posted
I haven’t done anything like this at my current congregations, but I’ve helped with “coffeehouse” evenings at other congregations. I recommend having at least a few prepared performers ready, rather than relying just on open mike. We did it in the winter, so we had coffee, hot chocolate, and spiced cider, and cookies.
Posts: 9866 | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
Also, make sure you actually have a mike. You can rent sound systems for big events. I would also agree with Dana. Make sure you have people who you know will be there. Maybe a talent show-open mike combo?
Posts: 10890 | Registered: May 2003
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Scott, is it for a smallish group, or for the whole ward? It depends a little on the size of the group. We've done it twice, and the first time had 20, and the second had almost forty.
For both sizes, some things remain the same.
1. Talk to people before hand. Pass out a sign-up sheet, but often they won't sign up. You have to ask people, even those who won't perform, because then you can ask who they know whou could, and get names.
2. Have an informal M.C., and the cheesy jokes are optional.
3. Prepare something yourself, and you can fill in breaks with short essays from Garrison Keiller or Dave Barry.
4. If at all possible, do it in someone's house or backyard. The church is often too formal.
The only difference is that for large groups, you kind of have to the open mike part all at once, so people know when to pay attention. For small gruops, it can go off an on throughout the night, becaue you can quiet a small group more easily.
We served hommus and cookies, because I'd just learned to make hommus and the cookies were the entrance fee.
It was lots of fun. The people that came were the people who don't come to any of the other activities. It was so cool.
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Why do our wards need open mike nights? Isn't that what the first Sunday of the month is for? Posts: 1512 | Registered: A Long Time Ago!
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