Shannon KeoughStudents in a post-MTV Video Music Awards slump could find their fix at Cabrini College during the kick-off of the first open mic night this year.
Lip-synching was strictly prohibited on Monday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. on the back lawn behind the mansion. While all kinds of talent are welcome to perform, all of those that turned out were musicians.
“Open mic night is usually one of our biggest events,” Dani Degnan, sophomore special education major and secretary of CAP Board, said. “It’s a great opportunity to show off the talent of Cabrini College; everyone can relax as big group.”
The event was sponsored by CAP Board and proved to be a hit with students. As the sun set against the mansion, junior social work major, Lisa Somers, laid out on the grass and enjoyed the variety of talented musicians.
“I came out tonight to see the new talent Cabrini has to offer,” Somers said.
Julian Maliszewski, senior philosophy and religion major, is a veteran of open mic night. The set he performed on his electric guitar was entirely instrumental.
“I’ve been performing at open mic night since freshman year. I like to showcase my talents and have a good time,” Maliszewski said.
In addition to individual acts, the trio of junior history major Rob Martinsen and junior communication majors Josh Brown and Ryan Lane performed an original song ‘Stratosphere.”
Martinsen and Lane are part of their own group, Pigs in Flight, while Brown joins the two for fun during events like open mic night.
“I’m used to performing in front of bigger crowds and usually I’m nervous, however this is a smaller crowd so I’m not really nervous,” Martinsen said.
Friends of the performers also came out in support.
“Our friend Neil Gogno performed a cover of ‘Lua’ by Bright Eyes and it was awesome,” Rachel Wentzel, junior marketing major, said.
However, while the night went smoothly without a hitch, there was a complaint from Wentzel.
“A few of our friends wanted to perform, but they didn’t have enough time to prepare. There was too short of notice for them,” Wentzel said.
In fact, the night almost did not happen because, prior to Monday, only one person had signed up to perform. Yet, by the time the event was set to commence there were six performers.
“I was really nervous that it would be canceled, but the show must go on and everything set up nicely,” Corrine Grasso, junior English major and CAP Board onstage events planner, said.
In the future, CAP Board plans on promoting open mic night more efficiently by putting up posters earlier. Three more open mic nights are planned for the future.
Jenn Bollinger, senior political-science major and CAP Board treasurer, is hoping for a better turn out in the future.
“There was a good amount of people here but it could have been better,” Bollinger said. “The lawn could have been more lit up but everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.”
Other upcoming events sponsored by CAP Board include Casino Night this Friday, Sept. 18 from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m in the Xavier Great Room and Cabrini’s second poetry slam on Wednesday, Sept. 30 in Grace Hall.
