A correction was added to this article April 2.

Because of a reporting error, Sean Retz’s first name was misspelled in a photo caption accompanying the March 22 article “Open mic nights plug into musicians’ creative outlets.” The Daily regrets this error.

Sitting on stage in a dimly lit bar, singer Andrew Fullheart stops strumming his guitar momentarily to inform the crowd, “I got a retainer put in yesterday and I can’t talk right, sorry.”

That may very well be the beauty of open mic nights, weekly events that let up-and-coming musicians sing their hearts out — regardless of orthodontia.

Held at both Bali Satay House, 2424 Lincoln Way, and Boheme Bistro, 2900 West St., open mic nights offer stage access regardless of age or genre. It comes in handy for Fullheart, senior at Ames High School, who is looking to enter a local battle of the bands.

“I’m trying out for [it], and I don’t want to make a fool of myself,” Fullheart says.

Fullheart finds playing Open Mic Night at Bali Satay builds his confidence and indirectly makes him feel more comfortable knowing not all eyes are on him. More importantly, Open Mic Night throws out the scorecards.

“It’s a place I can come to practice and it doesn’t matter if I do bad,” he says.

For musicians who are feeling confident, however, Bali Satay offers them a chance to grace not only the stage, but the screen.

“It’s called UBTV… like You Be TV,” says Bali Satay entertainment director Waleigh LePon. LePon is in charge of running Bali’s studio, and also plans on airing its Open Mic Night on public access in Ames and Des Moines under the UBTV moniker.

“Once you get on television, people respect you a little bit more,” says LePon.

The venture, allowing musicians to find small-screen stardom, has been a project four months in the making. LePon originally came for Bali Satay’s remodeling to get equipment off the main floor, and what spawned was a high-tech studio.

In a booth facing the stage rests more than $45,000 in equipment.

“This machine costs $13,000 alone,” says LePon, pointing to one piece among the walls of lit-up boxes. Coupled with this audio/video revolution, Open Mic Night is finding itself inundated with a wide array of genres.

“We have a pretty good variety; they aren’t all bar cover bands,” says Bali Satay employee Tim Olson. Olson says although turnout varies, Open Mic Night acts get a good response.

Its popularity has even led to the creation of a night dedicated strictly to blues music every other Thursday.

And although rock still reigns supreme, Olson says it isn’t necessarily light on the ears.

“My band has played here, and we’re pretty hardcore,” says Olson.

Open Mic Night’s appeal may come from its willingness to greet any musician with open arms. LePon says it’s hard for a lot of college bands to be heard.

“We want to make a platform for blue-collar musicians. There are only two or three places to play in Ames, and you have to be one of the big kids to play them,” says LePon.

Even if making it big turns out to be a daydream, Fullheart sees Open Mic Night as an opportunity to enjoy his craft.

“You have to start somewhere,” he says.