I was just reading about Car Seat Headrest on Bandcamp. Collaborations are cool and all but when we create true Art it's done alone in the darkness. It must be soul crushing when you share something intimate and personal with an unforgiving audience. I think it takes a lot of patience, boldness, and perseverance to continue to be rejected and still follow the river. This whole music project you designed is what the human soul requires. You breathe and exhale all your insecurities into the music. I do not know what to expect tomorrow. For me, poetry is a double-edged scabbard with tints of Shakespearean sadness. I am drawn to verse that breaks through emotional boundaries. All I can offer you es mi corazon through my sensitive poetry.
Us artists are so different. Sighs. I have challenged myself in social circles. It can be very overwhelming for me. My poetry is how I express myself. My social anxiety permits me from achieving direct connections. Crowds are the worst type of cliques. I suppose I will never find my tribe. I ache for it yet it escapes me again and again and again. It’s tiring methinks. There are circumstances too, limitations that grind me down. Oh well, such is life.
I also can feel very anxious in crowds and the worst kind of crowd is the one that doesn’t care. But then again you’re here and you’re talking to me now, so I’m sure it’s possible to forge genuine connections ✨
I have such fear that I’ll say something inane or stupid. My mind is mostly unpredictable. Sometimes my relationships don’t endure and it bothers me. Yes, I am talking to someone now. Thanks. Darkness falls down like a gray cloud.
I found over time that saying something no stupid is as embarrassing as it is fun, cause you kind of leave everyone confused and it won’t matter in the grand scheme of things anyway 👽
We learned a long time ago open mics are not our scene. Our music is too quiet and takes some time to digest (in our opinion). To be honest I don’t know if even id like to hear my music at an open mic? And I think that’s okay. Find your people and audience and create some special shows with them
Yes, totally agree! Weirdly enough there is a certain genre associated with open mics - something solo, something with aggressive guitar strumming possibly 💀
My music is probably as far as it gets from what’s expected at an open mic, especially since it can barely be played by one person at a time. So yeah, it’s important to find one’s own crowd.
Which, in my opinion, doesn’t change the fact that open mics still feel miserable for a lot of folks whose music technically fits the bill.
I had to ask a FB group of local musicians where open mics are hosted around the Detroit metro area. No one advertises them, they are elusive and usually on a Sunday or Monday. I remember a time when they seemed everywhere. They were a proving ground for emerging artists, like talent shows but with alcohol. With live music clubs disappearing, the open mic is becoming extinct. I’m sorry about that. Hopefully there will be a 2.0 resurgence in a format that is welcoming for artists and fans. The only feedback necessary is clapping, because getting up on stage and playing is fucking brave and deserves proper respect.
That’s sad to hear seeing as open mics seem like a place that nurtures musicians in a lot of places in North America. Sadly, it’s just not the case in Europe wherever I’ve experienced them (normally in the audience). I wish we had more of a communal vibe at open mics here 🙂
Yeah open mics suck… great for people with little or no experience to get a shot on stage and learn the ropes. Terrible for everything else.
They can be successful heavily community driven spaces where there is a natural and supportive audience.
Otherwise they tend to become about whoever is running it, or a kind of desperate parade of artists that don’t want to support each other but still want a standing ovation.
That last paragraph is just open mics in a nutshell! The arrogance I’ve experienced from performing musicians at open mics is worthy of world class superstars in many cases. Come on, would you just please not take yourself so seriously?! 🌝
It’s like I said in obnoxious comment number 1. Most musicians are arrogant.. they just sit there waiting for the world to recognise their brilliance. I’m still waiting 😂
🤦♂️ the level of cringe in this is phenomenal, I feel like I was there with you, and wishing you would’ve just left, instead of playing your song! 😂
The characters are all too real, and I can imagine the atmosphere vividly, it’s great writing. You definitely captured the souls of these try hards who obviously just don’t have a chance at a ‘real’ gig.
Having said that! I’ve always just played in bands, and for some reason I still haven’t figured out, I decided to torture myself in a similar way when I first felt ready to play my acoustic songs in front of people.
I definitely wanted to do exactly what you suggested and play some opening slots for local bands I like, there’s enough who I’m friendly with.
Yet for some bizarre reason I thought it’d be a great idea to enter a ‘competition’ with heats and a final.
And somehow convinced myself I’d do alright! And so yeah, that went so well … the first song I got a decent reaction to, despite playing it in the wrong key and having to sing it in a whole tone lower..
when that was finally over, I actually forgot the first line of the intimate finger picking song, because EVERYONE fell completely silent and stared at me.. like, quite a lot of people.. And so I proceeded to play literally random chords with no direction for a length of time I felt would be appropriate.
I did play one more song, but by this time, it was well and truly a fight between me and the increasingly loud conversation as I’d well and truly lost the audience with my musical wandering.
And so I will probably try open mics again, maybe.. but most likely will go for the relative safety of the local band thing
Haha yeah it’s because it’s real! :D thank you so much for the compliment on my writing, that means so much to me! I somehow thought the story was too long-winded for anyone to get through 👽
What really strikes me as insane that other musicians don’t give you the time of day when you play and yet want some amazing reaction to their own performance. I still don’t quite understand how this sparks no conflict in their minds.
I’m sure the local band way, especially here in Europe, is the more sustainable way to go, especially since you already know your ins and outs!
Since you’ve mentioned having played in bands, here’s one more thing about the people at that particular open mic I’ve described: they all think themselves above sharing the stage with someone else, i.e. playing with a band. As I said, pretty nuts!
If you’ve been there before I’m sure you’ll resonate and read the whole thing like I did, it’s so cool to hear someone telling it like it is. I can see how much you love making music and I feel the same about it, it’s great to hear other people vocalise this, I honestly just don’t get that vibe from established artists most of the time. It’s like you get some sort of success and you become this ivory tower dweller and unwilling to talk about music in a real way to the unwashed masses.
Ok well.. It doesn’t spark conflict cos they’re on this ego trip, and you really described the way these people are very clearly. Why would they care about anything else?
It’s funny cos if you go to a gig, you see all these people loving to hear a band and passionate, and yet they were totally uninterested and talking to their friend when the support was on. I’ve done this myself. So I get that it’s about context and familiarity more than anything.
Sometimes people are just open and receptive to an artist, but I think it takes a certain amount of time and listening before people actually get what you’re doing.
Case and point is someone like nick drake, he was a genius and people who bought his records were blown away, but he had no stage presence due to severe mental health issues, and never really made the impact on his audience that he truly deserved, his gigs were trainwrecks.
I would say that open mics are mainly for people to play covers to a group of people who are just there to get drunk and listen to songs they know.
Even in the type of open mic you describe, and also support slots, it’s difficult to make an impact without some sort of familiarity or playing in the same style as the headline band.
So we have to adjust our expectations, put ourselves out there knowing we probably won’t relate to 90% of the audience, and just keep at it, eventually over time, things will happen for sure. Putting music online is really a requirement, I’m not going out there again until I have something up for people to listen to at home.
I liked your bonus revelation! That’s really messed up! Being in a band did wonders for me, it’s so much easier to get up there like I said, and it makes it easier to be the solo artist when you’ve had that experience. Having been in bands and got out of that, I can see why people are ‘above’ that, it’s a real battle and your beautiful songs get butchered by other peoples ’creative input’! Who would want that?! 😜
Totally agree on the having something online part! Too often have I had the situation where I’m asked if I have something online after playing with a friend’s band and I’m like: “uuuuhhh naaaah not yet!”
Oh wow, Riri! This is such a sad story since the original version of that open mic was so cool! I'm sorry it devolved into a circle jerk where very few climax 😜
As a saxophone player, I've had experience with jam sessions but not open mics, same idea but a whole different kind of weird.
What you describe sounds a lot more like presenting at an academic conference on Friday afternoon... everyone has headed to the airport except three other graduate students who are stressed out about their own talks!
And I hope you've learned your lesson about not buying the MacBookSUB with the built-in 15" subwoofer! Next time, perhaps 😂
Oof, sounds like a rough afternoon! I especially resonate with your idea at the end. Recently, some friends and I started a song circle. Meetings were private and participants had to "apply". The six of us met three times to share works in progress and then we capped it off with a ticketed concert showcase. It was such a rich time.
That’s also such a great idea! With 6 people there’s so much capacity for the “friend of a friend” thing! I think it’s just the whole open mic concept that somehow devalues what’s happening on stage. Just… ugh. I’m cringing writing this 🫠 open mics 🫠 open mics 🫠
I confess that I still go to open mics once or twice a month. Maybe I’m a sucker for punishment. :) Honestly, these days the appeal is the fact that I know no one will really be listening. It gives me a low stakes chance to see how works in progress feel from a stage. I can bomb, and no one notices! Or maybe it’s the fact that there is a spot in my city that gives all participants a free beer!
Eek, what a nightmare! I felt anxiety just reading this haha. Whats struck me most, though, is your desire for genuine human connection, which is often the purpose of music at its best. When we feel unsafe in spaces that are supposed to foster that connection, it's all the more disheartening. Still, the way the article ends made me vaguely hopeful because you are leaving room for other spaces to exist so you can be heard, witnessed, and valued. In a way, by creating this newsletter, you are carving out a small niche of safety for yourself amidst the chaos. Thank you for sharing :)
Thank you so much for this amazing comment! Yes, that’s exactly, precisely what I’m trying to do with starting a Substack! I’m very happy to have you here!
And yes, you’re right, I think human connection is the sole main purpose of music and the ultimate key to success in music. I love getting to know new people and I always try to write in ways that a lot of people could hopefully resonate with 🌸
Yeah it’s subjective. You did the right thing about escaping the cold, superficial stares. I used to attend poetry open mics decades ago. It wasn’t the most productive for my soul. I enjoy music a lot. I can see how artists can get disgruntled and frustrated. The audience is a crapshoot. I remember how I wished to comment after the main speaker finished their set. I tried to be eloquent. It was awkward. I think a lot of these artists are pretentious and egotistical. I try to write poetry for myself not my ego. Good luck with your music. Baby, baby it’s a wild world.
I suppose it’s just an overall feature of open mics. If I think about it on a deeper level, you must have some sort of a delusion (which may be meant in a positive sense too, of course, if you’re good at what you’re doing) to assume you’ll be able to stop people who’ve never heard of you in their tracks and make them love you. So with open mics there are probably two kinds of people who perform there - those who want to grow as artists - overcome stage fright, try their hand in playing live etc. - and those who think so highly of themselves they exude all the arrogance in the world.
Open mics are more often than not NOT a safe space for a first experience in performing! The pressure is insane!
I was laughing as I read this....so much artist ego at play here...very similar behaviour in my animation/film/game industry circle....many think they are better than everyone else....
as an aisan immigrant kid grew up in the West, I got ignored often ....I got used to it and liked to play dumb and see these people's true selves...and that would help me decide who is worthy to be my new friends.
these days I am often the few people who have the most experience, strongest in skillset in the room (which is sad, I want to learn new things, cant learn when I am one of the better ones in the room) and I still get treated that way often (harder to hide now as I now have white hairs and some important people recognizes me)....often, they found out who I was and the shock in their eyes were always priceless (too late now, you young little punks!) hahaha.
anyway, the only open mic I go to in the last few years as audience and enjoy the music was jazz open mics in the jazz clubs....and I know nobody everytime....always able to have delightful conversation with people there......I did squeeze some time to go to one when I was in Berlin, Munich, and Paris....maybe the audience and musicians tend to be older and have better class? (who knows) They always seem very supportive of each other....and always applauding to each performer...
I hope you will find your mature/supportive circles soon.
Well I was kind of tricked into it, I’m not truly interested in this format cause my preferred way is to actually build up a local scene just the way I describe at the end ;)
But yeah, never again! Yes to putting myself out there, hard no to open mics of this sort!
Have you ever had the experience of showing your creative output in a setting like this?
And I have not yet, but as I build more confidence and have more solid work to share I’d like to put myself out there more. The way you describe meeting people and networking at the end sounds much more natural and like something I’d feel more comfortable doing.
It takes time to build genuine relationships like that in the local community so I’d say if you’re already working on putting your material together, it’s a good moment to start getting to know people even before you’re ready ;) that way you won’t be slowing yourself down! 👽
I was just reading about Car Seat Headrest on Bandcamp. Collaborations are cool and all but when we create true Art it's done alone in the darkness. It must be soul crushing when you share something intimate and personal with an unforgiving audience. I think it takes a lot of patience, boldness, and perseverance to continue to be rejected and still follow the river. This whole music project you designed is what the human soul requires. You breathe and exhale all your insecurities into the music. I do not know what to expect tomorrow. For me, poetry is a double-edged scabbard with tints of Shakespearean sadness. I am drawn to verse that breaks through emotional boundaries. All I can offer you es mi corazon through my sensitive poetry.
That sounds like true art to me. Offering your heart through poetry.
My project is also based on embracing my true self - be it petty, disillusioned, hopeful, angry or anything else. It’s ok to feel all those things ✨
Us artists are so different. Sighs. I have challenged myself in social circles. It can be very overwhelming for me. My poetry is how I express myself. My social anxiety permits me from achieving direct connections. Crowds are the worst type of cliques. I suppose I will never find my tribe. I ache for it yet it escapes me again and again and again. It’s tiring methinks. There are circumstances too, limitations that grind me down. Oh well, such is life.
I also can feel very anxious in crowds and the worst kind of crowd is the one that doesn’t care. But then again you’re here and you’re talking to me now, so I’m sure it’s possible to forge genuine connections ✨
I have such fear that I’ll say something inane or stupid. My mind is mostly unpredictable. Sometimes my relationships don’t endure and it bothers me. Yes, I am talking to someone now. Thanks. Darkness falls down like a gray cloud.
I found over time that saying something no stupid is as embarrassing as it is fun, cause you kind of leave everyone confused and it won’t matter in the grand scheme of things anyway 👽
We learned a long time ago open mics are not our scene. Our music is too quiet and takes some time to digest (in our opinion). To be honest I don’t know if even id like to hear my music at an open mic? And I think that’s okay. Find your people and audience and create some special shows with them
Yes, totally agree! Weirdly enough there is a certain genre associated with open mics - something solo, something with aggressive guitar strumming possibly 💀
My music is probably as far as it gets from what’s expected at an open mic, especially since it can barely be played by one person at a time. So yeah, it’s important to find one’s own crowd.
Which, in my opinion, doesn’t change the fact that open mics still feel miserable for a lot of folks whose music technically fits the bill.
I had to ask a FB group of local musicians where open mics are hosted around the Detroit metro area. No one advertises them, they are elusive and usually on a Sunday or Monday. I remember a time when they seemed everywhere. They were a proving ground for emerging artists, like talent shows but with alcohol. With live music clubs disappearing, the open mic is becoming extinct. I’m sorry about that. Hopefully there will be a 2.0 resurgence in a format that is welcoming for artists and fans. The only feedback necessary is clapping, because getting up on stage and playing is fucking brave and deserves proper respect.
That’s sad to hear seeing as open mics seem like a place that nurtures musicians in a lot of places in North America. Sadly, it’s just not the case in Europe wherever I’ve experienced them (normally in the audience). I wish we had more of a communal vibe at open mics here 🙂
Yeah open mics suck… great for people with little or no experience to get a shot on stage and learn the ropes. Terrible for everything else.
They can be successful heavily community driven spaces where there is a natural and supportive audience.
Otherwise they tend to become about whoever is running it, or a kind of desperate parade of artists that don’t want to support each other but still want a standing ovation.
That last paragraph is just open mics in a nutshell! The arrogance I’ve experienced from performing musicians at open mics is worthy of world class superstars in many cases. Come on, would you just please not take yourself so seriously?! 🌝
It’s like I said in obnoxious comment number 1. Most musicians are arrogant.. they just sit there waiting for the world to recognise their brilliance. I’m still waiting 😂
Let’s do stuff! Let’s quit waiting!
Right there with you buddy! Less suspense and more dissonance (maybe with chromatic progressions) perhaps?
Chromatic chords are my all!
What’s your favourite chord change?
🤦♂️ the level of cringe in this is phenomenal, I feel like I was there with you, and wishing you would’ve just left, instead of playing your song! 😂
The characters are all too real, and I can imagine the atmosphere vividly, it’s great writing. You definitely captured the souls of these try hards who obviously just don’t have a chance at a ‘real’ gig.
Having said that! I’ve always just played in bands, and for some reason I still haven’t figured out, I decided to torture myself in a similar way when I first felt ready to play my acoustic songs in front of people.
I definitely wanted to do exactly what you suggested and play some opening slots for local bands I like, there’s enough who I’m friendly with.
Yet for some bizarre reason I thought it’d be a great idea to enter a ‘competition’ with heats and a final.
And somehow convinced myself I’d do alright! And so yeah, that went so well … the first song I got a decent reaction to, despite playing it in the wrong key and having to sing it in a whole tone lower..
when that was finally over, I actually forgot the first line of the intimate finger picking song, because EVERYONE fell completely silent and stared at me.. like, quite a lot of people.. And so I proceeded to play literally random chords with no direction for a length of time I felt would be appropriate.
I did play one more song, but by this time, it was well and truly a fight between me and the increasingly loud conversation as I’d well and truly lost the audience with my musical wandering.
And so I will probably try open mics again, maybe.. but most likely will go for the relative safety of the local band thing
Haha yeah it’s because it’s real! :D thank you so much for the compliment on my writing, that means so much to me! I somehow thought the story was too long-winded for anyone to get through 👽
What really strikes me as insane that other musicians don’t give you the time of day when you play and yet want some amazing reaction to their own performance. I still don’t quite understand how this sparks no conflict in their minds.
I’m sure the local band way, especially here in Europe, is the more sustainable way to go, especially since you already know your ins and outs!
Since you’ve mentioned having played in bands, here’s one more thing about the people at that particular open mic I’ve described: they all think themselves above sharing the stage with someone else, i.e. playing with a band. As I said, pretty nuts!
If you’ve been there before I’m sure you’ll resonate and read the whole thing like I did, it’s so cool to hear someone telling it like it is. I can see how much you love making music and I feel the same about it, it’s great to hear other people vocalise this, I honestly just don’t get that vibe from established artists most of the time. It’s like you get some sort of success and you become this ivory tower dweller and unwilling to talk about music in a real way to the unwashed masses.
Ok well.. It doesn’t spark conflict cos they’re on this ego trip, and you really described the way these people are very clearly. Why would they care about anything else?
It’s funny cos if you go to a gig, you see all these people loving to hear a band and passionate, and yet they were totally uninterested and talking to their friend when the support was on. I’ve done this myself. So I get that it’s about context and familiarity more than anything.
Sometimes people are just open and receptive to an artist, but I think it takes a certain amount of time and listening before people actually get what you’re doing.
Case and point is someone like nick drake, he was a genius and people who bought his records were blown away, but he had no stage presence due to severe mental health issues, and never really made the impact on his audience that he truly deserved, his gigs were trainwrecks.
I would say that open mics are mainly for people to play covers to a group of people who are just there to get drunk and listen to songs they know.
Even in the type of open mic you describe, and also support slots, it’s difficult to make an impact without some sort of familiarity or playing in the same style as the headline band.
So we have to adjust our expectations, put ourselves out there knowing we probably won’t relate to 90% of the audience, and just keep at it, eventually over time, things will happen for sure. Putting music online is really a requirement, I’m not going out there again until I have something up for people to listen to at home.
I liked your bonus revelation! That’s really messed up! Being in a band did wonders for me, it’s so much easier to get up there like I said, and it makes it easier to be the solo artist when you’ve had that experience. Having been in bands and got out of that, I can see why people are ‘above’ that, it’s a real battle and your beautiful songs get butchered by other peoples ’creative input’! Who would want that?! 😜
Totally agree on the having something online part! Too often have I had the situation where I’m asked if I have something online after playing with a friend’s band and I’m like: “uuuuhhh naaaah not yet!”
That person’s probably never coming back :D
I mean I would hope if they’re asking, then you must’ve resonated, and I’d take that as a win!
Yeah it’s always amazing when people ask, but then again I look pretty crazy on stage haha so at least they’re curious 😅
Crazy’s a good look!
Oh wow, Riri! This is such a sad story since the original version of that open mic was so cool! I'm sorry it devolved into a circle jerk where very few climax 😜
Haha I couldn’t have said it better myself 😅 yeah well it’s the local scene way for me now. Indie festivals, here I come!
As a saxophone player, I've had experience with jam sessions but not open mics, same idea but a whole different kind of weird.
What you describe sounds a lot more like presenting at an academic conference on Friday afternoon... everyone has headed to the airport except three other graduate students who are stressed out about their own talks!
And I hope you've learned your lesson about not buying the MacBookSUB with the built-in 15" subwoofer! Next time, perhaps 😂
Well I usually don’t put myself in situations where I need to play my songs off of a Mac but it’s pretty good for recording the music 🌝
I’d love to hear about the jam session weird! Any blood-chilling stories? :)
Oof, sounds like a rough afternoon! I especially resonate with your idea at the end. Recently, some friends and I started a song circle. Meetings were private and participants had to "apply". The six of us met three times to share works in progress and then we capped it off with a ticketed concert showcase. It was such a rich time.
That’s also such a great idea! With 6 people there’s so much capacity for the “friend of a friend” thing! I think it’s just the whole open mic concept that somehow devalues what’s happening on stage. Just… ugh. I’m cringing writing this 🫠 open mics 🫠 open mics 🫠
I confess that I still go to open mics once or twice a month. Maybe I’m a sucker for punishment. :) Honestly, these days the appeal is the fact that I know no one will really be listening. It gives me a low stakes chance to see how works in progress feel from a stage. I can bomb, and no one notices! Or maybe it’s the fact that there is a spot in my city that gives all participants a free beer!
Eek, what a nightmare! I felt anxiety just reading this haha. Whats struck me most, though, is your desire for genuine human connection, which is often the purpose of music at its best. When we feel unsafe in spaces that are supposed to foster that connection, it's all the more disheartening. Still, the way the article ends made me vaguely hopeful because you are leaving room for other spaces to exist so you can be heard, witnessed, and valued. In a way, by creating this newsletter, you are carving out a small niche of safety for yourself amidst the chaos. Thank you for sharing :)
Thank you so much for this amazing comment! Yes, that’s exactly, precisely what I’m trying to do with starting a Substack! I’m very happy to have you here!
And yes, you’re right, I think human connection is the sole main purpose of music and the ultimate key to success in music. I love getting to know new people and I always try to write in ways that a lot of people could hopefully resonate with 🌸
Yeah it’s subjective. You did the right thing about escaping the cold, superficial stares. I used to attend poetry open mics decades ago. It wasn’t the most productive for my soul. I enjoy music a lot. I can see how artists can get disgruntled and frustrated. The audience is a crapshoot. I remember how I wished to comment after the main speaker finished their set. I tried to be eloquent. It was awkward. I think a lot of these artists are pretentious and egotistical. I try to write poetry for myself not my ego. Good luck with your music. Baby, baby it’s a wild world.
I suppose it’s just an overall feature of open mics. If I think about it on a deeper level, you must have some sort of a delusion (which may be meant in a positive sense too, of course, if you’re good at what you’re doing) to assume you’ll be able to stop people who’ve never heard of you in their tracks and make them love you. So with open mics there are probably two kinds of people who perform there - those who want to grow as artists - overcome stage fright, try their hand in playing live etc. - and those who think so highly of themselves they exude all the arrogance in the world.
Open mics are more often than not NOT a safe space for a first experience in performing! The pressure is insane!
I was laughing as I read this....so much artist ego at play here...very similar behaviour in my animation/film/game industry circle....many think they are better than everyone else....
as an aisan immigrant kid grew up in the West, I got ignored often ....I got used to it and liked to play dumb and see these people's true selves...and that would help me decide who is worthy to be my new friends.
these days I am often the few people who have the most experience, strongest in skillset in the room (which is sad, I want to learn new things, cant learn when I am one of the better ones in the room) and I still get treated that way often (harder to hide now as I now have white hairs and some important people recognizes me)....often, they found out who I was and the shock in their eyes were always priceless (too late now, you young little punks!) hahaha.
anyway, the only open mic I go to in the last few years as audience and enjoy the music was jazz open mics in the jazz clubs....and I know nobody everytime....always able to have delightful conversation with people there......I did squeeze some time to go to one when I was in Berlin, Munich, and Paris....maybe the audience and musicians tend to be older and have better class? (who knows) They always seem very supportive of each other....and always applauding to each performer...
I hope you will find your mature/supportive circles soon.
Gosh I’m proud of you for even trying! What a frustrating experience. I hope you keep putting yourself out there and find your people!
Well I was kind of tricked into it, I’m not truly interested in this format cause my preferred way is to actually build up a local scene just the way I describe at the end ;)
But yeah, never again! Yes to putting myself out there, hard no to open mics of this sort!
Have you ever had the experience of showing your creative output in a setting like this?
Yes I loved that idea!
And I have not yet, but as I build more confidence and have more solid work to share I’d like to put myself out there more. The way you describe meeting people and networking at the end sounds much more natural and like something I’d feel more comfortable doing.
It takes time to build genuine relationships like that in the local community so I’d say if you’re already working on putting your material together, it’s a good moment to start getting to know people even before you’re ready ;) that way you won’t be slowing yourself down! 👽