By Lehara Edirisinghe
The stage is set. Bean bags. Drinks. There's a slight intensity in the air as the performers rush to get ready, the JAM Open Mic's about to begin...
This year, the event was held in the Assembly Hall, in the afternoon after the Avurudu Pola had wrapped up, on the 8th of April 2022. The JAM Open Mic had once again provided AIS with “a platform that was relaxed and casual [for students] to perform for their friends and family,” as Ms. Natasha Senanayake (Choral and Music Director of AIS) puts it. The JAM Open Mic has been up and running since the Club's early days and has evidently become a space for the students of AIS to show off their talents. The event featured a variety of different vocal and instrumental performances.
“The highlight of the event was witnessing all the talent in school ranging from the singers to the instrument players, the drummers, pianists, guitarists... It was amazing” - Amanda Aluthge, one of the performers at the event.
Aluthge, also a participant of the event, shared her experience, “Did you know that the Open Mic has been happening for years now? (excitedly) The open mic has been happening for so many years, but obviously, because of COVID-19 we couldn't have it for two years and I missed the event so much during those two years. When I found out it was happening this year, I was so excited.” Seeing all this enthusiasm makes one wonder how the Open Mic had benefited her.
Aluthge went on to say that the event had very much helped her come out of her shell as a performer. “The first time I sang at the event was the first time I had performed publicly in school. That was the moment when everyone found out that I could sing.”
This was precisely what Ms. Senanayake and the JAM community had set out to do “the goal is that the AIS community is constantly exposed to the talents of our students and everyone is enjoying their skills. It gives our students something to work towards, and the only way to get better as a performer is by performing.”
Both Ms. Senanayake and Aluthge gave insight into how everything went behind the scenes as well. Anyone interested could volunteer to fill a slot, it was completely open. However, for the benefit of the performers, before the event Ms. Senanayake offered them feedback and tips. Still, performing can be unnerving, so what advice do our performers have to overcome such tribulations?
“I mean every performer feels nervous leading up to their performance... but the instant I step onto that stage and hold that microphone and start singing - I just see myself back in my room performing” Aluthge spoke on how important it was to trust your instincts, “Play to your strengths, not other people's expectations.”
Furthermore, Ms. Senanayake provided some extremely valuable advice for musicians. “The best advice I have for aspiring musicians and anyone who wants to take music seriously and really do something with their talent, is that it’s important to realize what a lot of music entails - how much practice and dedication and devotion and commitment is needed, and necessary for you to get to a certain place. That has to come from early on. You have to practice your instrument every day, you have to give it time every day, and commit to it every day and be working towards goals every year so that you continue to get better and better in your instrument or your voice, whatever you do as a musician.”
The JAM community, apart from the probability of another Open Mic, plans to hold a concert, and has organized a songwriting competition (for which the winner will be able to work with JAM, to record and produce their song) So keep a lookout for what they do next!
So, what do you say? Sign up for the Open Mic next time?
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