The PIN.CA Open Mike Collective is a project funded by PIN.CA to create an informal but active network of grassroots musicians and artists and the venues that support them. The goal is to create more interest and support for local talent, and to create opportunities to allow musicians and artists to generate income from their works and the value they provide to the local community.

ARE YOU:

• a local musician, artist, or group appearing at Open Mikes or small venues around the city?
• the owner or manager of an institution providing a regular Open Mike or venue for small shows and events featuring local artists?
• a Host of a local Open Mike or other grassroots event

WOULD YOU:

• appreciate some free promotion and exposure for your music or recorded artwork
• appreciate some free promotion for your Open Mike and other small grass roots events?
• like to be able to draw in new performers and customers?
• like to be part of a local information sharing collective supporting grass-roots economy?

CAN YOU:

• Commit to playing a 15 minute 'radio-like' promotional mp3 featuring recorded performances of local artists and providing information about upcoming events and performances a minimum of 3 times a week (preferably before or during an Open Mike or other grassroots event featuring local talent, or some other time when your customers are most likely to hear it?)

If you answered yes, then Brian at PIN.CA is interested in hearing from you!

If you wish to download and listen to the proof of concept mp3 simply click here. (The file is around 25MB and depending on your connection may take quite a few minutes to download.)  All works are copyright of the artists. You may share these promotional pieces but do not edit, sell or use for other marketing purposes without the written permission of pin.ca and the artists.

The idea is simple...

Any local artist or musician with decent quality wave recordings willing to allow us to use their music or other performances will be included in the weekly promotional mp3, The PIN.CA Open Mike Collective, at all the participating venues around the City.

The goal is to create an informal local network and information sharing stream for promoting local talent and the venues that support them and to jump-start a local grass-roots economy that values and helps sustain local people who provide real value to others living in or visiting the city.

The only requirements are that you...

1. are from Victoria or currently performing in Victoria.
2. would like to perform more.
3. are looking for ways to be paid for your music or performances.

There are no other restrictions other than to keep it clean!  We will let the listeners and venues decide what music and performers they enjoy listening to the most, and what information they value most.

Once we have 7-10 participating venues up and running we can expand the program in new and exciting directions such as running a Victoria-wide Best of Open Mike Challenge.

Artists, Hosts, and Venue Owner and Managers:

We will provide all the technological support required to help you upload your performances, and download and play the weekly mp3. The promotional mp3 can be provided as a CD to be played in a CD-player or as an mp3 file to be played on a computer or mp3 player plugged into the Open Mike amplification system. We can provide cables and mp3 players as required if your commitment is long term.

We can also provide you with a sample mp3 to evaluate the program, or if you would like to try a live demonstration we would be happy to assist you.

Contact Brian, the voice of the PIN.CA Open Mike Collective,
at 250-858-125 or embp@pin.ca for more information!

If you are fairly computer savvy and would like to see how the system of uploading music tracks and downloading the promotional pieces works click below to download the pdf, 'How to access the POM FTP server'.  If you have any technical difficulties contact Brian at embp@pin.ca.

If you wish to download and listen to the proof of concept mp3 simply click here. (The file is around 25MB and depending on your connection may take quite a few minutes to download.)  All works are copyright of the artists. You may share these promotional pieces but do not edit, sell or use for other marketing purposes without the written permission of pin.ca and the artists.