All artists wish they could make a living from their passion. While testing the waters at an open mic night might just be worthwhile for the thrill, it could also be the path to fame.
Ron Funches is a successful comedian from Salem. He started out doing shows at local open mics and participating in Northwest competitions. “I didn’t win the 30th Annual Seattle International Comedy Competition, but one of the judges was the executive producer of a comedy festival in Montreal and he liked me. Since then, I’ve had the chance to open for great comedians like Brian Posehn, Janeane Garofalo and Todd Glass,” he said.
In a short three years of appearances at open mics and events, Funches, 27, has made a career out of his hobby, mostly performing in Portland and Salem, at The Space and at the Coffee House Café. “I’m funny,” he said. “People should come see me before I’m too famous and they have to pay to see me.”
He said that aspiring comedians, singers and poets should “keep at it and try to get better. It’s a slow process, but don’t give up. Keep going if you really like it like I fell in love with it!”
Café Noir hosts an open mic every Friday night, where the music ranges from rock to country to jazz and hip-hop. “It’s the biggest night in town for open mic,” said owner Marlee Newton. “Most of the music is original and some of our musicians are professional. It has been superb. I’ve never had anyone who was so bad I wanted to go over and unplug the mic.”
Newton said potential talents shouldn’t be afraid, as the audience is supportive and the setting is relaxed. “This coffee house has a small, more intimate setting. I’ve been told it’s like going to my house or to my living room.”
Café Noir is the most likely place to find Rich McCloud on any given Friday. His style is a mix of soul and hip-hop and a little rock as of lately. He just released his first album, “Where do we go?” which is available for download on iTunes. He’s a full-time artist and musician.
“I started doing open mics and talent shows here and there,” said McCloud. “People are really digging what I’m doing.” McCloud’s lyrics convey his personal experiences and emotions, and touch upon religion and politics.
“I moved to Oregon because I want my family to be raised in a different environment than where I was raised,” said McCloud, a father of three. “I grew up around danger and violence. The most tragic thing was having a soul that was so much more than the prison around me. Singing and music were my focus, my best friends. Music was my teacher too.”
McCloud recently tried the newest open mic in town, which takes place Wednesday evenings at Clockworks Café and Cultural Center. “I loved it. Their sound system is good and the vibe is good,” he said.
Clockworks Café opened in May. “We’ve been blessed with a very diverse clientele, from professional musicians to thirteen-year-old girls singing a capella for the first time. We encourage people of all backgrounds as an opportunity to create,” said manager Ryan Rogers. “It’s casual, try it out! I would even feel comfortable getting up on stage and playing my guitar and singing.”
Rogers said they’ve been seeing about fifteen performances every open mic night, and audiences vary. He said, “First Wednesday open mic nights tend to be more exciting because a lot of people are downtown.”
Rogers said the response has been positive. “Salemites are excited to be able to have projects where they can be creative and they’re taking advantage of that.”
