As the smell of coffee beans roasting and pastries coming out of the oven filled the air, Mia Fusillo secured her guitar and began playing “Stop This Train” by John Mayer for the audience of Mozart’s Coffee Roasters. After moving to Austin, Fusillo said her performance at the coffee shop marked her first time playing in front of a public crowd.

“I looked out and people were smiling at me, excited for me to get going,” Fusillo, a  finance and psychology junior, said. “I was very nervous, but I enjoyed every second of it.” 

Every Tuesday night, live music, poetry and comedy fill the deck of Mozart’s Coffee Roasters. The coffeehouse’s weekly Late at the Lake event brings community members together for an open mic night, giving Austin creatives of all experience levels a chance to showcase their talents in front of a live audience.

Robert Parker Jr., the event’s emcee, said Late at the Lake continues to grow more popular each week, consistently drawing in large audiences to the outdoor patio. Parker said the event offers an opportunity to see familiar faces from Austin while also meeting new ones from the community.

“It’s like a revolving door of regulars, our good friends and new people that either just heard of (the event) or just moved here,” Parker Jr. said.

When Parker, a full-time performing musician, moved to Austin, his first performance was at Mozarts’ outdoor stage, years before he took over as emcee. Parker said as a performer new to Austin, Late at the Lake gave him the chance to gain exposure and adjust to the city’s music scene.

“We went from playing (at Mozart’s) for the first time (and) doing two songs to being offered a few gigs,” Parker said. “It definitely has that sentimental value.”

Mozart’s supervisor Reagan Gutierrez said she appreciates how live events provide the opportunities to engage with the Austin community. Gutierrez said she feels admiration for the weekly event because it creates a more community-oriented workplace. 

“I love seeing the community come together, and the crazy stuff we get on stage is always so interesting,” Gutierrez said. “I like that people can come up and show what they’re passionate about.”

Parker said the most special part of the event comes from the ability of local creatives to develop a special relationship with their local audience. For many artists wary of showcasing their art, Parker said the supportive crowd Late at the Lake attracts can give performers much-needed encouragement.

“It’s just a safe space for people to try out new ideas,” Parker said. “It’s very inviting and accepting here. That’s my favorite part of it.”