Open Mic Nights In Vancouver

Can you sing? Have you been looking to take your singing in the shower concerts to the next level? Well now is your chance!

Singer

The Savoy Pub in East Hastings hosts open mic night every Tuesday night! Now if you’re anything like me and cannot sing to save a life, maybe stay away from the stage but hey if you want to get up there, why not! https://do604.com/events/weekly/tue/open-mic-tuesday-fabxwkct 

Sign up is at 8:30 pm and the show starts at 9 pm and guess what? Sing or play three songs and you get a free drink. Sounds worth it to me! And all musicians are welcome, if you and your friend have a couple songs you have been working on or if you are a solo act it’s your time to shine!

If you are feeling the stage fright and want something a bit more relaxed but still want to break out your inner artist, it could be time to hit the karaoke stage. And in my opinion, the best place for a great karaoke night to sing the night away is no other than Sailor Hagar’s in North Vancouver. Now I have to say as a regular myself, it is quite a fun way to spend your Saturday night. Pick your favourite song and jam out with some friends! http://sailorhagarspub.com/ 

Sailor Hagar's Brew Pub, North Vancouver

If you have a new original song you are looking to debut, The Fringe Cafe https://thefringecafe.com/home also hosts a great open mic night. Every other Sunday starting at 8:00pm the stage is all yours. 

On the first Thursday of every month (next event November 7th) the Anza Club hosts an open mic night from 6:30pm to 11:59pm. Performers can sign up right at 6:30 and the show starts at 7:00 original tunes are encouraged! Each month there is a featured performer and a theme – November’s featured performer and theme is still yet to be announced but you can follow along for updates closer to the event here https://do604.com/events/2024/11/7/open-mic-tickets. The list is a first come first serve basis so get there quick!

Even if you don’t want to get up on the stage to sing, open mic nights are an awesome way to discover new artists from around your area or even just a good way to catch up with some friends over some live entertainment! Many big artists have been discovered from small gigs like open mic nights, who knows, this could be your chance to make it big! 

 

The Voice Within: Do We All Have More to Say?

Have you ever felt like the “real you” was hiding just beneath the surface? That there were words, thoughts, or a whole personality locked away, waiting to break free? The idea of a hidden voice is something I’ve wrestled with for years.

Growing up, I was the quiet kid. In class, my hand rarely shot up. At parties, you’d find me in the corner, not the center. Was that just my nature? Or was I scared to let my true self be heard? I’ve always wondered whether everyone is capable of singing and it’s a matter of refinement, or if some people just ‘have it’?

Then came college, with its promise of transformation. I joined a debate club, forcing myself to speak despite clammy hands and a racing heart. I took a writing class where the professor praised my “distinctive voice,” a phrase I’d never heard before. Did that voice exist all along, muffled by nerves?

The more I experiment, the more I believe in the untapped potential within us, Especially in BCIT’s Radio Arts & Entertainment program. I see friends who are timid in conversation but fierce writers on social media. I meet classmates who seem reserved but come alive on stage in theater productions. Is it that we have multiple voices, or one voice that can manifest in countless ways?

It’s a question without an easy answer. Psychologists might talk about personality facets or conditioned behaviors. Artists might point to creativity and the urge to express ourselves in different mediums. My personal theory? We’re all carrying a symphony of voices inside, some bold and brassy, others soft and hesitant. It’s about finding the right instruments to play them on.

The quest for my own “hidden voice” has been messy. There have been awkward speeches, cringe-worthy posts, and those moments where I still shrink back instead of speaking out. But there have also been breakthroughs – the unexpected surge of eloquence during a first impression, the surprising wit I find when writing a funny text, the sense of connection when my words resonate with someone else.

I may never fully unlock every voice I harbor, but I’m determined to keep searching. Because I believe the real adventure isn’t about becoming a different person. It’s about discovering all the ways you can be the person you already are, just with the volume turned up a little higher.