Kai Ramsay came to Big Mouth without any intentions of performing. But when the spotlight pointed down on the first-year music production major, he was met with the cheers of fellow students as he sang to the indie pop song playing from the speakers.
“Even if it’s not like the biggest concert or show, it helps students know what they can expect at any other open mic,” he said.
With the doors to the HAUS opening at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, Big Mouth kicked off the first week back on campus with one of many open mic night opportunities at Columbia. The stage was taken over by a wide variety of performers, though the night specifically highlighted first-year students.
Stephanie Haro, senior radio major and president of the Student Programming Board, was the host of the night, and she wasn’t surprised by the amount of new performers.
“We’ve always gotten a pretty big pool. It’s our first event of the year, and it’s really a spot for freshmen to shine and put themselves out there on their first week on campus,” Haro said. “It’s one of the first times that they can actually perform. A lot of them are singers and poets and comedians, and we just give them that platform to showcase their talents in front of their peers for the first time.”
First-year music production major Kinny Smith had an energetic performance, singing an original contemporary R&B piece with a choreographed dance break. Smith felt that Big Mouth gave new performers a stage they otherwise wouldn’t have had access to.
“It’s an opportunity that sometimes people don’t feel like they have,” Smith said. “It’s good to start on an open mic, to go up there and show what they can do. It’s an opportunity to get their foundation in performing.”
Over 70 students came in support of the performers, and with it being the second open mic of the year following karaoke earlier in the week, there was a strong sense of community in the crowd.
First-year performance and songwriting major Amari Thomas performed a melancholic piano ballad about family during which he was moved to tears. Despite the unexpected emotion, the crowd cheered Thomas on.
“I think it’s just the kind of atmosphere where you want to go and do your best and put your best foot forward when you go out there,” Thomas said. “And you have people in the crowd who are very supportive, no matter what.”
Copy edited by Isaac Russo
