your sake and mine, do not start a cover band.