Opening Up the Open Mic

Bernie Cohen, a freshman, will be running Northwest Academy’s 2014 open mic in the near future in the Blue Box Theatre.

Cohen knows how difficult it can be to perform in a professional environment. He understands that most people do not want their first performance to be in an uncomfortable situation.

“I hope that people that feel threatened by more formal talent shows can step out of the woodwork and do something at the open mic and realize that it isn’t that scary,” Cohen said.

Cohen wants the open mic to be an informal version of Northwest Academy’s annual talent show. In the past, the talent show has had low attendance. Cohen hopes that the informality will help attract more acts and thus more audience.

David Wagstaff, Dean of Students at Northwest Academy, also wants to amp up the open mic.

“The key is getting as many people as possible because we have great talent at this school,” he said.

Cohen first had the idea of an open mic when he and his class were on the freshman retreat in Newport, OR.

“We went to a restaurant where there was an open mic and it was amazing performing in front of so many people,” Cohen said. “I talked to Dan (Dunning) later about having something like that at the school.”

Cohen then approached Wagstaff who is known for helping students set up school events.

“Bernie had the idea for musicians and songwriters to have a place to perform,” Wagstaff said. “And I told him that it would be a great idea.”

Despite the informal nature of the open mic, Cohen still wants it to be an entertaining show full of people who are serious about performing. He is hosting auditions one at a time over the course of a few weeks to make sure the performers are ready to give a real performance.

“I really just want to make sure people have something prepared, so they don’t just get up there and start messing around,” Cohen said.

Cohen said that he hopes the open mic will be popular enough to turn it into an annual event.

Wagstaff said that he wants the open mic to ease other students into the idea of performance-based lunch events where students can perform pieces they have choreographed or written.

“I really want it (performance-based lunch events) to be more common,” Wagstaff said. “It is good for the performer and it is good for the audience.”

For all those interested in performing, check with Cohen for a good time to audition.