The Captain’s Den is a cafe on east campus where most students go to work on homework, catch up with a friend, or enjoy a sandwich. Now, CNU students can add performing to that list of activities as well. The well-known hangout spot has been hosting its Open Mic Night events for almost a month now.
Open Mic Night is a freelance event where students, faculty, and community members can come and perform their talents in front of everyone in the cafe. Several people have taken this opportunity thus far to express themselves through singing, playing instruments, reading poetry, and almost anything that can imaginably be performed.
Open Mic Night is held every Tuesday from 5:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. There are chairs set up for spectators and a small stage ready for people who choose to perform. You do not have to sign up prior to performing, everything is on the spot at your own will.
“Being able to do exactly what we do in our dorm but now in front of people is the most surreal part of all of this,” says Ellis Sitilides, a junior at Christopher Newport University and Open Mic Night performer.
Ellis Sitilides and Finn Gillespie, both juniors here at CNU, performed at the very first Open Mic Night on Tuesday, Sept 5th. Sitilides is an experienced guitar player who has performed at several live events including a restaurant in New York City last winter. Gillespie also plays guitar but instead joins in with a vocal performance alongside Sitilides’ guitar for Open Mic Night. Sitilides says, “There are no rules, it’s just about having that confidence in your talent and rolling with it almost in a spontaneous and unplanned way.”
Many people who aspire to be performers but do not know where to start or are nervous about performing may benefit from this open mic opportunity. “It’s that fear factor you always have early on in your journey. Performance experience and confidence in your abilities help you grow as a musician and as a person,” says Sitilides. The smaller crowd, inviting atmosphere, and joyful experience makes it easier for first-timers to make their debut.
Open Mic Night is a great opportunity for students, faculty, and community members to not only put themselves out there by performing, but also just to go out and meet new people during this stressful mid-semester period.
If you find yourself with a little bit of time on a Tuesday night, sing a tune, listen to a slam, or socialize with students at Open Mic Night. “Captain’s Den is a great place to go and hang out, and the people who run that show are great people who are just looking for someone to have fun and express themselves,” says Sitilides.
