For four years I have been handling the website for Open Mic Madness. 
Its an amazing showcase of local talent and probably, hands-down, the best way to find out who is doing what musically in Atlanta. Yeah, there are lots of bands you won't see here, but those are either the band you know about already... or the ones you don't need to bother about because they are on their way out. OK, that's a little too polar but the idea is that, yes, go! And here sone amazing performances.



The show goes on for 6 nights. I highly recommend coming to several nights. Defintely, and I mean absolutely and without question, go to the last day. The artists light on fire that night. Imagine progressing through 120 bands in a single elimination tournament and winning your way, to the last day, the final showdown. I am not a fan of competition in music. Its subjective, after all. However, this competition does some amazing things to the artists who arrive on top. They have consistently all went on to make huge names for themselves, check out the open mic website to find out just what they've done.

I compete each year as well. Last year, I went in - both: cocky and unprepared. I hadn't written anything new yet still I thought my old songs were good enough for at least a few rounds. I was out, dead, done ...round one. Frankly, I still think I played better then my competetion that day. I did not, however, play my best. I hadn't practiced and I was nervous. I missed notes. She was country (and I really don't like country) and simple but "on". As a matter of fact, I would have made the same vote. I would have told the artist (me) that they should have prepared better. After a long night of judging, I probably would have forgotten to mention it.

This year I have a band. We will very likely be ready to perform by this October. I will run it by the dudes and see if they want to do it. I'll bet they will. If not, perhaps I'll do it solo again. This year, however, two changes: I'll practice and I'll go to as many nights as I can!