Wednesday nights are going to be a little hotter this July.

From 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. every Wednesday night at the Bali Satay House, 2424 Lincoln Way, local musicians and poets will battle it out on stage in what will be known as Open Mic Fight Night.

Starting July 9, local artists will slug it out once a week for a chance to win cash, prizes and studio time. All proceeds will be donated to the Muscular Dystrophy Association to help children with the disease.

“It’s a friendly competition,” says Dennis Haislip, event organizer and co-owner of No-Coast Records.

The cream of the crop will meet July 30 for the Fight Night finals, and the grand prize winner will take home $50, ten hours of free studio time courtesy of Dawg House records and a CD showcasing their work, Haislip says.

Haislip says open mic Wednesdays have been gaining a following at Bali Satay. He said he thinks Fight Night will be a good way to attract new faces — as well as give back to the long-time supporters.

Barrie Kaufman, Bali Satay House employee, says open mic nights have gradually been gaining momentum. She says the variety of artists make open mic night interesting.

“I like that [open mic night] is not just the same band for a whole set. It’s good to see a variety of people getting a chance to play,” Kaufman says.

Haislip, a self-professed music freak, says he really likes the open mic atmosphere at Bali Satay.

“When you see somebody who is putting out all their energy on stage, there’s something you get out of them. It’s the best thing in the world [seeing] somebody who is really into their performance,” Haislip says.

Haislip said he hopes for the same type of variety for Fight Night, ensuring that it will not be another run-of-the-mill “battle of the bands.” Fight Night should feature very few bands, because performances will be limited to ten minutes, with no more than three performers on stage.

The Ames music community is very supportive of charity gigs, Haislip says. He says the artists he has brought to Bali Satay are often reluctant to play a paying gig, but when the opportunity for a charity event comes up, they often want to sign up early.

“It’s not the money they’re interested in. People come out to play because they love it,” Haislip says.

“It’s not just that they’re supporting a charity, they’re supporting their neighbors,” says Jessica Travis, program coordinator for MDA, adding that all the proceeds will stay in the 26 counties the Des Moines office serves.

“This is a good reason for all of us to come together, to do something to better the community and have a good time doing it,” Haislip says.