There's an old saying in the
entertainment biz: its not what you know, it's who you know. As a man who has
hosted open mics in San Diego since the mid '90s, Isaac Cheong knows everybody.
This month marks an important milestone as he reflects on 10 years in the San
Diego music community.
If
you don't know him, you should. It's easy. Cheong has developed many talents as
a result of his decade of service to the music community. One of his most
refined skills is the art of conversation and getting to know people. Cheong
believes in building community. "I was drawn to the community and the camaraderie,"
he says. "When you see the same people in the same place for years, that's the vibe I try to maintain at my
open mics."
Cheong
debuted, as an open mic act, at Mikey's, the now-closed Poway cafŽ, back in
1995. "I was going through a really rough, emotional time and I was pretty much
laying low for a year Ð really depressed. We played there [at Mikey's] and
people really liked us. People remembered me and I started going back because
it was a friendly place. After a while I was there every night of the week."
Over time, Cheong got to know everyone there. The open mic host at the time got
swept away with other interests about a year after Cheong arrived. Opportunity
knocked and, after some hemming and hawing, Cheong answered, starting an
important series of events that would shape who he would become.
For
the next five years, from 1996-2001, Cheong would introduce new up-and-comers
to the Poway stage. "I wanted to bring a different Vibe [to Mikey's]. I wanted
to make it more like a show." Cheong wanted to be entertaining, so he
entertained. "I had to keep it interesting for myself. Week after week it gets
stale, so I had to indulge my hunger for weird tangents." His entertaining
stage presence was a big hit, and musicians were increasingly gravitating to
his open mic.
But,
in 2001 Mikey's lost their lease and the once well-established music community
that was centered on the cafŽ began to disperse. "It was nice to have my Sunday
nights again to myself. But I missed seeing all the familiar faces," Cheong
remembers. A few open mics were cropping up around Carmel Mountain and some of
the players began playing at Lestat's in Normal Heights. In 2002, Lestat's
opened an all new venue, now called Lestat's West and the previous host of
Lestat's Monday night open mic left for job-related reasons.
Cheong's
open mic hosting prowess had traveled the distance from Poway to San Diego via
word of mouth and the owner of Lestat's had heard the word on the street. "John
[the owner of Lestat's] came up to me and said, 'People have been telling me
that you should host the open mic.'" Again, Cheong hemmed and hawed. At the
time Lestat's was going through a few guest hosts per month. Cheong agreed to
be a guest host for two weeks, which became two months and so on. Five years
later - this month, in fact - Cheong will be celebrating his 10th anniversary
as an open mic host. Although Cheong has developed a reputation as a
world-class funny man, he doesn't consider himself an extrovert. "I'm still
afraid of the audience. That nervousness keeps you sharp. Either you crash and
burn or you elevate your game."
Cheong
continues to host and introduce new music to the stage every Monday at Lestat's
West, but he's also working on new ideas. More recently, in 2005, Cheong
co-founded an independent business coordinating print productions. With his
roots in the artist community, it follows that his first clients were
photographers. He also helps musicians with promotional print work and CD
manufacturing and packaging as well.
Over
time, Cheong has gathered a few pearls of wisdom. "There are rules that every
person should know Ð like open mic etiquette. Be there on time. Tune your
guitar before you get on stage. Don't go over the time and don't make excuses.
Don't come in, play your song, and leave. You make the effort whether or not
you get a return. Your job is as an entertainer. Sometimes the best moments are
spontaneous and the product of exploring through those rough nights."
A
grand celebration/concert/party will ensue at Lestat's West on Friday, November
10, as Cheong passes the 10-year mark. "There'll be people from the old Mikey's
days, some traditionals and new names, and others." It will be a night to
remember!