Waldorf Students Perform for Open Mic Night

Andrew May entertained the audience by playing Pokemon songs on his ocarina. Photo courtesy Maggie Kretzmann

By Maggie Kretzmann

Gatsby’s was busier than normal Thursday, Feb. 11, as it was time once again for the Waldorf Open Mic night. Open mic night is held once every semester, and gives Waldorf students and faculty a chance to get in front of their peers and perform poetry, sing, play instruments or do what they love to do best, as well as showcase submissions of art and photography.

The Waldorf Literary Review and the Waldorf Writing Organization helps coordinate these nights to promote the Waldorf Literary Review publication and to get students involved, as most students don’t like to get up in front of an audience. However, the people who run open mic night want others to know it’s a judgement-free zone, and all are welcome to come showcase their talent.

“I love open mic night because it gives you the ability to perform something without the idea you are going to be judged or voted on, and it’s just something you can go do,” said Marie-Gabrielle Tran, co-chairman of the Warrior’s Writing Club.

Among those who performed Thursday night included Anthony Bloome, who performed a poem as well as sang his “theme song,” Erisha Leann, who sang “Let It Go” by James Bay, Amanda Mercier read two of her own works. Myriah Hacker, Rakailla Pauley, Mandi Right and Marisa Donnelly performed poetry pieces, Andrew May played his ocarina, Hannah Ashley did an impromptu talk about “Girls Needing to Stick Together,” Tim Bascom and Marie-Gabrielle Tran read the second chapter from the book she’s writing.

“My favorite thing about doing open mic night is the fact that I can be a little crazy, and just pump people up and be like ‘yeah!’ you know?” said Rakailla Pauley. “It takes a lot of courage to get up there and be like, ‘I’m gonna pour my heart out for you people’ so, I really like encouraging people like that.”