It’s possible that in the future historians will surmise that there must have been more than one Jefferson Jay. After all it hardly seems to be possible that one man can have so many notable projects on his plate at one time. For starters, there is his own music and performances to consider. Then there’s his new children’s book and forthcoming animated series, The Hunt For The Holiday Spirit. Notably, he also hosts and organizes several event’s / happenings around town that help promote other artists, including the annual San Diego Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony, as well as the Acoustic Evenings concerts at the Athenaeum (new series in April!). Meanwhile, he is also the host of an Open Mic Night, Thursdays from 7 – 10 p.m. at the family friendly Long Story Irish Pub in Ocean Beach (4204 Voltaire St.).
The Long Story Open Mic started in late June 2025. “To sign up, all you have to do is show up and write your name on the sign-up sheet. I usually put it out between 6:45 and 7 p.m.,” Jay said. The sheet tends to fill up fast. “We have three hours to fill and we fill it,” he continued. “I’ve had to tell people they can’t play, but I always fit as many as I can. Right now, we have a number of excellent performers every week and everybody plays about three songs.” Jay notes he has been hosting open mics locally, including a stint at Winston’s, for 24 years. “It seems unbelievable, but I still love it,” Jay said. Making it a fun night out for music lovers as well as musicians, he points out that there is no cover. “A cover for open mic would be tacky. The musicians are playing and they are also customers. It’s a community event.”
What was Jay’s inspiration to host an open mic in the first place? “When I first moved to San Diego, I played open mics,” he recalled. “That’s where I cut my teeth and met so many amazing talented people, many of whom have gone on great things, locally and globally. I was very grateful to have access to this community as a new San Diegan and I still feel great about paying that forward and enabling community to gather. Open Mic is really the only way for musicians to connect in this way.”
As host, what is he looking for in an artist at this open mic? “I’m just looking for anybody who wants to participate and has a good attitude and good energy,” Jay said. “We are all working through things from time to time and I want to be supportive to folks in that boat. I do tend to steer comedians toward comedy open mic nights. More or less, that’s the only thing that’s not allowed. If somebody was doing some hateful over the top thing I’d probably stop them, but context is everything and people get a pretty long leash to creatively explore.”
What does Jay like about the Long Story Irish Pub for this event? “I love first and foremost that they’ll have us,” he said good naturedly. “Bars and nightclubs have been far more averse to trying different things since the pandemic and Long Story fancies itself as a community gathering place, so we are a good match. One of the owners is a good friend, who was a bartender at my longtime Winston’s Open Mic, so he understands what we’re all about. That helps. Long Story has been fighting their way through these turbulent economic times so we are all pulling together in the same direction and that’s really important,” he said.
What’s Jay’s favorite thing about an open mic? “The community gathering is my favorite thing,” he said. “Numerous people, including me, have literally gotten married and had children after meeting at my Open Mic. A close second is that I have an opportunity to get on stage and get that part of my personality out. Sometimes folks need to be larger than life and Open Mic gives me that kind of outlet on a weekly basis. That’s what I wish it to be for everyone in their own way,” Jay remarked.
For more info on Jefferson Jay and his projects:
www.thegoodvibe.com
