‘MIC’ seems to me to be a poor abbreviation for ‘microphone’, but since ‘mike’ is a name it’s hard to know what’s best.

The Rat and Ratchet pub, Chapel Hill, Huddersfield held its second monthly open ‘mic’ night last Thursday and even though there was very little advertising, perhaps a dozen acts turned up.

A lot of people like the informality of an event at which, at literally a moment’s notice, you can add your name to the list and be singing or playing ten minutes later.

What such an event lacks in polish it gains in enthusiasm. It also gives performers a chance to hone their technique before a critical but essentially friendly audience. When they’re not interested in what you’re doing they start talking and ordering pints.

Pete and I were last on, and played a couple of tricksy instrumental numbers without any preamble.

We’re old, introspective, picky gits, and the majority of acts were flamboyant youngsters who weren’t too fussed over missed chords, fluffed vocals and poor sound balance.

We didn’t go down too well. Lessons: get noisy, get in your audience’s face, get them to identify with your music and with you as individuals, not just sound-creators.

Though she didn’t win, a solo singer called Francesca made a big impression on lots of people and then vanished like Cinderella.

Francesca, wherever you are, we’d like to write songs for you. Get in touch: John or Pete on 430000 ext 2230 or 2232.

The next open ‘mic’ night at the Rat is November 22 at 8pm.