Week #12 of the CV Open Mic Competition Fall edition brought a full house and 20 performances! The bands, singers, instrumentalists, rappers, duos, etc., gave it their all while DJ Alex Updike kept the crowd feeling the music in between performances. Audience giveaways such as hats and t-shirts from the Mary Pickford Theatre kept the crowd cheering for more. After the performers were through, the judge vote (50%), by Brandon of Before the Funeral, was tallied and added to the audience applause score (50%), and it was Marco Thoma who was awarded 1st place and the final semifinalist slot. Marco decided to take home a Gift Certificate to Record Alley. He will now move on to the Semi Finals in November. If Marco wins there, he will compete in the Grand Finals for an MTV Quality Music Video Production from Desert C.A.M. Studios/Winmill Films and award winning Director Chip Miller, plus a $500 trip to Las Vegas from Crater Lake Spirits, as well as an Artist Development Session from Grammy nominated Producer Ronnie King, and a Promotional Photo Shoot from Visions Photography. 2nd place was awarded to Riz Orchestra who chose to take home 2 tickets to the Mary Pickford Theatre. 3rd place was awarded to Lost in Thought who decided on an hour of Studio Time from JEM Productions.
THANK YOU to ALL our performers at the CV Open Mic Competition for putting on a great show AND making the environment so supportive for all of the artists involved: Gustavo Gonzalez, R.J. Chessher, Marco Thoma, Dave Strauss, Mike Sick-boy, Caroline Stafford, Noel Oliva, Pete Campbell, Max Mitchell, Nicolas Albertini, Carter Albertini, Jim Holiday, Rod Van Buren, Mike Belli, Riz Orchestra, Tony aka Alpine, Dave and Teresa Van Kampen, Jim Matheson, Giancarlo Stagnaro, Taylor Bentz, Ivan Recendes, Aaron Gaylor, Daniel Gaylor, and Jon Gaylor. Also a big thanks to Johnny Carmona, our amazing sound technician. I hope to see you all next TUESDAY at SCHMIDY’S TAVERN in Palm Desert! Look for coverage of this week’s event and the announcement of winners in the next issue of Coachella Valley Weekly! SPECIAL THANKS to all of our sponsors: Desert C.A.M. Studios/Winmill Films & Chip Miller, Ronnie King Music, JEM Productions, Crater Lake Spirits, Visions Photography, KAM Studios, CV Weekly, Canyon Copy & Print, the Mary Pickford Theatre, and DJ Alex Updike.
NEXT WEEK begins our Semi Finals Competition so please note that these will not be open to anyone not entered into the semifinals. PLEASE COME OUT AND SUPPORT ALL OF OUR SEMI FINALISTS 11/10 & 11/17. The show will run 8pm – 10pm. For updates, questions or information about sign-up, please visit and “LIKE” Facebook.com/CVOpenMicCompetition or contact creator and host, Morgan James at MorganAliseJames@gmail.com or (714) 651-1911
