open mic

or o·pen mike

[ oh-puhn mahyk ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a live show in a club, bar, etc., in which anyone may perform but each performer is given a time limit (often used attributively):
an open mic night for stand-up comedians.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of open mic¹

First recorded in 1975–80; open ( def ) (in sense “in operation, live”) + mic ( def )

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Of course, Stephen Miller is about as funny as a hack comic on open mic night.

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At a recent open mic, with a close group of comedian friends, she tried out a bit of new material: “My six-year-old nephew fell down the stairs. Now he’s afraid to go down stairs … if I’m standing behind him.”

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Adine Porino found this freedom close to home when a flyer advertising an open mic in her apartment complex, Park La Brea, stopped her in her tracks: “Stand Up Comedy Open Mic Night Every Sunday 6:30 p.m.”

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Fate and an open mic brought Watkins and Pearson together, and quite literally from that moment, ignited their dedication to doing something different in the funniest way possible.

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We were both hosting an open mic at the Hollywood Improv.

From

open marriage open mike

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