Open Mic at Steveston Hub - Darren Lof, Co-founder & Operations Manager
Darren Lof
Co-founder and Operations Manager of the Steveston Hub shares about their Open Mic nights where musicians, poets, and other creatives perform in a fun and supportive environment.
Hi, I’m Darren Lof, Co-founder and Operations Manager of the Steveston Hub.
The Steveston Hub (or the Hub) is a place that exists for the flourishing of Steveston. Specifically, we are an alternative community space in the heart of Steveston Village. We host community events, offer a co-working space, room rentals, and even have church gatherings!
Our values are Community Engagement, Community Wellness, and Creative Collaboration. One of the ways we activate these values is through our Hub Open Mic Evenings (HOME)—cozy evenings of music, poetry, and more.
SwingOut Richmond band opening for previous open mic
Our next Hub Open Mic Evening is happening on Saturday March 29th from 7-9pm.
Whether you're a seasoned performer or just looking to share your talents, this is the place where you can let your creativity shine in a welcoming and supportive environment. For the audience, admission is free but we do encourage you to donate a non-perishable food item for the Steveston Community Cupboard, which is located at the Hub.
Gather at the Steveston Hub for a night of entertainment
If you’re eager to sign up as a performer or get your free tickets, you can do so by visiting our open mic webpage.
But if you have a few extra minutes, read on—because in this blog, I’ll share about:
The inspiration behind Hub Open Mic Evenings
The impact that these events have on the local community
Ways you can get involved as a performer, spectator, or volunteer
Not just for musicians—poets are welcome
What inspired the Hub to organize open mics?
When we first got the Hub in March of 2020, one of our hopes was to use the space for events such as open mics. We all remember what happened in March of 2020, so many of our hopes and dreams were put on pause. Once we started holding events at the Hub, we started exploring if there would be interest in an open mic.
Singer/Songwriter CocoLarosa performing original song in previous open mic
In November of last year, I had the privilege of visiting an open mic at a space in Langley called The Bez. I was inspired by that space and the community that I could see around the performers and audience. I was reminded of the strong and vibrant community that we have here in Steveston and thought we could build further into the community through an open mic.
Additionally, Steveston is a place filled with artists, yet I have heard through conversations with people in the village that there has not always been enough opportunity to share this art.
Marco Sy singing R&B hits at previous open mic
We hope that through the Hub Open Mic Evenings, artists will be given a space to shine and that the overall community will be strengthened. One of the main goals at the Hub is to see Steveston flourish. We hope and believe that all we do at the Hub, including open mics, will help us towards that goal.
Darren Lof announcing featured band Caught Feelings at previous open mic
How does the Open Mic impact the community?
These events give people a space to share their talents, and allow everyone in the community to come together. We have also decided to use these opportunities to help stock the Steveston Community Cupboard with non-perishable goods. This cupboard fills a vital need in our community and through the open mic, attendees are encouraged to bring goods for the cupboard and all the proceeds from the concession go towards buying goods.
Shane, Tania & Vitor representing Steveston People at previous open mic
How have people responded to past open mic events?
The response to the January open mic was very positive. We had 85 people attend and 12 different performers.
Singer/Songwriter Franklyn Woods performing original song at previous open mic
One performer was a poet who shared that in his over 50 years of writing poetry, he had never found a space where he felt comfortable sharing his work. He found that our open mic evening was the positive space that he needed, and he was greatly encouraged when he shared his poems. He has already signed up for the next one which is coming up on March 29th.
We have always aimed for the Hub to be a place of peace and a place where everyone feels welcome. Through most of the events we have held at the Hub, including the open mics, the feedback we most often hear is that the Hub is a welcoming place of peace.
Steveston local sharing a poem from her book at previous open mic
What goes into making the event happen?
I try to live my life in a casual way and I have tried to bring this approach to making the Open Mics happen. That being said, there is work that goes into it. Promoting the event, gathering performers, and setting up for the event are all part of the process. I promote the event through Eventbrite, through online open mic groups, and word of mouth. I am very grateful for Steveston People’s help with the promotion. For the March event, we have not had the same amount of interest as the previous open mic, but are hopeful that the word will get out there throughout the month.
An accessible way to share and enjoy local entertainment
How can you get involved?
The Steveston Hub’s next open mic is on March 29th, 2025 from 7-9pm.
We are always looking for more volunteers to help promote the evening and to help the event run smoothly. My hope is that these open mics happen on a more regular basis. Currently, we are doing them every second month. It would be great to see the open mics expand to monthly starting in September.
If you are interested in getting involved, visit me at the Hub or email me at stevestonhub@gmail.com