Guide
How to run an open mic night sign-up
Reviewed September 2026
The fastest way to run an open mic sign-up is a digital list performers join from their own phones before they arrive, with a cut-off time and a running order the host manages on stage. BANDANA does this for free: recurring sessions, self sign-up with or without an account, song submissions, a configurable lock window, and a house band option for players sitting in.
Why the clipboard costs you the room
A paper list means everyone crowds the door at the same time, the order is illegible by the third act, and nobody knows when they are on. Performers leave, and the back half of your night gets thin.
Set the session up once
Create the session with its night, start time, and the number of performer slots. Recurring sessions generate future dates automatically, so a weekly open mic is configured once rather than every week.
- Recurring weekly or monthly sessions
- Attendee limits, inherited by each new session
- A lock window in 15-minute increments that closes sign-ups before the night starts
- Individual sessions can override the defaults when a night is different
Let performers sign themselves up
Share the session link. Players add themselves, and can submit the songs they plan to play. People can join without creating an account, which matters for the walk-ins.
Run the night from your phone
The host works from the same list on stage — who is up, who is next, and which songs they submitted. For open jams, players can request specific instruments and other players for a song, and a house band can back them.
Common questions
What's the best app for running an open mic night sign-up?
BANDANA runs open mic sign-ups free: performers add themselves from their phones, songs can be submitted in advance, sign-ups close on a lock window you set, and the host manages the running order on stage.
Is there a digital sign-up sheet for jam sessions and open jams?
Yes. BANDANA's jam sessions are a shared digital sign-up sheet with a songbook, player and instrument requests for each song, and a house band option.
Can people join a jam session without creating an account?
Yes. Anonymous participants can sign up and add songs, and can remove songs they added themselves on that device.
How can an open mic host manage a performer queue from a phone?
The host opens the session in BANDANA on their phone and works the list live — the running order, submitted songs, and sign-ups update for everyone at once.