the Open Mic Union

Mission: Provide direct & indirect support to the artists, service industry employees & venues who are the backbone of live music culture across the U.S., especially Austin's world-renowned cultural reputation as the 'Live Music Capital of the World.'

What is the Open Mic Union?

Think of the Open Mic Union like a college football program to the NFL.

Passionate individual & corporate supporters of live music providing structure, resources, technology & promotional support to artists, venues & their service industry employees.

Click for More Details About
the Open Mic Union

Funding Sources & Founders' Tour Fundraising Goal

the Open Mic Union

Funding Sources

  • Organizational Sponsors
  • Individual Supporters
  • Local Event Sponsors
  • Union-Produced Events
  • Artist & Venue Grants
  • Union-Produced Tours
Click to See How Funds Flow
thru the Open Mic Union

the Open Mic Union

Founders' Tour Donor Form

Aug. & Sep.

$51
of $2500 Donated
2.04%
of the Goal
Donation amount
Founders' Tour
Information

Open Mic Union Ambassadors

Union Ambassador Network

Union Ambassador Support Verticals:

  • Booking
  • Lodging
  • Promotion
  • Fundraising

Service Industry Ambassadors

Service Industry Ambassadors primarily produce regular, locally-sponsored service industry appreciation events in support of live music in their locale.

However, there are many ways for Service Industry Ambassadors to supplement their income through the Open Mic Union.

Text 512.415.1454 or fill out the form for more Open Mic Union ambassador information.

Contact the Open Mic Union:

the Open Mic Union Founders' Tour

The Open Mic Union will be sourcing it's initial net fundraising goal of $25,000 for 2025 via monthly 16-day tours with union artists.. As well, the founders' tour will establish our network of Union & Service Industry ambassadors across our Western touring route from Austin, TX to Durango, CO to Bend, OR to Palm Springs, CA & back to Austin with stops everywhere in between.

The non-profit's operational funding in 2025 will come via on-site promo at each show. Union Ambassadors will help source donations from local businesses for raffle and/or silent auction items at most events. Funds will also be raised though individaul supporters of live music culture and the up-and-coming talent flowing out of Austin, TX.

Full tour schedule coming early August!

Founders' Tour Bands

Support Jackrat's First Tour!

$0
of $500 Donated
0%
of the Goal
Donation amount
See How Artist-Sourced Funding
Flows Through the Organization

the Open Mic Union

support verticals

Direct Artist Support

  • Local & Tour Bookings
  • Union-Produced Showcase Events
  • Robust Digital Presence & Tip Jar
  • Subsidized Recording Costs
  • Subsidized Touring Costs
  • Affordable Housing Support (2026)
  • Direct Artist Sponsorships

Indirect Artist Support

  • Professional Development
  • Professional Networking
  • Robust Digital Presence
  • Optimized Digital Tip Jar
  • Management Technology (2026)
  • Digital & Analog Promotion
  • Equipment-Share Program
  • Sponsor Ambassadorships

Service Industry Support

  • Service Industry Ambassadors
  • Booking, Fundraising, Promo & Event Support
  • Venue-Sourced Fundraising
  • Fundraising to a venue-dedicated supplemental set fee fund to bring more/better musicians to their shifts
  • Contract Union Employment
  • Service Industry Appreciation
  • First Monday of Each Month @206BonesATX
  • 4-6PM Music
  • 6-8PM Open Mic/Jam Session
  • 8-10PM Music
  • 10-11PM Comedy

2025 Service Industry Events:

Austin: 9.20 10.6 11.3 12.1

Venue Support

  • Enhanced Digital Promotion
  • Robust Digital Presence
  • Integrated with email/promotional automation
  • Supplemental Venue Set Fee Fund
  • Venue-sourced donations to a union-produced show at venue
  • Equipment-Share Program
  • Sourcing Talent
  • Music Management Platform (2026)
  • New, Small & Struggling Venue Program
  • Supplemental Set Fee Fund
  • Grant Application Support
  • Business Consulting Networking
  • Promotional Support

Donation Categories

& Funds Flow

Direct Artist Contributions

Artists set & revise career goals regularly within the Performer Development Program and are provided a dedicated fund supporting those goals in incremental steps.

For example, an artist with the goal of touring two weeks per month may set a funding goal of $500 to go toward transportation, lodging, food & other costs associated with their next .


See the funds flow for direct artist contributions below:

  1. Artist Fundraising Goal:
  2. Artist sets goal of touring XYZ% of the month and sets fundraising goal to subsidize transportation, lodging & other touring costs.
  3. Direct Commission:
  4. 20% of donation direct to artist like a traditional commission payout.
  5. General Fund:
  6. 20% of contributions go to the non-profit's general fund covering operations, admin & productions.
  7. Dedicated Artist Goal Fund:
  8. 60% of direct artist contributions go toward a dedicated fund in support of career goals.

***Note: Goal Funds for each artist pay out direct commission immediately; the 60% toward artist goal fund not released until total fundraising goal reached.

General Fund Contributions

The Organization sets & revises career goals regularly along with the union artists & partner venues.

For example, the founding promotional tour requires $1,500 to subsidize touring costs for the upcoming 9/18 to 10/4 touring window. Based on the defined split for general fund contributions, this requires $2,500 total funds raised to meet the $1,500 direct touring subsidy goal.


See the funds flow for general fund contributions below:

  1. General Fund Contribution:
  2. Organization sets goal of regular touring starting fall 2025.
  3. Direct Commission:
  4. 20% of general fund contributions are paid out in direct commission to artist, ambassador or venue partner who sourced the contribution.
  5. Operations & Admin:
  6. 20% of general fund contributions go to the boring stuff - legal, compliance, promo, technology & other admin costs.
  7. Organizational Goal Fund:
  8. 60% of general fund contributions go toward the organization's primary goal at that time
  9. Current goal: launch founder's tour to promote launch of the non-profit & establish ambassador and venue network 9.18 thru 10.4


***Note: Goal Funds for the organization pay out direct commission immediately; the 60% toward primary goal fund not released until total fundraising goal reached or as required in advance to ensure travel bookings.

On-Site Contributions - Local & Touring

Events & Tours produced by the Open Mic Union evenly split the contributions garnered at the shows between the artist, the artist's dedicated goal fund & the general fund.

For example at a tour stop, the gig generates $300 total in on-site contributions via direct contributions (like traditional tips), proceeds from donated items raffled/auctioned during show, local event sponsors or supplemental bar/ticket rev share agreements.


See the funds flow for on-site contributions below:

  1. On-Site Contribution:
  2. At most events, donated items will be raffled off or (silent) auctioned off to subsidize touring costs & contribute to artist's dedicated goal fund.
  3. to Artist:
  4. 1/3 of event contributions direct to artist like traditional tips at a gig.
  5. General Fund:
  6. 1/3 of contributions go to the non-profit's general fund covering operations, admin & productions.
  7. Dedicated Artist Goal Fund:
  8. 1/3 of direct artist contributions go toward a dedicated fund in support of defined goals.

***Note: Goal Funds for each artist pay out direct commission immediately; the 60% toward artist goal fund not released until total fundraising goal reached.


Venue-Sourced Fundraising

Service industry ambassadors at stage venues can help support their venue through fundraising in a model that supports the service industry ambassador, the venue & artists equally.

For example, Mason is a service industry ambassador in Austin & wants to get better music acts at his bar to get bigger crowds and earn more money. He sets a goal for the bar of $300 to supplement set fees to book a better performer for one of his shifts.


See the funds flow for venue-sourced contributions below:

  1. Venue-sourced Contributions:
  2. Service Industry Ambassadors at live music venues can fundraise to provide or supplement set fees for music/comedy/magic during their regular shifts
  3. to Ambassador:
  4. 20% of venue-sourced contributions are paid out to the ambassador sourcing the contribution like traditional commission payout.
  5. General Fund:
  6. 20% of contributions go to the non-profit's general fund covering operations, admin & productions.
  7. Dedicated Venue Set Fee Fund:
  8. 60% of venue-sourced contributions go to a dedicated set fee fund to provide or supplement set fees for music/comedy/magic

***Note: Ambassador commission payout occur immediately; the 60% toward dedicated venue set fee fund not released until total fundraising goal reached.


performerdevelopmentprogram

the Open Mic Union

As with all non-profits, those receiving benefits generally have to 'be in good standing' by meeting baseline requirements of a defined program model designed by the non-profit to support the beneficiaries. See the infographic below for the framework of the Performer Development Program:

Home of the Open Mic Union

@206BonesATX

Home of the Open Mic Union

1106 E Caesar Chavez

Austin, TX 78702

Owner: Maia Radbil


BOOK DIRECT:

Bradley Powers | Text: 512.415.1454

Book on Peerspace: peerspace.com/206BonesATX

About the Space

True artist-inspired, bougie-industrial style studio with exposed brick climbing halfway up 20ft walls to 1925 original, exposed beams located in the heart of downtown Austin - as OG Austin as it gets.


The exposed brick walls are the most magnificent feature, creating a uniquely Austin aesthetic serving as a co-working space, pop-up retail spot, artist refuge, rehearsal space, private event & stage performance venue.


This flex space can also be used for media production, private events, corporate parties, small weddings, workshops, gatherings, holiday events, catered dinners, family events, artist residencies, promotional events, temporary office space or anything else you can imagine!*


206 Bones is home to the Open Mic Union as an ardent supporter of OG Austin culture and live stage performances. Maia also provides early-stage musicians & artists reasonable rehearsal rates, studio time & rental rates on house equipment as 206 Bones serves as the location of the equipment share program for the Open Mic Union.


*Within applicable federal, state & local laws 🙂

206 Bones Details

1106 E Caesar Chavez

Austin, TX 78702

  • 800 sq ft. primary indoor space
  • 400 sq ft. storage & bathroom space
  • 800 sq ft. outdoor, concrete space
  • Elite Air Conditioning!!!
  • 100% Creative Control
  • Tables, Seating, Audio Equipment Available
  • Resident Catering Chef Available
  • Resident Videographer Available
  • Event Services Available
  • Entertainment Sourcing

Quick Virtual Tour with Owner Maia Radbil on Bass Below:

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206 Bones ATX

Pricing ranges from $40hr to $300hr depending on day of week, time & services included.

Text Bradley at 512.415.1454 to price out your event or fill out the form below:

the Open Mic Union

Contact: info@openmicunion.org | 512.415.1454