 Rue Moyer KARAOKE is one of the most popular forms of entertainment in China. It enables ordinary people to feel like a star while they s sing pop hits. But true stars sing in front of strangers. True stars perform their own songs. If you feel intimidated by the prospect of doing these things, come to one of the city’s open mic nights and your worries will disappear. Instead of relying on the tinny background music that KTVs provide, why not use real equipment and stand on a real stage? At open mic, you can enjoy the exhiliration of entertaining total strangers with your talent. As David Seymour, manager of La Casa bar and restaurant in Coco Park, puts it, “My favorite part has to be the inclusiveness. Everybody is truly welcomed by the audience, and other performers. Also, the way audiences join in the fun. Whether it be jumping on stage to share the mic for a chorus, or shaking a shaker or tambourine, all is encouraged.” Just ask Elli Yifrach, the city’s biggest live music lover and avid bongo drum player, “It’s like chocolate, mostly sweet and highly addictive.”  As Shenzhen’s expat community continues to grow, more bars are introducing their own open mic night. It has reached the point where you can find one almost every night, including three in Coco Park. La Casa was the first in Shenzhen, having held one at 10 p.m. on Sunday nights since 2009. Almost every week, five to 10 players show up, keeping the atmosphere lively until 2-3 a.m. Because it is surrounded by clubs that make obscene amounts of noise every other night of the week, Sunday night is the only night Seymour can have music played in his bar. This is part of what makes it so powerful. This summer, Rapscallions Cafe Bar started holding open mic nights every Thursday, hosted by local band Brue. The bar hosts live music from Thursday to Sunday. Many local musicians come to show off their skills, hoping to land a regular gig. INfuze, the CTLC teacher band, did just that and now perform most Saturdays. The Filipino house bands at McCawley’s, both in Coco Park and Shekou, provide professional-level accompaniment to anyone that takes the stage on Friday nights. Country and folk music fanatic Dave Stone hosts an open mic at the Boat House in Coastal Rose Garden, Phase 2, Shekou. Most recently, at the suggestion of manager Tom O’Connor, the intimate Penny Black Jazz Cafe in OCT-LOFT opens its stage Mondays for local jazz musicians to improvise with professional musicians.  Around the world, open mics open up opportunities for local amateur musicians to get stage time, but it’s also where professional players can find other musicians, especially in the Pearl River Delta. Sean Maj, owner of the popular live music pub Hooley’s in Guangzhou, says: “We are all passionate about music as owners, and open mics are the best way to meet local musicians and help them form bands. We are proud that we have helped form a lot of the bands that play around the city, and of course at Hooley’s.” Seymour agrees it’s the same in Shenzhen, “I have always thought an open mic existed mainly for the inexperienced looking for a place to start, but here in Shenzhen, with the severe lack of demand for live original music, it has come to attract more seasoned performers just happy to have a place to get up and play.”  Sadly, in my five years in the region, I’ve yet to find a Chinese music venue that hosts open mic for local Chinese musicians. Maybe it’s because spontaneous, original live music is more of a Western thing or maybe it has something to do with the Chinese concept of “face.” Or maybe, marketing for KTV is just easier. But with the “inclusiveness” that Seymour speaks of, hopefully more Chinese music lovers and musicians will feel comfortable getting involved in this community event. As Maj says, “It’s great when a local Chinese musician has the confidence to get up in front of a lot of people!” Here in Shenzhen, the dam is slowly breaking. Local girl Michelle Yang occasionally gets up to sing at La Casa in both Chinese and English. Big things have small beginnings. Open mic nights Monday 9:30 p.m. Penny Black Jazz Cafe, OCT-LOFT Phase 2 Host: Bin Bin Tel: 8609-8585 No. 134, Block A5, North Phase, Wenchang Street, OCT-LOFT, Nanshan District 南山区华侨城创意园文昌街二期A5栋134 McCawley’s Irish Pub, Shekou Host: John Niera Tel: 2668-4496 Shop 118 Sea World, Shekou, Nanshan District 南山区蛇口海上世界118号商铺 Tuesday 9:30 p.m. McCawley’s Irish Pub, Coco Park Host: Harmony, house band Tel: 2531-3599 Units 151-152, north of Coco Park, 138 Mingtian Road, Futian District 福田区民田路138号购物公园北区 151～152号商铺 Thursday 8 p.m. Rapscallions Cafe Bar, Coco Park Host: local band Brue Tel: 8359-7131 North of Coco Park, 138 Mingtian Road, Futian District 福田区民田路138号购物公园北区 Friday 9 p.m. The Boat House, Shekou Host: Dave Stone Tel: 188-1857-5457 16 Rose Garden Phase 2, Wanghai Road, Shekou, Nanshan District 南山区蛇口望海路南海玫瑰园二期16号 Sunday 9 p.m. La Casa, Coco Park Host: David Seymour Tel: 8290-3279 North of Coco Park, 139 Fuhua Road, Futian District 福田区福华路购物公园139号 | 