In a city so large that carving out a niche can be difficult, a close-knit community formed around an open mic night in Queens.
The Waltz-Astoria cafe sits among row houses on a block of Ditmars Boulevard with few other businesses. During the day it is an average cafe, serving sandwiches and coffee to locals. Two nights a week, however, a community of musicians, spoken word artists and comedians come together to share their talents and collaborate.
“It’s a family,” said Pedro Gonzalez, who owns the cafe. “I’m like the father.”
Soon, the family will get competitive. In November the cafe will hold the Ultimate Singer-Songwriter Contest, a four-night event that will have musicians competing against each other for a cash prize, a trophy and a solo show at the cafe.
Billy Conahan has been part of this community for almost four years. He was only 14 and had just started doing stand-up comedy when he decided to try the open mic night.
“My friend lived around the block,” he said. “When we walked by an open mic I figured I’d give it a shot.”
Conahan became a fixture at the Waltz-Astoria. He eventually started writing music. Now he plays guitar and harmonica, sings and sometimes freestyle raps.
“I can do whatever I want on stage,” he said, earning himself a laugh and a skeptical look from Gonzalez.
Kathrine Becker had just moved to Astoria when she found the open mic night. She had taken refuge in a co-worker’s apartment two blocks from the cafe after leaving a bad roommate on the Lower East Side. She discovered the cafe when she decided to explore the neighborhood and quickly became a regular.
“I was in Astoria for 6 weeks and I was here 12 times,” Becker said.
Even though she no longer lives in Queens, she still frequents the open mic night. When her group, Suzy Sellout, recently played a show at the Waltz-Astoria Becker said she noticed a few familiar faces in the audience.
“I saw 5 or 6 other musicians I specifically know from open mic night,” she said. “I would go to theirs.”
At a time when she was performing in subway stations to make ends meet, Becker managed to fit the Waltz-Astoria’s $10 drink minimum into her budget by setting aside enough money in advance and being careful not to spend more than she had to.
“You have to find a way to make it work for you,” she said.
Conahan said he has been at open mic night twice a week, every week, since he started coming.
“I consider this place my home,” he said.
Becker and Conahan both said that collaboration with other musicians is a favorite part of the community. Becker called the collaboration phenomenon a “music share” and said it is part of what keeps people flocking to the cafe.
“It’s not because they have a good beer selection,” she said, laughing. “People make the place.”
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