The Open Mic Finale at the Shag Room
Las Vegas, Nevada is home to some of the biggest names in entertainment history. It’s no secret that people come from every walk of life to succeed, but what about the locals? For musicians looking to expand their reach and network, there are open mics. Scattered across the valley, these open mics give artists the opportunity to grow their performance, skill, and audience! The casinos especially are a great place to try and get a regular gig. A couple of the lounges that were gaining popularity decided to host weekly open mics to see fresh talent. One of these open mics is at The Shag Room in the Virgin Hotel.
Photo via Instagram
This open mic happens every week on Wednesday nights from 8-close. Each night the hosts pick the winning “Act of the Night”. This act will then be put into the final competition every 12 weeks. The winner of the finale receives not only a room and a $500 food voucher for the hotel, but a coveted residency at The Shag Room on Thursday nights. This residency in one of the entertainment capitals of the world could lead to record deals, gigs, and a larger audience.
Season 14 started in December of 2024 and ran until March of this year. Twelve artists from every walk of life stepped on the stage each week and secured their spot for the finale.
The three judges picked for the season 14 finale are last season’s winner Lucius Thompson, American Idol contestant Mackenzie Sol, and an industry professional.
Each contestant’s name is put into a bowl and the order of the performances are pulled out at random. They are allowed two songs to wow the judges to the best of their ability. Then, the judges score the performance on a scale from 1-10. Getting three tens is pretty rare and is saved for the best of the best.
Photo via Instagram
Sian Michelle opened the show with a powerhouse performance of “Cuz I Love You” by Lizzo. With a style to rival pop divas of today, she showed the judges and the audience what was to come. Yard Sale gave an electrifying performance of “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry that got the audience up and dancing. Moretti enticed the audience with a sultry jazz-like performance. MUD Brwn has a smooth voice that fits perfectly with older country classics. Matt and Chelsea are a gorgeous duo that balance each other's sounds incredibly.
While all of these performances were amazing, the act of the night was by Christian. A soft-spoken man graces the stage and thanks the fill-ins for the band. Then, he proceeds to shred his guitar in the most memorable and indescribable way. Capturing the audience’s attention, Christian wiggles and jives while producing the most soulful and passionate performance of the night. There is a love of music that radiates off of him that makes the audience feel like they are witnessing history being made.
So, with the judges left speechless and a roaring crowd pleading for an encore, he waves off the stage with the winning act of the night. This open mic breeds opportunity and networking beyond compare in one the largest entertainment capitals of the world.