I never write reviews. Ive worked in customer service for years, I know it's rough.
The first open mic I went to was at Bar Freda. Chill crowd, people were nice. Venue is awesome and the sound dude is cool af. I had to take a 6 month break from going to open mics because like every guitar player, I got really bad carpel tunnel and I wanted to get it treated so I can play again. Three weeks ago, I decided to go back to Bar Freda.
Awful. Just awful. It is the most cliquey, Bob Dylan gooner, white cishet cesspool of men who don't use deodorant.
Not only are their time slot rules EXTREMELY STRICT, they are so disrespectful. This venue is a small space, so it was a bit crowded. A girl decided to disassemble her guitar RIGHT BEHIND ME. I bumped into her, said I was sorry, then asked if she needed any help with that. In a snotty way, she explained what she was doing, then immediately got defensive and said she did not want ANYONE helping her and that she could do it herself. I apologized and said I was just trying to help and she then got mad.....that I said I was sorry?
When I tell you the time slot rules are strict, THEY ARE STRICT. THEY TIME YOU EXACTLY. IF YOU GO SLIGHTLY OVER, THEY WILL CUT YOUR SET. IF YOU GO A MINUTE OVER, THEY WILL CUT YOUR SET.
I do understand the structure of a time slot and that performers need to respect each other's time. Thats extremely valid and etiquette that I had been taught from a young age. However, I think the music community ALSO NEEDS TO LIGHTEN UP. The reason why young artists (specifically queer young artists) aren't going to open mics anymore. ITS CAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE THIS. Music shouldn't have any rules, its art that should be expressed in whatever way we desire as long as it matters to ourselves and is not hurting anybody.
The people at this venue will make fun of you for doing a song thats even slightly popular. They will judge you if you don't know the specific part of an instrument. They will humiliate you. They will do anything to make you feel less than.
I cried so hard after I left, hardest in a long time. It made me contemplate if I even wanted to continue songwriting. I reached out to my songwriting mentor and my producer I work with, explaining the experiences I had. These are people who have worked with the ELITES. Smashing Pumpkins, Fountains of Wayne, etc. They told me that this behavior is NOT NORMAL. THESE ARE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM.
It sucks because this venue is so beautiful and in a really good spot.
I would not recommend this place to newcomers, queer people, and Im even going to throw poc in there too cause this is in a Hispanic neighborhood but its the most gentrified piece of sweaty nostalgia critic pie I've ever seen. read more