By Amy Campion
Ten years ago, newly retired Frankston residents Wayne and Geraldine Stanistreet saw a gap in the local arts scene. They wanted to create a regular night where performers of all ages, backgrounds and levels of experience could step up in front of an audience and share their creative magic.
They found a home at Yamala Bowling Club in South Frankston, and Open Mic at the Green began.
A decade later, the monthly event is still going strong. The performer board regularly fills, people travel from across the region to take part, and the night has become embedded in the region’s creative landscape.
In an arts world where community events can be hard to keep alive, 10 years is an achievement in itself. Open Mic at the Green has not just stayed on the calendar, it has stayed in demand.
By 2023, its popularity was such that performers were joining a waiting list for a spot on the program. That same year, Wayne and Geraldine received a Frankston City Council Councillor Appreciation Award recognising their contribution to creative expression and community connection.
The past decade has not been without its challenges though. When Covid brought live gatherings to a halt, Wayne and Geraldine moved the event online rather than letting it disappear. Performers continued sharing music and creativity from their homes until the night was eventually able to return to Yamala as a live, in-person event.
Thankfully, that strange period became part of the event’s story rather than its ending.
Since then, involvement has remained strong. On some oversubscribed evenings, the starting time has even been brought forward to ensure that everyone wanting to perform gets a turn.
There is something special about an open mic night that lasts this long. Each month brings a different mix of voices, instruments, confidence levels and experience. Some performers arrive polished and practised, while others may be stepping up for the first time. The common thread is that they are given the space to do it.
No two nights are quite the same. Music, poetry and all sorts of performances share the stage, and part of the appeal is never quite knowing what the evening will bring.
This month, Open Mic at the Green celebrates 10 years of music, performance and community. After a decade of changing faces, full performer boards and countless turns at the microphone, people are still coming back.
And perhaps that is the best measure of its success.
