WANT TO GO? Open Stage

WANT TO GO?

'Open Stage'

Hosted by Ron Sowell

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday

WHERE: Unity of Kanawha Valley, 804 Myrtle Road (new address). Call 304-549-1825.

COST: Adults $5, performers, seniors and children, $2

 

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- When Ron Sowell started "Open Stage," his monthly open mic night at Unity of Kanawha Valley 12 years ago, he had no idea how successful it would become.

"We just thought we'd try it for a couple months," said the singer/songwriter, who serves as host of the event. "It became this big thing. We always have people. Even when we have big snowstorms, I have to make it up there somehow because people will be there."

That hasn't always been the case, though. Sowell remembers a night early on when only one person signed up to perform; he and Sowell performed for the whole night.

Now, "Open Stage" attracts between 14 to 20 performers each month; some are regulars who come from Beckley, Princeton and Clarksburg. Each one gets either two songs or 10 minutes.

"Anyone can come in and sign up," Sowell said. "We get everything from people who have never been on stage before to some of the local pros, like John Lilly, who come by and try out new material.

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Singer/songwriter Ron Sowell moves "Open Stage," his monthly open mic night, to Unity of Kanawha Valley's new location on Myrtle Road starting this month. DOUGLAS IMBROGNO | Gazette

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"We have people come in and check it out, and they'll come back two or three times before finally getting the courage to do something," he said. "Then, a lot of times, once they've broken through that barrier, they come back on a regular basis."

"Open Stage" is held the second Friday of every month. This month is the first time it will be at Unity of Kanawha Valley's new location at 804 Myrtle Road in South Hills.

It begins at 7:30 p.m. (performers start signing up at 7) and lasts until everyone has performed. "It runs until at least 10:30, but very often until midnight or 12:30 because we want everyone to have a chance."

Giving people a chance is very important to Sowell.

"When I started my career as a singer/songwriter, there were coffeehouses and different venues where I could go and try out material and experiment with things. I felt that I needed to create that opportunity for other people," he said. "This is a nice, secure place for people to express their creativity."

Sowell and the performers aren't the only ones who like "Open Stage"; there's a good turnout in the audience, too. Sowell says it only takes about 50 to 75 people to fill the performance space and that, most of the time, it's pretty full.

"It's a great audience, a real listening audience," he said. "They're very accepting and encouraging. It's a great place to try out new material."

Last year, Unity minister Sky Kershner started an open mic for children, held on the fourth Friday of the month. Sowell emcees it.

"The kids can come in and do a song, play an instrument, do a dance, tell a joke," Sowell said. "Anything goes."

The event is open to children up to age 15. Each performer's set is about three minutes long, and the show is about an hour and a half.

"The kids are just really excited to be there," he said. "It gives them a chance to get up on stage with a microphone -- and there are some surprisingly good kids out there."

He recalled one particularly memorable performance: "One night, this little girl, who I think was about 5, got up there; I had to lift her up on the stool we have for the microphone. She brought her Dr. Seuss book and did a reading of it. She brought the house down."

Reach Amy Robinson at flips...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-4881.

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Sky Kershner, 304-346-9689 x13
Kanawha Pastoral Counseling
www.kpcc.com