Open Mic Night – A First Person Narrative

Despite being one of the oldest cities in the world with a great literary tradition and taste, Peshawar rarely witnesses the occurrence of literary or Open Mic events. The Order Of Pen delved into arranging one such event and provided an open floor to all. The event commenced at 3 pm and went on till 9 pm. From music to poetic recitations to a rare instance of standup comedy (rare, since it is an infrequent kind of performance in Peshawar), we experienced a vast array of different personas and different vibes.

Delving into a world of melodies, euphonies, and beautiful literary notions, the event opened in a rather spontaneous manner. The guests had started pouring in a tad before 3 pm and arrangements were made to tend to them. An open mic night is not just a gathering of vocalists and enthusiasts; it’s a brimming jar of emotions, creativity, and, the happy coherence of people.

On a mild Saturday evening, I plunged into the heart of our city, not only to immerse myself into the vigorous energy of the open mic night, but also to sketch the eventualities of the whole night full of exhilaration and energy.

Snuggled in the heart of the city, the reception stall invitation welcomed every individual, the NIC Hall smiled with contemplation. A dim crescent glow of fairy lights weaved below the ceiling of the hall, created an inviting atmosphere. The incandescence of the decoration and audience mingled with the fizz of conversation, set the stage for a night of aesthetic exploration.

The stage looked nothing short of a scintillating spectacle, and “Open Mic Night of TOOP” written in the background presented an attractive and descriptive purpose of the gathering. Adequate air-conditioning provided comfort in the hot month of June. The subtle reverberation of sound made the night smile with joy, and the balloons used in the adornment portrayed a Christmas-esque ambience. Performers and audiences were equally delighted to be present.

Behind every successful event, there’s always a sturdy team of professionals who utilize their skills to their fullest, in order to make the event as remarkable as it can be. Same was the case in this event. Five cameramen captured the event to retain some of the beautiful music on reel. After capturing the beaming silence and anticipation, the event began with Ms. Fatima Ali expounding on the reason of the gathering, followed by a brief introduction of The Order Of Pen. The co-host was Mr. Moazam Khan.

From prospective poets to aspiring musicians, the open mic night welcomed an assorted range of talent. The night kicked off with an arrantly well-versed Urdu poet, his words : profound and heart touching. This was followed by yet another performance of Urdu poetry, and the performances smoothly cascaded from poetry to music.

As the evening blossomed, distinct voices and melodies were heard. Each performer added a unique aesthetic, and artistic talent. There were 25 performers, whose talent brightened the night with music and poetical recitations.

The audience left the hall feeling a mix of contentment and happy giddiness. The organizers made sure to take into account the feedback of audience, and were absolutely satisfied to read what they had penned. We look forward to organizing and attending more of such events, especially in cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where literature is prominently present and glorifying-ly celebrated, even amidst miscellaneous hindrances in the way of its propagation.

Some of the audience’s comments were as follows :

1) I loved it. (Ali Ejaz)

2) Was a great experience. Keep it up. (Yasrab Shah)

3) Loved the arrangements, organizers, and the event. (Ahmad Nafees)

4) Such a great evening (Nafees)

5) Wow! God bless you. (Oliab)

6) Brilliant management, rising new talent. (Sarim)

Let’s never cause cessation to our zeal and efforts made in order to preserve and promote literature and arts! Ciao!