A copy of Conquering the Coffeehouse resting on a wooden coffeehouse table beside an acoustic guitar and a latte.

Get Out and Play!

Conquering the Coffeehouse

A beginner's guide to successfully performing your music at open mics — for anyone who loves music, has never played in front of a room full of strangers, and isn't sure how it all goes down.

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Why this book

Get Out and Play!

As a music lover, you've enjoyed playing in your room or jamming with friends. Now you're thinking about taking it a bit further and playing in public. You've heard people talk about open mic night at the local coffeehouse or bar, but it's a mystery to you and you're not sure how it all goes down. You have no idea of the caliber of the other performers, or the temperament of the audience that attend such events. You don't even know enough to ask the right questions… and so you've hesitated in making the leap.

Here are a few things you'll learn from this book:

  • The benefits of performing at an open mic

  • How to prepare yourself

  • What to play

  • Open mic etiquette

  • How to avoid common pitfalls

…and invaluable tips to make you look like a pro!

This book is a concise, easy-to-read, no-nonsense roadmap to get you out of your bedroom and into the spotlight… in a short amount of time!

From the book

It's for everyone. That means you.

Chapter 1 — Introduction

Are you a musical virtuoso? Do you have nerves of steel? Does your mere presence captivate a room? Well, if none of the above applies to you, that's fine. The first thing you should know about performing at an open mic is that it's for everyone... and that means you!

At an open mic you'll find musicians with a wide range of abilities, each with their own reasons for being there. But they all have something in common: their love of music and performance.

What's inside

24 chapters, one confident walk to the stage

From your first case of nerves to what to do after the applause, here's everything the book covers.

  1. 01Introduction
  2. 02My First Solo Open Mic Performance
  3. 03The Open Mic Format
  4. 04Are You Good Enough for the Crowd?
  5. 05Scope It Out First
  6. 06Know Your Limits
  7. 07What to Play (Don't Put Them to Sleep)
  8. 08Handling Distractions
  9. 09Know Your Material
  10. 10Come Prepared
  11. 11Hygiene (yup, hygiene!)
  12. 12Choosing Your Time Slot
  13. 13Recording Yourself
  14. 14Things to Remember
  15. 15Showtime!
  16. 16The Fear Virus
  17. 17Check 1, 2, 3
  18. 18Onstage Banter
  19. 19Handling Mistakes
  20. 20The Escape Plan
  21. 21Beefing Up Your Performance
  22. 22Not So Fast!
  23. 23Supporting Others
  24. 24Where to Go from Here
  25. ＋Appendix: The Illustrated Do's and Don'ts

A peek at the appendix

Two of the illustrated Do's & Don'ts from the back of the book.

Cartoon musician walking offstage with his guitar still plugged in, yanking the microphone stand over.
Do

Unplug your guitar when you walk off stage

Cartoon musician tuning his guitar on stage while the audience checks a wristwatch, waiting.
Don't

Tune your guitar on stage

Ready when you are

Get out and play.

Don't be reluctant to go from spectator to performer any longer. Read this book, and get out there and conquer the coffeehouse.

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