Christchurch Folk Music Club

Perform to an appreciative audience, who will listen, engage and respect your performance. You will be amongst friends.

We provide an outlet for local acoustic performers – singers, songwriters & poets all welcome. We encourage all levels – novice or expert – to hone performance skills in front of a sympathetic audience.

Everything is provided – microphones, stage, lighting, leads, music stands – plus a dedicated sound tech who will work with you to make your best!

If you have specific requests please talk to him before the event starts. We are a listening audience that focuses respectfully on the performers and lots of encouragement.

Perform material you know – we don’t expect perfection but you’ll always come across better if you really know your stuff. However, if you are a regular performer at our open mics we challenge you to bring new material to share.

Further develop your repertoire whilst offering the audience variety.

Sign-up time is 7pm. Please come promptly to ensure a time-slot. You will get to perform two songs, with a time-limit of up to 10 minutes; this includes your setting up and introductions.
You are most welcome to bring your own mic.

• Be tuned-up and ready to take the stage when it’s your turn.
  * Stay close to the mic for best vocals – our mics work best between 25 and 75mm.
• After you play, the polite thing to do is stick around and listen to others.
• Be positive and encouraging. It takes guts to get up and everyone deserves bouquets for doing that.
• We all make mistakes, blow chords, and forgets lyrics sometimes. Don’t worry and don’t apologise.
• Do play contrasting songs (One slow, one fast, one in major, one in minor, one strummed, one finger picking etc.)
• Don’t play two songs in the same key back-to-back. Even if an audience doesn’t know, their ears will start to get bored.
• Don’t apologise before you play a song. We want to be excited about your song, support yourself by being positive.
• Do have fun! Savour the experience. You transmit your feelings from the stage – so if you have fun so will the audience.
• Practice your introductions, short & specific – you’d prefer they remember the song and not the long-winded ramble – right?
• Do prepare. Don’t launch into something you’re still learning * be kind to yourself and take the time you need to prepare and be confident!
• Keep coming back. You’ll get better and better…
  …and bring your friends to cheer you on.