Small crowds of students gather to hear solo and small group musicians perform at the University Board’s Open Mic Nights. Across town, independent local bands draw their own steady intimate crowds who often pack local bars.

Both scenes can have spotty turnouts. Jacob Unterberger, a sophomore electronic media studies major, has been a faithful attendee and a hip-hop performer at the open mic series for two years.

The Open Mic Series is commonly held at the 7th Street Underground, and Unterberger now is on the committee to help plan the series. Unterberger prefers to play wherever there is good diversity and the crowd is the liveliest.

“It is pretty much hit or miss with the kinds of crowds you get at open mic,” Unterberger said. “Sometimes you get a bunch of great performers, but no one will show up at open mic and sometimes you can have a lot of people. It is different every single open mic, every single show.”

Sean Walker, a senior art painting major, is the lead vocalist for the local Staff Blues Band, which plays all over town and often at the local bars. Walker said a few members of the band will occasionally play at the Open Mic Nights. The full band never plays because it is not worth all the work to set up the full band to play only three songs.

Bryan Rolfsen, a senior biological science major, lead guitarist and singer for the band Howard, agrees with Walker.

“Seventh Street is pretty nice if you are only one or two people playing acoustic,” Rolfsen said. “But if you put a lot of noise into 7th Street Underground, it is pretty hard to play intelligibly down there.”

Walker prefers the bar scene because he is more drawn to the full band aesthetics. He comes from a background of playing a couple different instruments, and enjoys seeing all the musical parts collaborate.

“It becomes more about what these people can do when they come together, so that’s what I really like more so about the music of the full band scene as opposed to the open mic scene.”

Walker said there are fewer in attendance at the open mics versus the local bars.

“The local band scene, that’s when you see more crowd participations, also competition,” Walker said. “I don’t want to say it, but the booze helps people open up. At the bar scene people are dancing; they are up and out of their seats. At the open mic, people are not as rowdy.”

Walker’s favorite memory was at the bar Mad Hatter’s last December, when the band was just starting out and the crowds were receptive.

“It was some of the biggest crowds we had played [for] in such a long time,” Walker said. “It was just a lot of fun, it is always exciting when you see 50-60 people dancing. The better the crowd, the better the show.”

Each venue has its own pros and cons that determine why musicians prefer playing at certain venues over others.

Joe Garrison, a senior sociology major and a vocalist and guitarist for the band Mugwump Specific, enjoys playing at Mac’s Uptowner because of the socializing and general cosmetic feel.

“It is a guy bar and I love it. And there is a little stage, and it is not very big.” Garrison said. “It’s kinda dirty and messy. I kinda like it. It fits us; I think it fits us as a band.”

Even though many local bands prefer to play at venues off campus, the Open Mic Nights serve a unique function. For Garrison, it was a good stepping stone to get him to play in front of people. He did not feel judged when he did. Walker networked with fellow musicians at open mics, hence his current position with the Staff Blues Band.

“I think both are very valuable by all means,” Walker said. “Open mic is great opportunity for networking. It is the most important thing about it if you are looking to start a group. It also gives another side because of the solo performers who do not get to come out as much. Also the open mic is great for the underage students since they can’t get into the bar.”

Colleen Kitka can be reached a 581-7942 or crkitka@eiu.edu.