Arts and Entertainment

GVL Archive/ Nicole Somerville
Valentiger plays a Barak the vote show at Area 51 in Kirkhof on Friday, October 24.

First open mic night heats up Area 51

By Erika Stack
11/19/2008

The room was hot, but students braved the temperature to fill every seat in Area 51 for Spotlight Productions' first Open Mic Night on Tuesday, leaving some people to watch from the doorway.

Starting next semester, the event will occur once a month, offering students the chance to have the stage to themselves for 15 minutes. All it takes is a Web site sign up.

"(Tuesday's) event was sort of a trial run to see how successful it would be," said Alicia Dembinski, Spotlight Production's Music Committee chair. "By participating, performers have the opportunity to get their name out on campus and promote their music."

Tuesday's audiences saw eight acts, each performing covers of songs or original pieces they wrote themselves or with their bands.

And they got to indulge in some free juice, cookies and cupcakes in the process.

"We even have some students who are already interested in performing at the next (event)," Dembinski said. "The turnout was better than expected, which I'm sure is in part due to the offering of free food -- college students love free food."

Still, the allure of free music trumped the snacks for many students.

"I just came for the music, it's nice to have these kinds of events for students," said senior Goran Micic, an audience member. "It's too bad (the event) is only once a month, though. I'm definitely coming back again."

First to take the stage was sophomore geology major Matthew Boike, armed with only acoustic guitar and his voice.

Boike said he has played in "really random places" all over the state in the past, but plans to return to play Open Mic Night again.

"It's a really good time, sharing the love of music with everyone," Boike said. "If I'm allowed to come back, I would love to."

Boike played a set of three original songs.

Not every act was solo, though. One performance consisted of a guitarist accompanied by two singers who promised the audience a song worthy of a parental advisory label, warning those easily offended to "cover their ears."

Another male guitarist asked a female vocalist to join him in covering "Lucky" by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat.

Yet another duo harmonized to Eagle-Eye Cherry's popular "Save Tonight."

"Overall, Spotlight was very pleased with the success of its first Open Mic Night and we are looking forward to working with Area 51 next semester so that we can incorporate it into Kirkhof programming and create a new campus tradition," Dembinski said. "There are a lot of creative and talented students on this campus and we want to give them an opportunity to share their talent with their peers."

Area 51, located in the lower level of the Kirkhof Center on the Allendale Campus, was chosen as the venue for the Open Mic Nights because of the "relaxed and intimate environment" that allows performers to easily interact with the audience, Dembinski said.

For more information on the event, or to register to perform at the next Open Mic Night, visit Spotlight Productions' Web site at http://www.gvsu.edu/studentlife/programming.

estack@lanthorn.com

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