Written by Maria Arroyo
Recently, I had a chance to talk with John Taylor (@JohnTaylorsMusic), the creator of the ever-growing Delco Quarantine Open Mic Facebook page! We stumbled across the page amidst this whole COVID-19 pandemic, where Taylor manages to keep live performances up and running!
Taylor is a local singer/songwriter that gigs regularly around Delaware County and Philadelphia. When all of his gigs were canceled on March 16, he created a Facebook post about it. On that post, his friend, Zac Ciabattoni, suggested that he create a virtual open mic page. Normally, Taylor hosts a local open mic at 2312 Garrett, and Ciabattoni was a regular at the open mic. When Taylor first started it, he didn’t like the idea, but then his girlfriend, Tara Ambrosine, convinced him it was a great idea. Eventually, multiple light bulbs went off, and he created Delco Quarantine Open Mic.
Initially, when it began on March 16, he thought it was just going to him and a small group of friends. He created the group to be a musical platform for his friends. Twenty-four hours later, the group almost 2,000 members, and he instantly “saw massive potential in the group.”
“Since we started, the feedback has been nothing but amazing. This group has given people so much joy. I have received over 100 messages with people’s love and support of the group,” He revealed.
The rapidly growing page is much more than Taylor alone.
“My girlfriend, Tara Ambrosine, is the backbone of this group, and she does a lot for us, from setting up the daily line up to working with sponsors and charities. The DQOM management team that helps us monitor the group throughout the day includes Zac Ciabattoni, Brenda Keough, Mike Rush, and Mark Colvin.”
Honestly, the thing that drove their team to start this page in the first place is our love for continuing to be submerged in the music scene, even in a time as difficult as this. If we have learned anything from this whole experience, it’s that there will always be a need for human connection. That very connection can be felt through these performances by local musicians, singers, songwriters, etc., to keep our hope alive.
“We want musicians and people of all art forms to still feel connected. And remember we will get through this. It’s a great networking opportunity for all musicians. And it’s giving a lot of musicians that never gig an opportunity to share their music!”
It gives the community and beyond, hope, that eventually, this will end.
“I sure as hell have a new appreciation for live performances and in-the-moment experiences that I’m really missing right now,” He admitted.
“My favorite part is to be able to give back to the community. Last week we started to work with local charities & local businesses. We ran a week-long Charity with The Headstrong Foundation where performers would put Headstrong’s donation link as a virtual tip jar! And with local businesses every three days, we put out a new sign up sheet. I came up with the idea to have a company sponsor the list for 3Days.”
Taylor also gives a HUGE thank you to the group and the platform that it has created for him and his team!
“And from the whole DQOM family, we love and thank you for all of the support!
This platform we have decided to start our own live entertainment business! If you are a local bar/music venue/Theatre we want to help you connect with live bands/solo artists/DJs! Vice versa if your a performer/solo artist/band/DJ contact us!”
Interested? Contact Taylor and Madee below!
Taylor also hosts (and assumingly will resume hosting when this is all over) Open mics at 2312 Garret Road in Drexel Hill on Wednesday, and Marty Magee’s in Prospect Park on Sunday nights! Taylor also shares that they are going to continue to schedule open mic performances for as long as people want to play!
