Red Rock Coffee in downtown Mountain View hosted Matchbox’s teen open mic night, which showcased teen poetry, singing and stand-up comedy, last Friday night. Matchbox, a student-run organization that hosts open mics once a month, hosted more than 20 performers last week.
The open mic, which lasted roughly two hours with around 65 attendees, allowed performers an opportunity to perform in a supportive environment, according to Paulo Cho, a stand-up comedy performer at the event.
“We’re able to be open about what we’re feeling,” said Mountain View High junior Juan Vazquez-Gonzalez, who performed poetry. “Even if it isn’t the happiest feeling, there’s still a sense of assurance because we all understand what’s happening with each other.”
Mountain View High sophomore Saumya Anand said she wanted to share her interests with the Matchbox community.
“I love music so much, and what I want to come here to do was just share that passion,” Anand said, a performer who sang at the open mic. “The atmosphere is so blissful. … Everybody’s so loving and welcoming.”
Some performers said they felt anxious when on stage at first, but performing became easier as they exposed themselves more to the stage environment.
“[Performing is] a little intimidating at first, but once you get going then it’s great,” Cho said. “It’s basically like a big talent show, so that’s why I like it. Everyone’s really supportive here.”
Ethan Park, an audience member, felt that the poetry at the event was impressive and made for an enjoyable environment. Several attendees came to watch and support their friends who were performing at the event.
“This was my first time [coming here], and I heard a lot about it,” Park said. “I was coming in with pretty high expectations, and I really liked it. The songs were really impressive, I really liked the poetry a lot. … [There are] just good vibes [here].”
