09-05-2025 First Friday Open Mic, Self Design Art Gallery

Date: 09/05/2025

Event: First Friday Open Mic

Venue: Self Design Art Gallery 

Address: 708 K Street, Sacramento, CA

Notes: Rob Esperanza has a text event list he sends out flyers. So I saw it and decided I would go. He doesn’t run the event. The organizers showed up a little late to open the door. So Rob started a little street open mic. And people showed up to play some of the instruments Rob had out there. It was interesting that people actually left a dollar or two. I was wondering if Sacramento is starving for art and culture so much downtown. Also, I must mention the street preacher by the DoCo sign. Using a very loud speaker, so we were a bit of competition for him. He was preaching up a storm. 

I paid on Eventbright, but it seems it was more organic thing. If I had known, I would have saved my money and spent it on the food they had there, maybe. 

When we got to the Self Design Art Gallery, I was really impressed with the space. The stairwell alone to me would make a good photography location shoot for fashion people or a video for dancers. I thought they had only the gallery, no, they had the gallery and a bar area in the hallway, and and smaller room with a stage, they said for having small concerts, gatherings, maybe CD release parties. I don’t even know how they do those anymore; no one listens to CDs anymore. Streaming release parties, maybe? 

The open mic was very loosely run, and Rob kind of took the helm. Gene Avery read some pieces, Rob as well, and we had some singers and rappers. I didn’t photograph everything; I just kind of took things in. I kind of beat myself up afterward for not having my street journaling hat on. The space and the series have a lot of potential. I think I would add a small PA system and a proper host to get things going in a good direction. I had problems hearing some of the rapper’s lyrics, but other than that, it was a cool space and good, positive people. 

Links:

https://selfdesignsartgallery.com

Also, if you want to get on Rob’s list, you just have to give him your phone number when you see him. He promotes some pretty good local alternative events. Off the beaten path.