SOUND OFF! Open Mic Mondays

Step into the spotlight at SOUND OFF! Open Mic, where your voice takes center stage! Join us for a night of uninhibited artistic expression and release as we invite you to SOUND OFF! This is your safe space to share your thoughts, emotions, and creativity in a supportive environment. Whether you're a seasoned performer or a first-time speaker, come amplify your voice and be part of a community that values and celebrates the power of expression. Let the world hear what you have to say at SOUND OFF! Open Mic – because every voice deserves to be heard. Join us on 4th Mondays for an evening of music, poetry, spoken word and artisan vendors.

The mic is open to ALL performers (18+) from poets, singers to comedians!

Musical vibes by Nomad Mal

Tickets are on a PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN sliding scale ($5, $10, or $15).

Interested in performing? Please purchase a ticket on Eventbrite then arrive 10-15min before the show starts to sign-up on the list. There are 12 slots available for open mic performances. The open mic list fills up quickly so please plan to sign up in advance before the list closes.

 

OPEN MIC RULES

1. 5 minutes: As soon your mouth opens, your 5 minutes have begun.

2. Respect the Space: This is a safe space and will be treated as such. The open mic is church for many of us and It takes a lot of courage to share while fighting a war of nerves to share parts of our lives with others. We don’t know each other’s struggles, but we respect one another.

3. What you won’t do: Straight to the point, no racism, no disrespect against ANYONES sexuality, no misogyny, no BS!

4. Watch your mouth: Yes, cursing is allowed but only in context of a poem!

5. Bye Felicia! Not following any of these rules will get you kicked out and banned from future open mics, so play nicely. We all here for a reason, let’s have fun, let’s enjoy this space and the art we are about to witness.



Here is a clip from our June 24th Sound Off poem that the entire crowd pitched together to create curated by Pianir The Poet.

Sound Off is every 4th Monday at Creative Suitland from 7pm-9pm. All performing artists are welcome to perform!

~ Check out this poem from the jalapenos ~

March 27th, 2023

At the end of each Open Mic, we pass around our Sound Off poetry book and let everyone in the audience get to write their own verse. After everyone has received the chance to write, Pi-Anir the Poet reads the poem the Creative Suitland community created out loud.

Espanol

By The Creative Suitland Community

                              With each cycle of an inhale & exhale

             We break each other in & become one. We're all linked to the tree of life.

                    Someone waiting on you, talk that talk & walk that walk.

            Shine your inner light. Soul like Willie hatch but they passed me

                       The ball is when I learned I'm really clutch.

                “ We playing basketball’   “ We playing basketball’

                                    “ We love that basketball”

            Little penny, Chris Rock, keep my wifes names out to outstanding, 

                    Standing out. Steadily out like kyrie or Simmons. 

                         Pass me the ball imma shoot it like kobe

                     Whether I make it or not, I was bold enough to shoot.

.                  You'll remember me as the one who always had heart.

                       And If you don't you just won't but I will forget.

        My thoughts rage like stormy seas but my spirits at ease because

                           God got my life lined up like a layup. \

                                  These Rhymes are no crimes 

                      I'm a nomad wanting to belong somewhere

        I hope not to find God's bliss for the lost and the too far Gone.

                    God blessed his people with talent to perform.

                        New page, new wave, old head, cool fade

             This got me feeling like LL Cool J, but a menace to society. 

                                  Well that's what a few say, 

             Accountability is what is needed  Before accusing.

            I carry the surname Brad, yet no kin to shakespeare. 

     I  shake the sphere with my right hand and take ears as i write

         With my left hand will yall finally call me by name? 

                      Let's expand and grow like only we can, 

           Keeping our eyes towards the light, begetting lights.

            We shine a reflection of the divine,

                                 and live the best we can. 

Even though spirits are broken he tosses turns of

her spirit battling with hurt.

                      Pour on me, such appalling rain misty days.

The world is dazed.

                           Beauty comes through rejuvenation. 

                                           April rain. April rain. 

     Bliss is revealed and misguided by the guilty pleasure of life.

                   Yet so sour to the deception of a great taste.

   Be The greatestness you imagined as a kid to prove yourself. 

                     Be the role model you always wanted. 

             You have the power to master your craft  so use it

            You are beautiful inside and out. Be bold in excellence

                              until the day the grave cradles you.

                                    Battered, Broken & Bruised. 

                            ~      So much powerful inspiration ~

                         What a good group of talented people

                          May God continue to bless them all.