Artsville Open Mic returns with Guest Hosts, Bigger Prizes

Artsville has updated their popular monthly music event, Artsville Open Mic, once again for 2014. The changes include guest hosts and judges and bigger monthly cash prizes. Artsville Open Mic returns Monday, January 6. Songwriters may sign up today.

Last year, Artsville made major changes to their Open Mic format, essentially transforming the event into a year-long first round of their annual Artsville Songwriting Competition, which happens each November.

This year the format remains the same. Each act plays two original songs. At the end of the night, three finalists play one more song a piece, and then an anonymous judge declares a winner. Songwriters are judged on songwriting, vocal performance, instrumental performance, stage presence, and audience response.

This year the entry fee increases from $3 to $5. This will also increase the monthly cash prize given to each month’s winner. The winning act also earns a spot in the 2014 Artsville Songwriting Competition, with a chance at a $1,000 grand prize.

Songwriters must sign up on Artsville’s website, welcometoartsville.com. Complete rules and other details are also available on the website.

According to their website, “Artsville exists to catalyze the innate creativity in all of us.” Artsville is also responsible for the successful series, Artsville House Concerts.