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Image for event: After Hours Open Mic Night

After Hours Open Mic Night

2026-11-20 19:00:00 2026-11-20 21:00:00 America/Chicago After Hours Open Mic Night Join us for an evening of artistic expression at this after-hours event, whether you have something to share or just prefer to listen. Refreshments provided. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. Please arrive by 7:15 p.m. All music-makers and poets welcome, high school age to adults. To perform, please register. Columbia Public Library - Quiet Reading Room

Friday, November 20
7:00pm - 9:00pm

Columbia Public Library

Quiet Reading Room

Join us for an evening of artistic expression at this after-hours event, whether you have something to share or just prefer to listen. Refreshments provided. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. Please arrive by 7:15 p.m. All music-makers and poets welcome, high school age to adults. To perform, please register.

Join us for an evening of artistic expression at this after-hours event, whether you have something to share or just prefer to listen. Refreshments provided.

Doors open at 6:45 p.m. Please arrive by 7:15 p.m.

All music-makers and poets welcome, high school age to adults.

Why come to open mic?

  • Engage in the life-affirming practice of vulnerability and expression.
  • Learn from your fellow artists and participate in a creative community.
  • Enjoy some local music and poetry, for free! 

How do I sign up to perform?

  • Register ahead of time using this Google form to secure a performance slot.
  • If you’re not sure about performing, your participation as a listener is equally appreciated! If you want to attend as an audience member only, no need to register.
  • If you feel inspired to perform once you get here, check in with your hosts. We’ll save some slots for in-person signup

Will any equipment be provided?

  • Our set-up includes three mics and one music stand.
  • We'll also provide an amp for guitarists to plug into.
  • There will be an AUX cord for people who want to perform over instrumental tracks.
  • It is not necessary to use the sound equipment—the space will allow for an acoustic set if you prefer.
  • And that's it! Please do not bring any additional sound equipment.

Anything I should know before I perform or attend?

  • For eight minutes, the mic is yours. For singers, that’s enough time for two to three songs, on average. For poets, it will depend on the length of your pieces. Do not feel obligated to fill your entire time slot, but do take care not to go over. 
  • Double-check that your pieces are appropriate for a mixed-age audience (high school and older). If you’re not sure, ask. Your set should not include any discriminatory or disturbing content. If people of any particular race, gender, disability, or other dimension of identity would feel unsafe or disrespected during your performance, please adjust your material.
  • Listen well! It is incredibly generous of performers to let us into their worlds. Honor their vulnerability by staying quiet and attentive during performances. You never know – someone’s poem or song might contain the words you didn’t even know you were waiting to hear.
  • Please note: Due to the special nature of this after-hours event, re-entry will not be possible during intermission. You are welcome to leave early after checking in with the event’s hosts, but re-entry will not be possible. We appreciate your understanding and apologize for any inconvenience

AGE GROUP: | Teens | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | Music | Fun & Games | Featured |

TAGS: | Writing |

Columbia Public Library

Phone: 573-443-3161

Hours
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Mon, Oct 19 9:00AM to 8:00PM
Tue, Oct 20 9:00AM to 8:00PM
Wed, Oct 21 9:00AM to 8:00PM
Thu, Oct 22 9:00AM to 8:00PM
Fri, Oct 23 9:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat, Oct 24 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Sun, Oct 25 1:00PM to 5:00PM

About the branch

Call for accommodations or email ada@dbrl.org.

Upcoming events

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Wed, Oct 21, 10:00am - 10:45am
Children's Program Room

Wed, Oct 21, 11:00am - 11:45am
Training Center
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Wed, Oct 21, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Studio

Wed, Oct 21, 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Lobby

Wed, Oct 21, 12:00pm - 12:45pm
Training Center
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Wed, Oct 21, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Friends Room

Wed, Oct 21, 2:00pm - 5:30pm
Training Center

Wed, Oct 21, 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Children's Program Room

Thu, Oct 22, 9:30am - 11:30am
Children's Area

Thu, Oct 22, 9:30am - 10:00am
Children's Program Room

Thu, Oct 22, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Program Room

Thu, Oct 22, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Children's Program Room

Fri, Oct 23, 10:00am - 10:45am
Children's Program Room

Fri, Oct 23, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Training Center

Fri, Oct 23, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Gene Martin Secret Garden
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Sat, Oct 24, 9:00am - 4:45pm
Friends Room and Conference Rooms A & B

Sat, Oct 24, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Children's Program Room

Sun, Oct 25, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Friends Room and Conference Rooms A & B

Mon, Oct 26, 10:00am - 10:45am
Children's Program Room

Mon, Oct 26, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Training Center
This event is full

Tue, Oct 27, 9:30am - 10:00am
Children's Program Room

Tue, Oct 27, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Program Room

Tue, Oct 27, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Training Center

Tue, Oct 27, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Quiet Reading Room

Tue, Oct 27, 6:00pm - 6:45pm
Friends Room

Wed, Oct 28, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Children's Program Room

Wed, Oct 28, 11:00am - 11:45am
Training Center
This event is full

Wed, Oct 28, 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Lobby

Wed, Oct 28, 12:00pm - 12:45pm
Training Center
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Wed, Oct 28, 2:00pm - 5:30pm
Training Center

Wed, Oct 28, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Friends Room

Thu, Oct 29, 9:30am - 10:00am
Children's Program Room

Thu, Oct 29, 9:45am - 11:45am
Children's Area

Thu, Oct 29, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Program Room

Thu, Oct 29, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Friends Room

Fri, Oct 30, 10:00am - 11:30am
Friends Room and Conference Rooms A & B

Fri, Oct 30, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Training Center

Fri, Oct 30, 2:00pm - 2:45pm
Children's Program Room
This event is full

Fri, Oct 30, 3:30pm - 4:15pm
Children's Program Room
This event is full

Fri, Oct 30, 6:30pm - 9:00pm
Quiet Reading Room

Sat, Oct 31, 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Lobby

Sun, Nov 01, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Children's Program Room,Friends Room and Conference Rooms A & B

Mon, Nov 02, 9:30am - 2:30pm
Conference Room B

Mon, Nov 02, 9:30am - 11:30am
Children's Area

Mon, Nov 02, 10:00am - 10:45am
Children's Program Room

Mon, Nov 02, 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Training Center

Mon, Nov 02, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Children's Program Room

Tue, Nov 03, 9:15am - 11:15am
Training Center

Tue, Nov 03, 9:30am - 10:00am
Children's Program Room

Tue, Nov 03, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Program Room

Tue, Nov 03, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Training Center

Wed, Nov 04, 9:30am - 10:00am
Children's Program Room

Wed, Nov 04, 11:00am - 11:45am
Training Center
Registration opens Monday, October 26 2026 at 9:00am

Wed, Nov 04, 12:00pm - 12:45pm
Training Center
Registration opens Monday, October 26 2026 at 9:00am

Wed, Nov 04, 2:00pm - 5:30pm
Training Center

Wed, Nov 04, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Studio

Wed, Nov 04, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Friends Room

Wed, Nov 04, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Children's Program Room

Thu, Nov 05, 9:30am - 10:00am
Children's Program Room

Thu, Nov 05, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Program Room

Thu, Nov 05, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Children's Program Room

Thu, Nov 05, 5:00pm - 5:45pm
Training Center
Registration opens Monday, October 26 2026 at 9:00am

Thu, Nov 05, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Friends Room

Thu, Nov 05, 6:00pm - 6:45pm
Training Center
Registration opens Monday, October 26 2026 at 9:00am

Fri, Nov 06, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Training Center

Sat, Nov 07, 10:00am - 1:00pm

Sat, Nov 07, 10:00am - 2:00pm
Training Center

Sat, Nov 07, 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Lobby

Sun, Nov 08, 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Conference Room B
This event is full

Sun, Nov 08, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Reading Balcony

Mon, Nov 09, 9:30am - 2:30pm
Conference Room B

Mon, Nov 09, 10:00am - 11:30am
Children's Area

Mon, Nov 09, 10:00am - 10:45am
Children's Program Room

Mon, Nov 09, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Friends Room
Registration opens Monday, October 26 2026 at 9:00am

Mon, Nov 09, 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Children's Program Room

Mon, Nov 09, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Training Center
Registration opens Monday, October 26 2026 at 9:00am

Tue, Nov 10, 9:30am - 10:00am
Children's Program Room

Tue, Nov 10, 10:00am - 11:30am
Friends Room

Tue, Nov 10, 10:00am - 11:30am
Children's Area

Tue, Nov 10, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Program Room

Tue, Nov 10, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Training Center

Tue, Nov 10, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Friends Room

Tue, Nov 10, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Friends Room

Wed, Nov 11, 10:00am - 10:45am
Children's Program Room

Wed, Nov 11, 11:00am - 11:45am
Training Center
Registration opens Monday, October 26 2026 at 9:00am

Wed, Nov 11, 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Lobby

Wed, Nov 11, 12:00pm - 12:45pm
Training Center
Registration opens Monday, October 26 2026 at 9:00am

Wed, Nov 11, 2:00pm - 5:30pm
Training Center

Wed, Nov 11, 5:00pm - 6:30pm
Children's Program Room

Wed, Nov 11, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Friends Room

Thu, Nov 12, 9:30am - 10:00am
Children's Program Room

Thu, Nov 12, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Program Room

Thu, Nov 12, 5:00pm - 5:45pm
Training Center
Registration opens Monday, October 26 2026 at 9:00am

Thu, Nov 12, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Children's Program Room

Thu, Nov 12, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Virginia G. Young Room

Thu, Nov 12, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Friends Room
Registration opens Thursday, October 29 2026 at 9:00am

Thu, Nov 12, 6:00pm - 6:45pm
Training Center
Registration opens Monday, October 26 2026 at 9:00am

Fri, Nov 13, 10:00am - 10:45am
Friends Room

Fri, Nov 13, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Training Center

Fri, Nov 13, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Children's Program Room,South Parking Lot

Sat, Nov 14, 11:00am - 11:30am
Children's Program Room

Sat, Nov 14, 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Lobby

Sat, Nov 14, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Friends Room

Sat, Nov 14, 3:00pm - 3:45pm
Children's Program Room

Sun, Nov 15, 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Conference Room B
This event is full

Mon, Nov 16, 9:45am - 11:45am
Children's Area

Mon, Nov 16, 10:00am - 10:45am
Children's Program Room

Mon, Nov 16, 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Children's Program Room

Mon, Nov 16, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Training Center
Registration opens Monday, November 2 2026 at 9:00am

Mon, Nov 16, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Children's Program Room

Tue, Nov 17, 9:15am - 11:15am
Training Center

Tue, Nov 17, 9:30am - 2:30pm
Conference Room B

Tue, Nov 17, 9:30am - 10:00am
Children's Program Room

Tue, Nov 17, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Program Room

Tue, Nov 17, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Friends Room

Tue, Nov 17, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Training Center

Tue, Nov 17, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Children's Program Room

Tue, Nov 17, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Friends Room

Wed, Nov 18, 10:00am - 10:45am
Children's Program Room

Wed, Nov 18, 11:00am - 11:45am
Training Center
Registration opens Monday, October 26 2026 at 9:00am

Wed, Nov 18, 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Lobby

Wed, Nov 18, 12:00pm - 12:45pm
Training Center
Registration opens Monday, October 26 2026 at 9:00am

Wed, Nov 18, 2:00pm - 5:30pm
Training Center

Wed, Nov 18, 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Children's Program Room

Wed, Nov 18, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Friends Room

Thu, Nov 19, 9:30am - 10:00am
Children's Program Room

Thu, Nov 19, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Program Room

Thu, Nov 19, 5:00pm - 5:45pm
Training Center
Registration opens Monday, October 26 2026 at 9:00am

Thu, Nov 19, 6:00pm - 6:45pm
Training Center
Registration opens Monday, October 26 2026 at 9:00am

Thu, Nov 19, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Friends Room

Thu, Nov 19, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Conference Room B

Fri, Nov 20, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Training Center

Fri, Nov 20, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Quiet Reading Room