Since 2019, students have looked forward to experiencing a multitude of talents displayed at Olympia High School’s Open Mic. Some come to watch, while many come to perform. Getting up on stage for the first time isn’t easy, though.
Cris VanDelden took the stage for the first time at the October 2nd Open Mic. Though they’ve attended before, VanDelden stated it was their first time performing. With their guitar in hand, VanDelden described how getting in front of everyone felt “intimidating; [they had] to zone out and focus on what [they] was trying to do.” But after a phenomenal performance of “Hey You” by Pink Floyd, VanDelden described the experience as “rewarding in knowing what [they] did wrong.”
VanDelden plans to bring their guitar experience to future Open Mics along with other talents they’re eager to share. Next time, VanDelden hopes to “bring [their] skateboard up there and do some skateboarding tricks.” VanDelden encouraged others to think outside the box and perform more than expected at the event, exclaiming “[they] would love to see people pushing the boundaries of what [they] can do [at] Open Mic.”
Similar first-time experiences resonate with Open Mic veterans as equally as newcomers. Two-year Open Mic host Simone Meade explained she “was totally nervous [her first time]. [She] had [the poem] up on [her] phone and [her] hands were shaking.” Meade recalled questioning why she was nervous, but ultimately delivered a reading of “Two Mule Deer” by Didi Jackson. After the performance, she felt good in the sense that she “was conquering something with such a satisfying feeling to share it and have positive reception.”
Meade conveyed that her confidence steadily began to build after her first performance because “[she] know[s] it’s a collaborative environment and no one’s judging [her].” She was inspired by countless others before her who did more than the standard performance, explaining how she saw “someone come up and do lacrosse tricks [and] someone else come and shred on his bassoon.” She expresses that anyone can enjoy Open Mic, whether they perform or watch.
Though it can be hard to take the first step, Open Mic is a nonjudgemental area to share anything and everything in front of an audience. The first Wednesday of every month is a brand-new opportunity to share a work of art that Olympia High School has never seen before.
