Unleash your song at CaRaVaN Open Mic

North End

Music and art have always been some of my favourite things.

I first read Your Erroneous Zones by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer when I was 15, as a gift from one of my older sisters. It was one of those books that was packed with inspirational and practical wisdom. I’ve read the book many times over the years and always gain some new insights every time. One of the pieces of information that was very profound to me when I first read it was that everyone one has a song, or something to share with others, inside them and to make sure you find that ‘song’ get it out before you pass on. He talked about going back to your childhood and trying to remember what made you happy as a kid. Was it drawing, singing, acting, helping people, fixing things, etc.? He said that as a child (or animal for that matter) we have natural instincts and proclivities.

When I the bookin my late 20s in Vancouver, in the late ’90s, I started writing poetry. I was also studying Zen Buddhism at the time and they mentioned how when you have problems in your head, put it down on paper and the ‘problem’ is now out of your head. it becomes a tangible thing that you can look at, analyze and tear apart. The final process was to burn the paper. Well, I expanded on that process and put my ‘problems’ down on paper in the form of poetry. I found the exercise to be very cathartic. Although I never did burn any of my poems (as I like looking back at where I was then compared to where I am now), my way of ‘burning’ the paper has been to recite the poems at open mics. Sort of like releasing or letting go of the problem.

Open mics in town have become quite popular over the years and one of my personal favourites has been CaRaVaN which started in September of 2011. There are a quite few other ones throughout the city that I frequent as well. It’s a wonderful community as a lot of the performers are regulars at many different ones. It’s a good vibe and I have made many wonderful friends and collaborations with other creative people “getting their song out.” Paul Little and Tanis Klem, along with many other helpers and co-hosts, have kept CaRaVaN going for many years, but this year they decided to step down as they are both very busy people in the community and Paul is starting a family. A few of the regulars like myself, Tommy Cross, and Mason the Bass Man are hoping to keep it going and have set up behind the Millennium Library for the last few weeks. Normally, in the summer, CaRaVaN has been at the Cube for the last few years and at X-Cues during the winter months, but the Cube is putting in new grass now.

Anyone with a talent — hidden or realized — check out the CaRaVaN Open Mic and release and share that ‘song’ within you. Whether it’s singing, comedy, poetry, spoken word or whatever. Or maybe you might just want to check out some free live entertainment and perhaps even meet a new friend? A new feature to CaRaVaN is to have a featured act/ host each week. Visit the CaRaVaN Facebook page at CaRaVaN Open Mic.