open mic

or o·pen mike

[ oh-puhn mahyk ]

noun

1. 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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of open mic¹

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

Example Sentences

It was his usual lack of discipline that got him caught on an open mic saying he’s “had it with her.”

From The Daily Beast

Selected open mic readers from tonight’s competition, including the winner, will be invited to compete at a later event for a $1,000 book contract.

From Washington Blade

He later apologized for his remarks — but was caught on an open mic admitting that he still held those views.

From Washington Post

He attended open mic events in cafes, paying to perform before a crowd, as often as three or four times in one night.

From Time

So I did, and I hit my first open mic at the Helium Comedy Club in Portland.

From Ozy

While it seemed philosophical, at its core, its had nothing to do with the open mic.

From The Daily Beast

Wearing a plaid shirt, the stocky singer looked like a bricklayer playing an open mic at a bar.

From The Daily Beast

He soon began performing at open mic nights in the East Village.

From The Daily Beast

Once upon a time—in, like, 1988—Beck Hansen actually played open-mic nights.

From The Daily Beast

And for these gay artists, MySpace, YouTube, and SoundCloud are like the open-mic nights and demo tapes of days past.

From The Daily Beast