This Thursday, December 6th, is the last Wooden Nickel Open Mic of 2012…and it’ll be the last one that I’m hosting. Not only that, we’re dedicating the night to our pal Maddog, who was there waiting at the door every month with an off-color joke and a helping hand when I set up.

The open mic was originally started by Arthur Godfrey and ran by he and Sherry Austin for nearly two years. Tommy Dunlop briefly took it over, and then passed it onto me and another songwriter named Mike Smith. Mike had to bow out after a few months, and in April 2004, the Wooden Nickel Open Mic became my own little gig.

I was already fond of the place. The Nickel was where I first played in front of people, right before I stared writing my own songs about twelve years ago. Getting to host and run the open mic was a scary sorta challenge, but a great learning opportunity. I had to figure out how to market gigs and how to run sound.

(I’m pretty comfortable advertising shows, but you still really don’t want me running your sound.) 😉

It’s been a great run. Cyndy and I have made a ton of friends. Everyone’s music puts a smile on my dad’s face. And I’ve loved playing (and playing host) every month. It makes the night when our core group strolls in (Aaron Bagchee, Dipendra Bagchee, Breanna Eddy, Greg and Mary Scott, Marky Starks, Patti Lemon and Eric Mitchell, Bert and Tim). The crowd size ebbs and flows. Sometimes the place turns into a real listening room. And sometimes it’s just a (sigh) noisy bar, but it’s ours for a night every month.

But sometimes ya just gotta tell yourself it’s time for a change. Starting in 2013, the talented and adorable Dipendra and Breanna will be taking over as hosts of the open mic. It’s a special place for them, since Dipendra proposed to Breanna on open mic night back in 2007. (I recorded the big event and posted it as my 4th podcast.)

I figure rebooting the open mic a little might give it a good nudge, encourage some new folks to show up, and just throw some new energy at it. Besides, Dipendra has a new Wooden Nickel FaceBook page that he’s just aching to start advertising. Now he can.

As always, signups start at 6:30pm. Open mic starts at 7:00pm. The Wooden Nickel is at 1819 Freedom Blvd in Watsonville. See ya Thursday.

(BTW, A few folks have asked, “what are you going to do now that you’re not hosting the Nickel?” I figure, if you don’t know what I do besides the Nickel, then I’m really not marketing myself very well. And if you really don’t, feel free to check out my Shows page.)