With American Idol jumping the shark with Paula Abdul's departure, and the possibility of it going away all together if Ted McGinley becomes the next new judge, singers may wonder what other options they have to perform in public and get noticed. A Reader's Corner Bookstore has got you covered.
If you've ever been to A Reader's Corner Bookstore at 138 Breckenridge Lane in St. Matthews, chances are you will remember it. It's a little like Meg Ryan's store in You've Got Mail, minus all the chain takeover business and Nora Ephron sappiness. It's the quintessential local, independent book store: quaint and cozy. And while it does sell new books, it has thousands of used titles for sale. In fact, it is billed as Louisville's largest locally-owned new & used full service bookstore
What you may not know, however, is that it is also home to an open mic night, and the next one will be on Wednesday May 19th at 7:00 P.M. Perhaps in honor of Pete Townshend's birthday you may want to play a version of Blue Red and Grey on a ukulele, but that's not required.
The store has been holding open mic nights for several years but on an irregular basis. All sorts of performers have participated, including musicians, poets, singers, and storytellers. On average, there are usually about a dozen performers, and the allotted time varies depending on the performer's act.
Assistant (and husband) to owner Judy Fout, Tim Fout is proud of the event. "People have mentioned that ours is very relaxed atmosphere," he said. "They also like the fact that we provide free refreshments and snacks for the participants and the audience." He adds that there is plenty of parking in the back of the store.
So after all the years of having open mic night, what is the most unique performance Fout has witnessed? "The most interesting act we have had so far was a rendition of a song entitled Hans Beimler. It's about a German communist who was killed by the Nazis in the Spanish Civil War. It was played on the harmonica by Dan Taylor who is best remembered as a fiery civil rights attorney from the 60s." Accompanying Taylor on vocals was the Fouts' son, Justin, who sang the song in German.
Anyone interested in singing, playing, doing comedy, puppeteering, whatever artistic performance pursuit you desire, contact the store. However, you do not necessarily have to call ahead to be scheduled. Chances are if you just show up at the store, you will get a turn at the open mic. Tape it, put it on YouTube, and you could be the next Internet sensation.
