KCPR is holding an open mic event on Oct. 17, one of many social events the radio station is planning in hopes of reaching out to the Cal Poly community. “I know there are a lot of talented students at Cal Poly, and this open mic is a great chance for KCPR to get to interact with those students,” said Haley Brown, the KCPR promotions director and a graphic communication junior.
Aryn Sanderson
[follow id = “ArynSanderson”]
Cal Poly’s radio station, KCPR, is hosting an open mic event in the Christopher Cohan Performing Arts Center Pavilion on Oct. 17 as part of its new push to become more student-friendly.
“KCPR only takes in a certain amount of people as DJs each quarter, so we’re trying to plan more social events where anyone can come,” KCPR event director and business administration junior Parker Glenn said. “KCPR is planning a lot of events involving the community and outreach because we want people to feel like we’re approachable.”
Typically, KCPR has approximately 80 different DJs on air per year, and KCPR only lets in approximately 12 to 20 new DJs per quarter, Glenn said.
But KCPR is still a student radio station, KCPR promotions director and graphic communication junior Haley Brown said.
“I know there are a lot of talented students at Cal Poly, and this open mic is a great chance for KCPR to get to interact with those students,” Brown said. “We spend a lot of time at the station, so it’s nice to get out there and become more accessible.”
Currently, 35 performers are signed up for the open mic, even though the limit is approximately 20, Glenn said. Organizers are in the process of dealing with the overflow.
Improvisational comedians, beatboxers, slam poets, songwriters and musicians are signed up to perform, Brown said.
Organizers expect approximately 80 to 100 attendees in the PAC Pavillion, which has a capacity of approximately 150 people, Brown said. It should be “a fun, comfortable, not too cozy” environment, she said.
KCPR has always tried to showcase talent through its student-produced radio shows, KCPR DJ and wine and viticulture senior Maddie Mori said.
Mori plans to perform some of her poetry including “Ten Cents,” a poem that recently won the Academy of American Poets contest.
“Above all, we support self-expression and self-confidence to be yourself and do whatever makes you happiest,” she said in an email. “Open mic night is just one of many events we hope to host that will allow students to do just that.”
Though community members are welcome at the open mic, and a few have already signed up to perform, the focus is on students, Glenn said.
“We want this to be a part of student life where students can drop in, support their fellow classmates and it be more casual,” he said.
Moving forward, organizers hope to see the open mic become a quarterly event at the PAC, although they’re looking for it to move “toward a more coffeehouse vibe,” Glenn said, “where students are able to come and go and get coffee, snacks or even study to music.”
Along with its open mic event, KCPR has more open social events on the calendar. Next up is a new music record night on Oct. 24. More information will be announced on its Facebook page.
And starting as soon as next week, KCPR will be broadcast in the University Union as the radio station, Monday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m.
The open mic is Thursday at 8 p.m. The event is free, and coffee and snacks will be provided.