While there are school choirs and youth orchestras helping kids take the first steps in their musical journeys, there’s less support for pint-sized pop stars, jazz artists and rockers, keen to climb the Everest that is getting up on stage. Enter Junior Open Mic (JOM), a parent-led initiative organising free open mic events for under 18s.
The sessions typically take place in Herne Hill’s Off The Cuff Music Bar, or in neighbouring gig venues, and are run by a pool of around 20 volunteers.
The scheme was born “unintentionally” in 2017 out of founder Andy Gray’s desire to support his daughter who had taken up playing the ukulele.
Andy convinced the manager at Off The Cuff to allow junior musicians like his daughter to perform during quiet periods.
Fast forward to 2023 and these sessions typically welcome around 70 young musicians to the stage over a seven hour period.
JOM was recognised as a Lambeth Gold Charter Mark Winner in 2021 and was named a BBC Make A Difference Awards Finalist in 2023.
In the seven years since its inception, its musicians have gone on to big starry things too: supporting The Libertines, Blondie and Tom Odell, and performing at Glastonbury and Reading Folk Festival among them. One young musician went on to win TV talent contest The Voice Kids with an original song.
We spoke to JOM founder Andy Gray to find out more…
Who are your open mic events open to in terms of ages and abilities?
They are open mic days, rather than nights, as we’re working with young people. These fall mainly on Sundays when the venues aren’t otherwise occupied. They’re open to keen musicians aged 4-18, from absolute beginners to veterans. We welcome anyone from soloists through to nine-piece bands.
Presumably all participants bring their own instruments, but what’s provided on site?
The stage is fully equipped with vocal mics, instrumental mics, e-guitar tube amps, a bass amp, a drum set, a vintage full-size keyboard, inputs for acoustic guitars with pick-ups, speakers, a lighting rig, haze machine and professional sound engineering.
Essentially, all the gadgets you could need to perform live.
Backing music can also be played through the PA via a mobile phone.
Junior Open Mic at Off the Cuff
Wow, quite the set up! So, how do the events typically unfold?
There are two session types running back to back on the same day: a Junior Open Mic for ages 4-15, which lasts two hours, then a Youth Open Mic for ages 12-18, which lasts over five hours.
Do you offer anything by way of advice or support to performers between gigs? Or are there communal rehearsals at all?
The advice is never about musical skill or creativity. This is really important.
The performers’ musical journey is theirs alone.
However, if necessary, we will advise on the technical side, for example how to hold a mic. We do basic sound checks prior to every performance and only proceed with the performance if the artist is ready. There is always an experienced volunteer stage hand setting up each act, checking things like mic heights and amp volume/tone.
When parents get in touch between gigs we try to help where possible. For example, we recently put two sets of parents in touch: one with a drummer seeking a band and another representing a band seeking a drummer.
If you have performed at JOM before we also lend out free musical equipment for you to try at home.
Tell us about some of the venues you host gigs at. Do you, or your young musicians, tend to have a favourite?
Our spiritual home is Off The Cuff Music Bar in Herne Hill. They lend us their space for free and pay for a professional sound engineer.
However, since 2020, we’ve sporadically run events at other music venues. These are called ‘JOM On The Road’ sessions. They are at Hootananny in Brixton, The Bedford in Balham and Temple of Art & Music in Elephant & Castle. Next year we hope to partner with Camden Club.
All venues have a fully equipped, purpose-built stage. The venue size dictates the kind of open mic session we run, for example Hootananny’s stage is too big for four-year-old beginners!
We’ve also organised two big free outdoor youth music festivals, and last year put on a showcase set at the family festival Brockwell Bounce, using their enormous festival stage.
JOM sessions will presumably be the first chance many young musicians will have had to experience the gig circuit. What sort of skills does taking part in an open mic night equip them with?
Confidence, stagecraft and learning from the other acts. The more they perform the easier it becomes. There’s no such thing as a perfect performance. Mistakes are made and it’s how you learn from them that helps create an artist.
There’s plenty to learn by closely watching the other experienced acts – guitar licks, instrument choices, vocal expressiveness, harmonies, audience interaction, showmanship and so on!
What sort of safeguarding measures are in place at your open mic events to look out for the young musicians?
To enter the venue, all U18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult who must be on site at all times. To make things easier, one adult can bring (and sign in for) up to eight U18s.
Sessions are run by volunteer parents: between six and eight parents per session volunteer in roles including managing the sign-in desk, marshalling the doors, acting as compères, assisting the performers or the stage, and taking photos. With parent/artist permission, photos are gifted to artists afterwards as a memento of the day.
Lastly, what words of advice would you give to any budding young musicians about finding the confidence to get on stage?
If you sign up to perform and it doesn’t feel right on the day then you can discreetly drop out at any point. There’s no pressure, just respect. It’s a big thing to step up on stage and take a risk. But if you do, then you’ve just made something special and shared your music with others on your own terms. I think that’s pretty cool!
JOM Youth Music sessions run on a monthly basis.
For information about future session dates, email Andy Gray on jomjunioropenmic@gmail and he’ll add you to the mailing list.
Bookings must be made via email from a parent or guardian.
