Do you have a song that won’t stop spinning around your head? Lines of slam poetry trying desperately to beat their way out of your chest? A story that demands to be told?
There’s a place for all that, and a whole lot more.
After a summer hiatus, open mic nights at Frosting Cupcakery have returned for another season.
And organizer Sandy Dunkley is looking forward to seeing the Fraser Highway bake shop fill up once again with aspiring singers, storytellers, poets — anyone with a talent they want to share — as well as with those who prefer to sit back and be entertained.
“We wanted it to be different, in that it’s not just music,” said Dunkley, a songwriter herself.
Each evening begins with a performance by an experienced musician or group — usually members of Dunkley’s non-profit talent agency, Just Great Sights ‘n’ Sounds.
After that, the stage belongs to anyone — from children to seniors, beginners to established artists — who wishes to perform.
It doesn’t matter whether the material is original or has been made famous by somebody else — as long as it’s family-friendly.
“It has to be something we’re all comfortable with.
“We’ve had a seniors band, a lot of short stories, poetry, kids — everything we wanted, we got,” said Dunkley, who, joined by local arts enthusiasts Rosemary Wallace and Michelle Drumfoot, approached Frosting Cupcakery owners Craig and Melanie McDougall about hosting a twice-monthly showcase
The couple was only too pleased to get on board, she said, offering their space at no charge and providing free cupcakes to everyone brave enough to step on stage and entertain their patrons.
The events, which began on Feb. 18, grew quickly and drew large crowds, said Dunkley. It got to the point that the show was running overtime to accommodate everyone who wanted to participate.
Then they hit pause.
“The downtown had so much going on during the summer,” said Dunkley, explaining why she decided to suspend the open mic nights for a couple months.
The downside of the break, she said, is that the event seemed to lose a bit of its momentum. She’s hoping that now that autumn has arrived, people will begin filling the seats and the sign-up sheet once again.
The mic is open on the first and third Tuesday of the month, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
There are a couple reasons for the early start, said Dunkley. The first is to encourage people who work or shop downtown to stop in at the end of the day to have a bite and take in a bit of live entertainment.
The other is to make it an event where parents can bring younger children without keeping them out past their bedtime.
Since the very first open mic night, technician Dave Mercer has volunteered his services to help the performers sound their best, said an appreciative Dunkley, who has also been on hand each event night to ensure everything runs smoothly. It’s a big commitment, so she is always on the lookout for people who would like to help out and share the load.
Of course, none of it would be possible without a place to perform, said Dunkley. It doesn’t come as a surprise to her that the McDougalls would provide their space.
“Everything that goes on in the City, they’re there with their cupcakes — for free. They’re always helping out. That’s what they do,” she said.
Community involvement was always part of the plan when the couple opened their business, said Craig McDougall.
“It’s important to us to not just run a business, but to reach out wherever we can,” he said.
One of the benefits of hosting open mic nights two Tuesdays a month, is that Langley families and people with limited incomes can get out and enjoy a local event at little or no cost, said McDougall.
Whether people come in and have a coffee or just sit and listen, that’s fine, he said.
And it’s not impossible that visitors to Frosting will find themselves being entertained by their host one of these Tuesdays.
“My wife bought me a guitar for my 40th birthday,” said McDougall, admitting he’s long had aspirations of being a singer.
The one hurdle, he said, is that his strumming might not yet be up to snuff. But, if he can find a partner, he fully expects to be on stage one evening in the not-too-distant future.
“I would definitely sing if I could find someone to accompany me.”
The next open mic night happens Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 6 p.m. Anyone who would like to perform is encouraged to arrive by 5:45 and sign up for a spot.
Frosting Cupcakery is located at 20411 Fraser Hwy.
