A recording session of five hours could be in the future for one Open Mic Night performer.

Winners from the past Open Mic nights will compete in the “Open Mic Night Finals Show” at 9 p.m. in the University Ballroom in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

The prize to be awarded to the winner takes precedence over past prizes, which included gift cards to Wal-Mart, Positively 4th Street Records and the University Bookstore.

“Since I have been part of (the University Board), this is the biggest prize that has been rewarded to an Open Mic Night winner,” said Pat Lamorte, UB mainstage coordinator. “It will benefit the winner because they get (to) have their music professionally recorded at no cost to them.”

The recording will be done at Pogo Studios, a professional recording studio in Champaign, and the winner will also receive a press kit with a headshot and biography.

Willie Griggs, Brad Curtis, EJ Singson and Scott Chaplinski are the four past winners competing tonight.

Both Singson and Chaplinski said they are grateful at the chance to win the prize.

“I don’t think a musician could ask for anything more,” said Singson, a freshman history major with teacher certification. “I think that University Board really put thoughtful effort into giving musicians something they could use.”

Chaplinski is a member of the band Charles Scott and the Paper Cuts but will be performing solo at the show.

“It is very generous of the school,” said Chaplinski, a junior communication studies major.

Chaplinski’s style of music can be described as acoustic rock/folk rock; Singson’s as acoustic folk rock; Griggs’ as hip-hop and Curtis’ as acoustic pop/rock.

“They are all very talented and have the potential to expand their act well beyond just EIU,” Lamorte said. “Hopefully, it will help the winner get their foot in the door of the entertainment business.”

Both Chaplinski and Singson have met some of their competition and think they are talented performers.

Chaplinski met Curtis through Open Mics last year and met Singson earlier this year.

“I think they’re both pretty good,” he said. “The three of us definitely have different approaches to making music, so it should be a good time.”

Singson wishes he were able to get to know his competition a little more.

“This is one opportunity I wish I had more of because I would love to meet everyone in earnest,” he said. “It’s hard to face the facts that it is a competition, and no one wants to lose, but I’m trying my hardest to be more worried about my own music and my own set, rather then how amazingly someone else is going to play.”

As opposed to previous Open Mic Nights where UB members and UB mainstage committee members judged, those in attendance will judge this event.

Each performer had his own way of preparing for a debut in front of students.

“I’m more (or) less distraught, but I’ll be working on music until probably the very hour of the show,” Singson said.

Chaplinski’s preparation is focused on deciding what his set will be, which he still is figuring out.

Because the performers are taking their time to prepare, they hope students come out to the show.

“I can only hope more people will make an effort to come because I think everyone has been preparing for this night and will make a tremendous effort to put on a good show,” Singson said.

Chaplinski thinks hearing different music will be enough for students to want to attend.

“If you like independent music, this is a chance to hear some good stuff and get the latest scoop on Eastern’s soon-to-be newest recording artist,” Chaplinski said.

Singson and Chaplinski are not focused on becoming professional musicians but see their music more of a hobby.

“Right now it’s a hobby that is slowly turning somewhat professional,” Chaplinski said. “It would be fun to be a professional musician. I could teach lessons, record a local band and still have time to play at the bar all in one day. I’m not the ‘gotta get a record deal’ kind of guy.”

Singson feels the same way and is happy to just be playing at Open Mic nights.

“It’s everyone dream to be offered a record deal, but I don’t want to forget in reality that I’m just as happy playing in at coffee shop with friends,” Singson said. “I don’t think there’s a musician out there who hasn’t at least toyed with the idea of taking music as a career. That said, I don’t ever want to approach music as my job because that’s never what it has been to me, and it would just feel unnatural and forced.”