Open Mics are fantastic, I got zero problems with musicians going to Open Mic nights and getting their groove on. If you show up to an Open Mic night as an audience member and complain there's music, you're an absolute ass hat. That's a designated place for music to happen.

However, being a captive audience member to people who want to show off their singing skills is a massive turn off for anyone who doesn't really like much in the way of music.

Imagine this.... you go to a party, and I've shown up with a book of my own poetry that nobody asked me to bring. Me and some mates go down to the bottom of the garden, set up our own little party within the party where I do a poetry reading... everyone can come and listen, but unless you've written a poem or are prepared to read one - you can't join in. You can listen of course, you can applaud if you want because my poems and the way I read them is excellent

Is this a bonding thing? Or is a tool for social exclusion and building my own social proof as a poet amongst poets? Wouldn't non-poets be fair in saying.... see those guys at the end of the garden reading poetry to each other... they're a bunch of pricks. ;o)