4 GROUNDCOVER NEWS GROUNDCOVER DECEMBER 12, 2025 Left to right: Marius Johnson, Felicia Wilbert, Cindy Gere and David Putman. Groundcover annual open mic extravaganza STEVEN Groundcover vendor No. 668 I was inspired to write this story while I was in the glow of having just ended emceeing the Fourth Annual Groundcover Open Mic. I’ve never emceed anything. I had no idea how to emcee but in the moment it struck me as a fun idea. Soon after getting the enthusiastic approval of “people” about this thing, I panicked. I guess I was in. It was fun. It was epic and I’m proud to have been part of it. I’m over here watching videos about emceeing, figuring out how one might write about a cool thing like this. I panicked. Did I mention I panicked? I wished dearly I could tell the boss I had changed my mind. I could have. 100% I could have. But not and still be cool with myself, a stretch on the best days. The boss would have for sure let me off the hook. I don’t like being that guy. I have been and will be a guy who ducks out, but not this time. I followed through. Bang howdy I’m glad I did it. I suspect this event would be better served by a better event reporter, but I was there. I was engaged in a way different than usual. I’m glad I leaned into this because this is the Beat Generation I was looking for. Here’s the list of performers: Panda, Wayne, Ken, Marius, Amanda, Ty, David, Joshua, Victor, Dylan The Autistic Spitfire, Ameera and Anna. Okay, my journalism part is fulfilled. Here’s my take: Holy shit we need more of all of this. As a species, as a culture, storytelling and listening are intrinsic to us but it’s satiated by screens. I love screens, this isn’t hate, it’s love for interpersonal events. Every. Single. Person. Who got on that mic crushed it. I’ve been to open mics. Usually there are people who I might have preferred if they hadn’t got up. Not this night. The worst thing I can say is the emcee was underprepared, and awkward, but had a certain charm. The people who ponied up and put themselves out there crushed it. The show ran the gamut. We had fantastic indigenous folk music, original songs, well-written, and professionally-performed. We had a standup comic who had my and others’ asses rolling in the aisles. We had interpretive readings, we had interpretive dance, we had spirituals, we had pop-art, we had (a highlight for me) “an old guy saying stuff.” We, as a culture, need more of that. There were people who I suspect saw open mic and went for it, and got it. This one guy sang and played at a professional level like Elliot Smith. A beautiful, great, encouraging crowd. There are a few of us who thought we must have shat the bed, but on every account from everyone who wasn’t them, they didn't. I rediscovered my love of the ukulele, manic ramblings, and the disjointed truth of people. At its heart, and this event was very much bolstered by heart (thank you boss), this was a space for creative expression. This space very easily could have been a coffee shop in The Village of 50s New York. It was safe and public. A space where our underserved, underrepresented, the groundside, could just be, and mingle with the square public and both have good things to get from it. Panda and Amanda bookended the evening with beautiful songs, to set the beginning tone, and bring us home at the end. Several people were funny, but The Autistic Spitfire was side-splitting and not kitch, just funny. Politics were espoused, social commentary, creative game design were all to be had. If any mainstream media tried to do this it would have been lost in the filth that is modern media. There were no pop-up ads. Well there was one. I as the emcee did, in fact, clumsily point out the whole idea of this thing was to give voice to and call attention to the unhoused and the hungry, in recognition of Homelessness and Hunger Awareness Week. I’m very grateful to Groundcover News, its publisher Lindsay Calka (she’ll hate this, heh heh), the people who keep it going by buying the papers, the maniac contributors, the wonderful art gallery event space, Makeshift Gallery (407 E Liberty St in Ann Arbor) and the people who braved the fear of putting themselves “out there.” The people who showed up, money spent or not. This was the fourth year of the Groundcover open mic and I hope it continues for years beyond our great time and space. Peace. Groundcover Vendor Code While Groundcover is a non-profit, and paper vendors are self-employed contractors, we still have expectations of how vendors should conduct themselves while selling and representing the paper. The following is our Vendor Code of Conduct, which every vendor reads and signs before receiving a badge and papers. We request that if you discover a vendor violating any tenets of the Code, please contact us and provide as many details as possible. Our paper and our vendors should be positively impacting our County. • Groundcover will be distributed for a voluntary donation. I agree not to ask for more than the cover price or solicit donations by any other means. • When selling Groundcover, I will always have the current biweekly issue of Groundcover available for customer purchase. • I agree not to sell additional goods or products when selling the paper or to panhandle, including panhandling with only one paper or selling an issue more than 4 weeks old. • I will wear and display my badge when selling papers and refrain from wearing it or other Groundcover gear when engaged in other activities. • I will only purchase the paper from Groundcover Staff and will not sell to or buy papers from other Groundcover vendors, especially vendors who have been suspended or terminated. • I agree to treat all customers, staff, and other vendors respectfully. I will not “hard sell,” threaten, harass or pressure customers, staff, or other vendors verbally or physically. • I will not sell Groundcover under the influence of drugs or alcohol. • I understand that I am not a legal employee of Groundcover but a contracted worker responsible for my own well-being and income. • I understand that my badge is property of Groundcover and will not deface it. I will present my badge when purchasing the papers. • I agree to stay off private property when selling Groundcover. • I understand to refrain from selling on public buses, federal property or stores unless there is permission from the owner. • I agree to stay at least one block away from another vendor in downtown areas. I will also abide by the Vendor Corner Policy. • I understand that Groundcover strives to be a paper that covers topics of homelessness and poverty while providing sources of income for the homeless. I will try to help in this effort and spread the word. If you would like to report a violation of the Vendor Code or leave positive review of a Vendor experience please email contact@ groundcovernews.com or fill out the contact form on our website.
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