Open Mic Nights

Where: C4C: The Understory (basement, Cathedral of Learning CL B50)
When: Thursday, Jan. 26

When: Thursday, Feb. 9

When: Thursday, Feb. 23 | Black History Month
Thursday, Mar. 16
Thursday, Mar. 30 | LGBTQ Pride
Thursday, Apr. 13
All open mics run from 8:30-10 p.m.

C4C open mic nights really are open. All Pitt students, faculty, and staff and all performance-based genres are welcome: original music or covers; poetry, storytelling, and spoken word; skits or monologues. If you can do it in public, you can do it on our stage.

Performance slots are up to six minutes each, long enough for a couple of songs or a few pages of text, but shorter acts are fine.

FAQ

Do you have to be an experienced performer to take part?
Absolutely not! We welcome beginners.

How does an open mic work?
Anyone can sign up for a six-minute performance slot from 8:15 p.m. on. Spaces are limited. Once the open mic begins, we'll call up performers in the order in whcih they signed up, and you have six minutes to do whatever it is you do onstage! (Note: that slot includes setup/warmup, so please keep prep to a minimum.)

Is there content or language that's off-limits?
C4C open mic nights have two goals: to provide an open platform for artistic expression, and to help build a diverse creative community that supports other artists. Our open mic takes the Pitt Promise - and specifically its commitment to a civil community, personal integrity, and a culture of diversity where freedom of thought and expression are valued - as its foundation.

Open mic performances on any given night may include frank and honest language and difficult or challenging themes. As a performer, use what is necessary to tell your story and express yourself artistically, while keeping in mind that your audience is a diverse group of humans with different life experiences, backgrounds, and points of view.

Our one unbreakable rule when you are on-mic is to treat people with respect: the audience and yourself.

As an audience member, remember that it's a risk to share your music, writing, or other art with the world, and support performers by being attentive and respectful. Be the audience you'd like to have.