Artists turn up to showcase talent at weekly open mic event

By Dave Fidlin | SDUN Reporter

With the goal of capturing and nurturing talent throughout the Greater San Diego area, Gill Sotu is on a mission. Every Tuesday, the poet provides a venue for diverse artists trying to hone their craft and share it before an audience.

The weekly open mic event, known as Train of Thought, is open to all artists, including musicians, comedians and poets. The ground rules are few, but Sotu said he insists the crowd provide a supportive atmosphere, meaning no heckling from the peanut gallery.

Sotu began Train of Thought in his garage in 2003 when he was living in Oxnard. “It really excites me to see people get better, especially people with a lot of talent and promise.”

When he moved to San Diego in early 2009, Sotu brought his creation to the city, initially at a venue known as The Marquee. A year later, it was transplanted to Queen Bee’s Art and Cultural Center in North Park. Each week, artists begin gathering at the venue around 7:30 p.m.

Between 15 and 18 artists take the stage on any given night. “The first 12 are guaranteed; after that there’s a wild card because of time limitations,” Sotu said. “Each person has a set limit; either six minutes or two pieces, whichever comes first.”

While he encourages a full range of creative expression, Sotu has put a few parameters around the show to ensure they are palatable to all attendees. He encourages artists to offer a “radio edit” if there is any profanity in lyrics. Works including messages of sexism, racism and bigotry are not allowed.

Since bringing Train of Thought to San Diego, Sotu said his open mic show has been well attended. There is a regular group of artists who take the stage and if there is a newcomer, Sotu encourages him or her to let it be known.

“We’ll all shout out, ‘We’ve got you’,” Sotu said, expressing support for a person who might have stage fright. “If someone fumbles their lines or messes up, it’s okay. We’re all a community here.”

South Park resident Brian Simpson first walked onto the stage at Queen Bee’s six months ago. While he always enjoyed making people laugh, Simpson never thought of himself as a comedian. When he saw a sign earlier this year advertising the open mic nights, he thought he would give it a try. Since then, he has flourished on stage.

“I’m discovering how much I enjoy being a comedian,” said Simpson, who at times goes by the stage name Lil’ Brian. “This is like therapy for me. I can be myself without a filter.”

Along with discovering himself, Simpson said he enjoys the spectacle of other artists growing and improving.
“You see a person who might not do so well at first and really improve as the weeks go by,” he said, “I think you’re going to see a lot of talent coming out of here.”

Guitarist and North Park resident Jeff Boyer has often done open mic events, but unabashedly proclaims Train of Thought the cream of the crop because of Sotu’s supportive environment. “It’s a real tight-knit group there,” Boyer said, “I get a kick in the pants every week… because I never know who’s going to show up.”

Sotu is quick to name off musical acts, such as Jason Mraz and The Roots, who gained notoriety from open mic nights. For Sotu, even if he does not hit the big time with his poetry, he said he finds satisfaction in knowing other artists could reach a high pinnacle through Train of Thought.
He said, “My goal is to make this something that can exist beyond me.”