We here in Juneau, Alaska, live in a small town (30,000) so we don't have too many versions of the same thing. Open mikes here are in a bar where the clientele is there mostly for drinking and socializing. People who have signed on perform a couple of songs, but most of the clientele consider it background noise/ambiance.

Word of mouth has reached me on a few occasions that says that so-and-so is good and I should hear him or her. At Gold Street Music we have used one or two on that basis. But mostly an open mike here is valuable mainly for getting inured to having the crowd ignore you.

Those who perform for us at Gold Street marvel at our attentive audiences.