By Andy Furman
NKyTribune staff writer
A Wild Onion. Also known as wild garlic – is a winter perennial. The leaves are waxy, upright and needle-shaped growing eight-to-twelve inches long.
Not according to Samuel T. Phillips.
“To me,” the Covington resident told the Northern Kentucky Tribune, “It’s a traveling Open-Mic.”
And Phillips has been traveling the region about 19 years with an Open-Mic Night.
“I’m an artist,” the Northern Kentucky University Creative Writing and English Major said. “I started reading poetry at the Greenwich Tavern around 2007-08. “Performing in front of strangers got me in my comfort zone.”
During the day, his Comfort Zone is employment at Home Depot, and occasionally serving as a substitute teacher in the Kenton County School District. He attended Turkeyfoot Middle School and Dixie Heights High School.
But when the sun goes down, he takes out his microphone for anyone wishing and willing to perform.
“That’s my Wild Onion,” he said. “My Wild Onion isn’t at all about making money; it’s about people sharing their art form.”
He claims there is something very powerful about people performing in front of other people.
“And,” he adds, “It certainly is a nice opening for people to meet other people – with similar interests.”
Those interests, according to Phillips are poetry reading, music and comedy. “The poetry and music are usually original works,” he said. “And some of the comics I’ve seen are pretty talented.”
There are plenty of Open-Mic nights in and around Covington, Phillips says, and, ”Every one is different, from sound form and emotion.”
He plans his first non-Nocturnal One-Mic Day at the Point/Arc’s Coffee Shop – the Point-Perk (45 W. Pike Street), Saturday, March 28, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.. “We’ll see a different kind of artist here. It’ll be a challenger, but I’m not worried about filling the room. In fact, it’ll be interesting to see what people come out with on that day.”
But why do people want to stand in front of strangers, to read, sing or amuse the audience with jokes?
“It’s sharing — when emotions and feelings aero built up,” he said. “In fact, the entire process is a feeling – not a performance. It’s all about wanting to connect to an audience.”
He says you will never find yourself alone with an Open-Mic Night. “There has always been a connection for every one of these I’ve hosted,” he said.
Phillips serves as emcee fop Open-Mic Nights twice-a-week and plans to host one at the Covington Library this April. “You can read to yourself all you want,” he says, “But sometimes it just doesn’t resonate width people.”
Most of the readings, he adds, are original manuscripts, and the music is also usually original. And the audience? “Always well behaved,” he said. “It’s common practice to respect the room and the mic.”
His Open-Mic goal is once-a-month in the area this year, “Maybe every other week – and host it at different parts of the city.”
Covington, he says, has at least a dozen Open-Mic venues where he is involved. “I have a list of names for contacts, and the word-of-mouth and social media usually fill the room.”
As for the non-Nocturnal event at the Point-Perk on the 28th, “I approached them,” he said. “I like the space, and I wanted to try a day-time Open-Mic. I certainly like their mission helping individuals with Special Needs.”
The ages of performers usually range from 17 to the 60s, he says.
And the theme for the event on the 28th – Helpers and Healers – which fits perfectly for the Point/Arc.
“For every Open-Mic,” Phillips said, “there is something to heal you.”
The Point Perk Open Mic is set for Saturday, March 28, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; 45 W. Pike Street. No sign-up necessary – just show up.