Naemanson, many thanks for your stories and for your faith in open mikes. I came to realize after a while that what I really loved about open mikes the most was not performing in them but watching the night unfold in this incredible pantheon of musicians. They weren't necessarily incredible musicians, in fact most performers aren't, but that doesn't seem to matter. I like the lack of pretension, the range of songs and styles, and I even like the reeeeeeeeallly long Grateful Dead covers. One guy at an open mike I was at, I can't remember where, played his trash. Thanks again. blt