Profs’ Place was abuzz with talent on Monday, Nov. 4, during the Student University Programmers’ second open mic night of the year, Prof Spotlight.
This catered event was free to students and featured brief sets from over 10 people. Performances included a broad range of music, from Sinatra to R&B to pop, as well as multiple self-written works. A few performers also gave spirited poetry readings.
Before the open mic began, organizers had attendees fill out a Google Form agreeing to the rules of the event. This included keeping acts respectful and appropriate, remaining on stage for the duration of a performance, and having the media necessary for your performance available to play on a device.
“I’m excited to see the performers,” said Hannah Slimak, freshman elementary education major and SUP staff member. “Last time, there wasn’t that big of a crowd, but a lot of people performing.”
Slimak described how she was hopeful that more students would make up the crowd tonight. Her fellow SUP staff member Ashley Salcedo, a freshman psychology major, nodded her head.
“One of my favorite parts about helping with the organization of this event is letting people draw on the board [and] advertising it,” said Salcedo.
Salcedo talked about how they worked on creating posters like the one hanging in the Student Center pit to help advertise the Open Mic and allowed members of the community to draw on the board in front of Prof’s Place in preparation for the event.
An SUP staff member then took to the stage and opened the floor for the first act of the night, which was a couple of original songs by student artist Paloé.
Multiple students performed songs they had written and produced themselves, highlighting that open mics like Prof Spotlight serve as a way for artists to workshop their creations and test them on crowds. It’s also a way to market yourself to audiences, with a couple of people encouraging the audience to follow them on music streaming services like Spotify.
Between sets, SUP organizers would emcee, offering light commentary on the previous set and inviting the next performer on stage.
The air of the room was one of positivity. Every time someone sustained a note, sang a beautiful run, or did something else impressive, the audience would cheer and clap. If somebody stumbled on words or lost their place, audience members would reassure those on stage. A couple of times the crowd clapped to the beat or snapped at a good line in a poem or rap.
Aidan Toll, a freshman mechanical engineer major, sung “My Way” by Frank Sinatra and “Stars” from the musical Les Miserables for his turn on stage.
“I don’t really sing a lot, but every time now, [since] I realized I wasted that in high school, I try to find every moment that I can to sing,” Toll said.
Prof Spotlight is also a creative outlet for those whose talents or hobbies may go unrealized in their day-to-day lives. For others, it may just be a fun outing. A pair of students went on stage, jokingly remarking that one had been “forced” to do it by another, only to sing a rendition of Wallflower by Billie Eilish.
SUP will be hosting one more Prof’s Spotlight this semester on Dec. 2. Participation is free for Rowan students, so students who enjoy singing, poetry reading, stand-up comedy, rap, and more may want to save the date to experience a night similar to this.
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