Las Vegas is known for its many shows, but sometimes a Vegas visitor or local wants to spend sometime as the center of attention onstage. For this, the local open mic scene can deliver, with a plethora of stages and amateur stage experiences unique to this performance-centric city. Whether it is an intimate acoustic experience, a hilarious comedy club performance or a fully-orchestrated band jam that is just itching to get out of you, there are some amazing venues in Las Vegas to watch or perform at an open mic.

Freakin’ Music at Freakin’ Frog
4700 South Maryland Parkway
Las Vegas, NV 89119
(702) 597-9702
freakinfrog.com

Located in the area surrounding University of Nevada Las Vegas, Freakin’ Frog has one of the most renowned open mic nights in Las Vegas. Performing at the Freakin’ Frog open mic is essentially an audition for a potential show at Freakin’ Music, a local bar and venue that houses one of the best live indie music performances in the city. Freakin’ Frog’s reputation for awesome music is overshadowed only by its famed beer selection and the veritable gallery of whiskey housed in The Whiskey Attic. The open mic and jazz jam at Freakin Frog’ happens on Tuesdays starting at 7 p.m.

Money Plays
4755 W Flamingo Rd # G
Las Vegas, NV 89103
(702) 368-1828
moneyplayslv.com

For an open mic experience that is unique to Las Vegas, the place to be is at Money Plays, which has an open mic called Vegas on the Mic. While most open mic venues offer amateur musicians a chance to get up on stage, this one goes one step further and offers musicians a professional recording of their performance at Vegas on the mic at Money Plays. Performers sign up with Vegas on the Mic beforehand to secure their spot at the show, which runs Thursdays from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The Cellar Lounge
3601 West Sahara Avenue #109
Las Vegas, NV 89102
(702) 362-6268
facebook.com/thecellarlounge

Located about two miles due west of the strip at Sahara, the Cellar Lounge is a favorite standby for Las Vegas local musicians seeking a stage for a short and personal performance. Perks at this open mic include cheap drink specials and a quality group of skilled performers from the Las Vegas area, as well as out-of-towners, famous or unknown, who wander in for a quick set on the stage. The open mic at the Cellar Lounge is every Sunday at 9 p.m. Signups for those who wish to perform start at 8 p.m.

Big Al’s Comedy Club
4500 W Tropicana Ave
Las Vegas, Nevada 89103
(702) 365-7111
orleanscasino.com

Aspiring predecessors of comedy greats like Bill Hicks and George Carlin can cut their teeth with cheers, laughs and jeers on the open mic night stage at Big Al’s Comedy Club. This club is located at The Orleans, a New Orleans French Quarter themed hotel located a short distance West of the Las Vegas Strip. When it is not housing an open mic with amateur comedy performers, real life professional comedians perform on this stage. The open mic at Big Al’s Comedy Club happens every Sunday at 9 p.m.

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The Beat Coffeehouse and Records
520 Fremont Street
Las Vegas, NV 89101
(702) 409-5563
thebeatlv.com

For performers seeking a classic coffeeshop open mic experience, The Beat is the place to be. This intimate coffeehouse and record shop is nestled in with the hip new entertainment options at Fremont East, a short walk from the east end of the Fremont Street Experience. Patrons on the western end of the Fremont Street Experience can ride a zipline to speed the trip to the other end of the attraction. The Beat Coffeehouse is a small venue with the usual local coffeeshop fare and a cozy atmosphere, including close-set seating and a selection of indie zines, as well as a gallery and record shop to peruse. The venue’s open mic, called The Human Experience, is hosted every Monday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

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Heather Bliss is a writer living in Las Vegas. Before she wrote about the Las Vegas area, she wrote articles about news, politics, movies and music in California. Heather holds a Bachelor of Arts in the Visual and Performing Arts from CSU San Marcos and studied Journalism at Moorpark College, where she received her A.A. degree. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.