Loose Leaf Notes

~ The following was published in The Floyd Press on August 5, 2010.

An Open Mic at Floydfest’s Children’s Universe was conceived last year when Children’s Universe director Uriel Yard noticed a young musician who was persistently trying to get on stage to perform.  She voiced her interest to festival planners about providing a performance space for young people and a new stage was built to accommodate them and other scheduled children’s entertainment.  Spoken word poet Mara Robbins was enlisted to host the event.

Open Mic performances throughout the 4 day festival included juggling, unicycling, comedy, skits, poetry, singing, and instrument playing.  Young musicians inspired by the festival’s musical climate ranged from the accomplished to first-timers who were from 2 years old to 18.

One band that formed during the weekend, called My Shoe’s On Fire (video HERE), referred to themselves as “the band that formed 24 hours and 15 minutes ago.”  Members came from Maine, Florida, and Floyd County.  Another newly formed band dubbed Five Random People (video HERE) caused one audience member to say “This is what Floydfest is all about,” after one of their performances.

Attendance was high for Sunday’s final performances of about 8 acts.  “I saw some parents cry watching their kids perform and some kids were so scared getting up there for the first time, but they did it!” Robbins said.

Photos: 1. A 3 ½ year old girl named Avery was supported by her mother and by emcee Mara Robbins (left) to sing a song onstage for the first time.    2. Five Random People was formed after members performed solo and decided to pool their talents.     3. Along with their Open Mic performances, My Shoes on Fire played throughout the festival along the grassy walkways.    4.  First year Open Mic performances at The Children’s Universe stage were well attended.  As many as 12 acts performed on Saturday with some kids signing up on the spot after watching others perform.