Raising Funds

I am heading out on The Road for all of October. Beginning with the Nite Kite Poetry Revival from Michigan to NYC, a solo stop in Charlotte, N.C., up the West Coast with Brian Ellis and Mindy Nettifee, then ending the month as the officiant for Amy White and Matthew Law’s wedding.

If you have never gotten the chance to buy any of my albums in person, I have uploaded four of them at Bandcamp.com for $3.33 to $5.00 a piece. It’s the best damn deal for that much spoken word considering I do not sell CDs at shows anymore. The opportunity to sell my tracks at higher bit rates makes me feel pretty great about the quality.

If you could tell a friend, that would help a lot. Post something on your Facebook status or Twitter if you feel like spreading the word.

“Check out Mike McGee’s albums here: http://listen.mikemcgee.net and support my homie!”

I am ramping up promotion on these to help raise funds for my first trek through the U.S. since moving back to California. I live pretty meager and am very lucky to be surrounded by such amazing people. This project is a mutual benefit: I make a bit of cash, you get the best audio I have. I will be using some of these funds to properly record, produce and promote the In Search of Midnight: The Mike McGee AUDIOBOOK of Awesome. It won’t take much.

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on 27 September, 2010 at 8:39 PM, filed under Uncategorized and tagged downloads, sales, tracks. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.

Rebooting My Life

EDIT 1:31pm PST: On August 29, 2009, I officiated the marriage of Audra and John Scholtes. Today I welcome their son John Allen to the world. Congrats, family!
————–
There is something so welcoming to a writer about waking up to the temperateness of California at the close of a mild summer. How it calls me outside before the West Coast is ready to start another Monday. Maybe it is a calm before a storm. I have shelter. I have a coat. I have people. I will be fine.

It is a rare instance when I am wakened by my bladder while it is still dark out. It too is welcome.

McBLADDER: McGee, I am full and it is time to write.
McGEE: How dare you. I have a *go-kart to rebuild with my ex-landlord. Anyway, you’re a bladder! What writing is there for you!?
McBLADDER: Hush now. I can make life very difficult for you.
McGEE: Oh, you have, my friend! Oh have you!

It seems to be just as rare for me to fall asleep to the conception of a goal and to feel that goal double-bold in the morning. To keep wanting to do what I told myself to do the night before. To do more of what I started when I was a boy. To write like my life and, moreover, our lives depended on it.

This is the beginning of scratch. Rebooting with little-to-no capital to start with other than my wits and an unparalleled support base. I am proof that being a care-free hobo-poet only expands your reach and name. I never set out to be rich. I don’t know that I ever can be. I really do not care if I ever will be. The more money I have = the more meals I buy for people. This must be my karmic balance to the pantries I’ve raided throughout the world. I despise buying things I don’t need and I do it less and less each year. For my home in Worcester I bought a food processor and rarely used it. Stupid. I bought a website product I will never use. Idiotic. My wardrobe consists of mostly shorts and t-shirts. I despise buying clothes and specifically loathe clothes with any sort of corporate advertising. One can fit more complete outfits in a suitcase when one’s wardrobe is mostly garments of little fabric. In 2007 and 2008, I spent most of my earnings on airlines, restaurants and diapers. Sounds like a fat, jet-setting baby. I must have been. I have the intent to rail against excess, but that is tempered by the hypocritical excesses I dip into from time to time. I am embarrassed by the sheer size of the box I left in Worcester, full of bathroom amenities and products for use by males when bathing and after. These items now fill a zip-loc sandwich bag.

I am on the most interesting path I have ever set foot. This is redemption for me, the writer. An emancipation from the talker I’ve become. There comes a time when a man has to say nothing for a while and simply write it down. I am the luckiest man I know. My brain is incredible. I have been very wise to hang onto it.

And even though we ain’t got money…

When I returned to California in August, I knew that I was embarking on one of the more difficult journeys of my life. Returning to one of the most expensive states in the country, but still my beloved. Returning to a family struggling to make ends meet. Returning to Silicon Valley where art is born, becomes a teenager, then runs away to San Francisco or the East Bay, visits very rarely and never calls home. Returning to a region that hasn’t been very kind in the departments of love and relationships. I think I’ve not been as patient as I claim to women. I think I assumed I was awesome and that the right woman would see that. I now have evidence that they have seen it, told me about it, and I was still oblivious to it.

Freeze/Don’t move/You’ve been chosen as an extra in the/movie adaptation of the sequel to your life

Art is not only alive and well in San José and Silicon Valley, but it abounds and all of the artists I know here are enthusiastic about the changes in this city. There are open mics and showcases of performers all over the south bay. Music is alive and aloved throughout “Tecca.” Audiences throughout downtown San José, in Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Campbell are coming out in numbers I have never before witnessed. They are made up of engineers, analysts, and builders from Cisco, Google, Yahoo!, Adobe, LinkedIn, Facebook, eBay, HP, Apple and more. The people seeking artistic outlets in Silicon Valley are also artists looking to be inspired without having to make the 45-mile drive to the greater Bay Area. When I left downtown San José seven years ago to see these United States and to fall in love with Canada, my city was a ghost town that left little reason to stay. It simply could not compete with my wanderlust. Timing is gorgeous. Now I believe the opposite may be true. I dare this burning wanderlust to drag me away from my city. San José is mine and I will always love it. I am so pleased it has been figuring itself out.

Seven years on the road and nearly half a million miles later I am wiser than I expected to be. I left on September 10, 2003 headed for Los Angeles without an escape route, with only a dozen or so shows booked, on a tour that never really ended. I submit as fact: that tour is over now. I am no longer on the road. It makes so much sense that I had to move to Worcester (New England’s answer to San José in so many ways) to learn how to be home. To have Tony Brown and Bill MacMillan at hugs reach. To have Melinda Lee in the room next to mine, so many hours on that wondrous porch! To have Alex Charalambides a phone call away, ready for pho at the drop of a hint. Real talk and cheap tacos with Bobby Gibbs. That knowing look from Sou MacMillan that says, Yep, I get you. You’re family. Myow-myow. Game Nights in The Basement. It all adds up to an experience that readied me for this next chapter in my life. I miss them and love them and they know this and they all understand my needs and wants. It was the only way I could leave them and the best way to end a tour that was probably a year too long as it stands.

To have truly ended my seven year itch with The Oversocial Mofo Revue – a show that was a culmination of every live show I had seen in that time – on September 10, 2010 was apropos.

Day to day/Where do you want to be?

This in no way counters one of my most absolute truths: Everyone should travel. No exclusions. The one exception to this rule is that any of the Everyones that claim to be artists – especially those of any solid, honorable repute – should travel and bring a whole lot of their art with them to share with the people they meet. Go and learn and meet and love and despise things. Just be sure to be there. Like, actually. Be there times 3. Don’t expect to make any money. See the world. Laugh and cry because you’ll need it.

She thinks she missed the train to Mars…

You have not. You cannot. You are the conductor. Set that schedule and abide. Not seven years. Not even one. Two weeks or a month should suffice. Keep your job just in case or be ready for a new one when you return. Go, because you have to. Because the view from your window hasn’t changed in years. Because it will destroy you to wonder any longer. If you set out for seven, I’m sure we’ll run into each other on The Road at some point. But no matter what, be sure to stop by San José in your travels. It’s full of good pho, salsa, computers and me.

I recently saw a crazy man flailing and dancing, singing along to something as I passed him on the street. One of those moments when a guy like that is making his way toward you and his presence causes you reconsider your destination. You have to pass him to get where you’re going and it could go poorly. He could make eye contact and start talking crazy to you or just punch you for being a two-legged moose that looked at him wrong. Maybe he’ll accuse me of stealing his beard or god. But, as I got closer, I saw the headphones hanging from his ears and the iPod in his hand. He wasn’t insane, he was just crazy for music and unafraid of showing it to the people of downtown San José. I think that is probably a good outlook to have in life. I find myself dancing way more often now.

I am also on a mission to produce 1,000 pages of writing by September of next year. Stories, poetry, screenplays… 1,000 pages. 1,000 pages. 1,000 pages. Maybe more. More posts here for sure.

*for my fellow Hedberg fans.
———
Word to the nerd.

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on 20 September, 2010 at 4:20 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged rebirth, reboot, San-Jose-California, touring, Travel, Worcester-Massachusetts. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.

My Albums For Sale

These four albums below are available for sale as extraordinarily high quality downloads through Bandcamp.com.

You can name your own price above the track price (.70) or album price ($6 or less), plus you can download them in just about any possible audio format — WAV, Ogg Vorbis, AIFF, or the highest possible MP3 bitrate.

Mike McGee – Live in Exeter

Mike McGee – Mike McGee Is Beautiful

Mike McGee – Miscellaneous

Mike McGee – Live In Denver

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on 1 September, 2010 at 1:52 PM, filed under Uncategorized and tagged like, mighty, puddin. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.

Mike McGee Town Goes To Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on 26 August, 2010 at 6:35 PM, filed under Video Post and tagged california, david perez, gary hoare, krispy kreme, lisa straehley, mountain view, tresha haefner, tristissima. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.

Trials, Tribulations and Poetry Slam

Being back in the Bay Area for a few weeks now has been one of the most trying experiments I’ve ever planned. There’s been an outpouring of confirmations in very small doses as to why I have returned.

This is nothing less than rebirth, restructuring and reassessment. Before I left Worcester, Massachusetts, I new I’d be doing a lot of starting over. I wanted to free myself of the literal weight of possessions, cut down as much of my cost of living as possible and reacquaint myself with West Coast life, art and growth. I figured I’d vagabond around the Bay Area through August. Settle a bit in September. Tour a bit in the fall. Write and stay local in the winter. I really wanted to re-immerse myself on the west coast, and ultimately reside in Portland, Oregon or Silicon Valley. I’ve hardly slept in one place more than two nights in a row since I’ve returned. Many floors and couches and marvelously generous people. Namely my sisters and David Perez.

Earlier this month, Write Bloody did a push to raise money to fulfill our new distributor’s book request. They asked all the authors to order at least the minimum 50 books to aid in the goal. I ordered one box of 50 of my In Search of Midnight books right before I moved. That set me back a bit, but a box of books is a good investment for a touring poet. The return on it is more than double, not bad for a handy, quality piece of merchandise to sell on the road. However, not touring at this point, while trying to put on a great show, has been financially overwhelming. If I were to ask anything of anyone to help right now, it would be to help push my book, and/or consider buying one or two as a gift for the holidays for someone who needs poetry in their lives. There is a PayPal button on the right side of my website under the picture of my book. I will gladly sign the book as per your request before shipping it out personally.

I reorganized my storage unit, a very small 5′ by 5′ space I’ve rented since 2002. It’s a reliable $49 a month closet. I realized that most of what’s in there is quasi-sentimental and I can probably get rid of half of it. The other half is a 25-year collection of sports cards that I should sell. Giving away most of my possessions before moving was so liberating. Finding that I still have more stuff to rid from my life is disconcerting. I learned at a young age to hoard possessions; to build a prison of crap around me. I now firmly believe that items that don’t propel me toward the fulfillment of my want and needs with people are almost useless and worth passing along to others. I feel this very strongly with books and have recently had a number of conversations with people about this concept. Books should be shared. Seeing shelves of dusty books in people’s homes make me sad, specifically those collections of books that are merely badges of assumed wisdom.

”Look at this collection of wisdom I’ve amassed. I hope it impresses you. I haven’t read most of them, but they’re mine and I intend to read them when I have the time.”

People who argue that they want to be able to go back to the books are optimistic but not being reasonable most of the time. People who don’t lend out books they’ve already read out of fear they won’t be returned to them just sadden me. Just ask yourself, ‘Will I actually read this again?’ If the answer is no, donate them to a library where you can check it out next time you need it.

THE FIVE REASONS I MOVED OUT HERE
1. Family/Friends – They don’t need me out here. They just want me out here. So many of my family members are staying at my sister Katie’s house with her husband and kids it’s not exactly the best option for crashing. My mom and my brother aren’t talking and it’s more annoying than sad at this point. My family will not let me be homeless and my relationship with them is as strong as ever. It’s just internal family drama. A large number of friends have offered to let me crash in Oakland, Berkeley and San Francisco, but Reason #4 below has kept me in San José and the surrounding Silicon Valley. I love my family.

2. My one-man show in San Francisco – I’ve run it three times now at a black box theater in San Francisco and have one show left this Sunday. Aside from crafting a pretty solid show while getting to work and hang out with Anthony Miller again – which has been awesome – the show’s been a bust. The theater, which is fantastic, seats 99 people. Out of three shows, maybe 26 people total have attended. I will make no money for this show and neither will Anthony. He works for the theater, so I am not worried about him. $10 to $20 a ticket on a Sunday night to listen to a dude talk for two hours… Not appealing to San Franciscans, I guess. It’s been a good excuse to get out of San José on Sundays.

3. San José State University booked me for the end of September to perform and run a workshop for a substantial amount of money. This is my financial foothold to re-establish a home base in the Bay Area. Or at least it was until yesterday. When I hadn’t heard anything from them in a while, I contacted them and got a text message back saying, “Yah, things aren’t really great right now. Just know I tried my best.” A “four months worth of rent and food” gig destroyed by text message. The one-man show was supposed to keep me afloat until the SJSU gig and then I’d be all set. Huge change up on this one. Reason #2 and #3 makes being here much more financially difficult than I had planned and fills me with the notion that what I do for a living isn’t needed right now.

4. San José Poetry Slam – I told SJ Slammaster Kat Dietrich a few years ago to contact me if she couldn’t handle running the slam anymore. I got that message in May. She wanted to stay involved, but putting on the show every month was becoming a huge strain for her. I contacted David Perez and we began designing a variety show that would include a new version of the SJ poetry slam. We haven’t stopped working on it since I got here. Staying up until dawn, planning every moment of the audience’s experience. We came up with a “low residency” show that makes it possible for people who aren’t always in town to organize and establish a quality show in what I call a “small art market.” San José is exactly that sort of market – a city that hasn’t generally thrived on art, nor has it supported it to capacity in the last few years. Since 2002 poetry slam in SJ has been at just barely a pulse because this city requires a huge amount of promotion to compete with the artsier scenes of San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley. I wanted to hit the art core of downtown San José so I talked to Brian and Cherie at Gallery Anno Domini about becoming our venue. They’ve been the at the center of art here for ten years and have supported so many artists throughout every genre. They agreed immediately. I laid out my design for a new slam format to David and Kat. My goal was to take San José out of its underdog shadow status and push poets to dig deeper and write more of what they don’t have. To break from old habits on and off stage. David and I separated the show from the slam organization. Kat Dietrich remains slammaster and is building a committee to handle fundraising, team building and community outreach. David and I created The Oversocial Mofo Revue, the variety show that incorporates the new San José Poetry Slam, interspersing it throughout a show that includes three main acts: poetry, music and something uncommon. We give the audience more to do, and we do all of this in roughly two hours. I say roughly, but admittedly, I have become a stickler for shorter shows with more entertainment. If things go as David and I have painstakingly scripted them, the show should run about 2:08. I also wanted to put on a slam competition that intimidated me as a competitor. Two round slams of three minute poetry are dying all over the country. I am surprised when I hear of new poetry readings and poetry slams forming that aren’t trying to change up the the status quo or challenge the poets while engaging the audience. The San José Poetry Slam is looking to become one of the most difficult poetry competitions I’ve ever seen.

5. HARD WORK – I have missed the west coast so much. This area and Reasons #1 and #4 have been my rock to keep me busy. Busy is my nature, especially since my last job in 2003. I am not afraid of being employed by someone else again. It’s been so long, I often romanticize about having a steady paycheck. No employer will offer me a salary that rivals my income from touring in 2007 and 2008. Those were very good years financially, but mismanagement and bad choices have left me in debt for the first time in my life. I have no credit because I’ve never had a credit card. I don’t want one. I am concentrated on making what I can now while watching my bank account slowly drain away. It’s fine, this is exactly where I was when I set out on my first U.S. poetry tour EXACTLY seven years ago this month. The only difference here is that I get it, I know how it works, and I know what needs fixed, changed and updated.

WHERE MY MIND, HANDS & HEART ARE AT
What I am doing is having the words “WORK HARD” mentally tattooed on my brain knuckles while vomiting up all the words I still haven’t said yet. I want to establish a sweet show in San José and still have the freedom to vagabond. I have so much writing in store for me and I am very excited about it. I know I have a lot of knowledge people will need down the road in this head and heart of mine. There is a whole continent of people here that need what me and others in this field have to offer. Maybe poetry is not the most consistent work available, but a guy like me needs to work in non-profits, pizza parlors, agriculture, hard labor, bars and cafes from time to time to remember where we came from and that there will always be more people doing the tough shit than what I want to do. I have to remind myself that I am a special motherfucker who is going to die someday and that living is a beautiful tragedy I am an honored to have gotten the chance to witness. I cannot stay soft. I must bring myself to the brink of perfection by all means. I must be a joy to myself and all others around me. I know love – I know it very well – and I must continue this duty of showing it to all who deserve it. I must also seek it out from others when I deserve it.

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on 25 August, 2010 at 6:20 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged home, money, problems, San-Jose-California. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.

PRESS RELEASE: The Oversocial Mofo Revue

PRESS RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT: Mike McGee
Email: mightymikemcgee@gmail.com

The Oversocial Mofo Revue

Variety Performance Showcase and Poetry Slam

Debut Show: Friday September 10, 2010

The Oversocial Mofo Revue is a groundbreaking new variety show from the producer’s of San José’s annual 25-Hour Summer Slumberfest. Each Revue presents an energetic Bay Area band or musician, a nationally-acclaimed spoken word artist, and a special “uncommon act” consisting of anything from stand-up comedy to circus performance to short film. Audience members are encouraged to participate in a host of games and contests including the official San José Poetry Slam – one of the toughest local poetry competitions in the U.S. – in which the winner receives a cash prize and a chance to represent San Jose at the National Poetry Slam.

The September 10th debut will showcase Oakland’s notorious poet-showman Jamie DeWolf, the dreamy sounds of the South Bay’s own Gold Hush, and San Francisco’s comedian extraordinaire, Mary Van Note.

Hosted by San José’s champions of spoken word and page, “Mighty” Mike McGee and David Perez, along with San Francisco’s Tatyana Brown. The Oversocial Mofo Revue is set to the musical stylings of The John Staedler Symphony Orchestra.

WHEN
Friday, September 10, 2010. Line-up 7:30pm. Show starts promptly at 8:00pm.

WHERE
Anno Domini
366 South First Street

San Jose, CA 95113

(408) 271-5155

TICKETS
Admission is between $6 and $11. You pay a base price of $5 then roll a die and pay the amount showing on the die. $5 for students with I.D. Limited space. First come, first serve.


FOR NERDS: $5+D6

MORE INFO
Site: http://www.mikemcgee.net/mofo
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/fbmofo

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on at 12:38 AM, filed under Uncategorized and tagged anno domini, david perez, gold hush, jamie dewolf, john staedler, mary van note, mike mcgee, san josé poetry slam, San-Jose-California, sofa district, tatyana brown, variety show. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.

Back In The Bay Area

Made it home to Silicon Valley. Now for a lot of bouncing around the Bay Area as I vagabond my life for a while through the run of my show in San Francisco.

This show is a real departure for me. I am stoked to be doing my thing in theaters. It’s the right venue for talking.

Click here for the Facebook event page of my show run through August.

Click here for half priced tickets.

My one man show opens this Sunday, August 8, 2010 – EXACTLY seven years to the day of winning the NPS Indie Grand Championship in Chicago. Weird.

I have been self-employed for seven years. I am a whole new person. This version of me has never had a job.

RESIDENCE
The weirdest part about being back in the Bay is realizing just how settled I was at home in Worcester. The only key I own is for the lock on my storage unit in San José, which I’ve been renting since September 2002. I just put a few things in there yesterday and will be living out of a suitcase indefinitely. I may ask for a couch, floor or porch to crash on. I am f’n back.

I am determined to adjust my life to re-building a poetry scene here in San José, while designing new tours and making sure my family is in good spirits and health, along with my own spirits and health.

This is the smart list; borrowed from Derrick Brown:
Winter: Chill, stay warm and focus on local community.
Spring: Tour incessantly.
Summer: Stay cool, tour until it’s hot, then focus on community.
Autumn: Tour incessantly.

I am in a good place, but it’s a new place. I am full of ideas and oomph. I want people and poets to invest in this oomph. Give me your time and skill and I will give you mine. You have my word.

I miss Worcester. Most importantly, I miss the people of New England that invested in me and gave me their time. I hope they feel I returned the same and more. I hope they know they have given me one of the best homes I’ve ever had. I hope they realize how beautiful they are and keep investing in all the wonderful people that come through. Don’t invest in the wack, Worcester. Cut the fat.

I will be back. I still need you, Wormtown. I do, I do. Considering how much a part of Worcester I became, even with all of my coming and going, I am confident that anyone can immerse themselves into any community they believe in. I believe in you, Woo. I do.

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on 4 August, 2010 at 6:32 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged Bay Area, california, home, poetry scenes, San-Jose-California, silicon valley, Worcester-Massachusetts. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.

Video Post For 2010-07-27

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on 27 July, 2010 at 8:08 PM, filed under Video Post. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.

Video Blogging

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on 21 July, 2010 at 9:52 AM, filed under Video Post and tagged video blogging. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.

Final Kitchen Session Worcester

So, the last Kitchen Session in Worcester (#18!) is almost one year to the day from the very first KS featuring Simone Beaubien. Such interesting timing.

This final Kitchen Session Worcester will feature Tony Brown and I, with mini-features (four poems) from Megan Thoma and Melinda Lee (yes, my roommate, who has yet to read at a KS!)

Tony’s my homie who deserves a feature with all the advice and support he’s given me since before I moved to Worcester. Best neighbor a guy could have.

Megan’s been to most Kitchen Sessions and is super-supportive of the local community.

Melinda’s a fucking badass.

I will state right now that since this will be my last hoorah at my house in Worcester, Massachusetts, I will probably cry like a leaky faucet. A fat, sweaty, good-smelling, leaky faucet. I will try to make everyone cry. I promise.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
1. Normally, I have two sections of “The Openers” prior to the feature; 10 single-poem readers and 5 two-poem readers. In order to accommodate as many readers as possible, I have a 33 person sign-up list on the Facebook Group. It may NOT fill up, but either way, it’s going to be one long night. 33 sign-ups, ONE POEM EACH. No two-poem limits for this one. I know I am crazy, but I want everybody to get a chance to read.

I like the number 33. A. Lot.

I am hoping to utilize this as an opportunity for people to stay intimate with this house and its residents. I fear that my departure will stop people from visiting Melinda, Tony and Missy. That would be wack. They like company. Be company.

There is a small crew of people that are looking to run irregular Boston Sessions. Since I run the Facebook Group for KS, I am thinking of just passing it to them to run. I’d stay on to help. Or I might make it a central hub for all Sessions that pop up. If you’re on it, please stay with the group, if not, consider joining.

MY POSSESSIONS
I want to rid myself of as many possessions as possible. Anyone who attends and donates $$ will get a “thing” from my personal stuff. Books, arts, crafts, clothes, furniture… stuff. The money will be split amongst Tony, Melinda, Megan and I.

This will be seed money for me in the west and coverage money for expenses I may leave Melinda with until she finds a roommate.

I highly recommend arriving before 7:30pm. RC Weslowski’s feature had 40+ in attendance. I imagine this one should come close.

Man. Let’s have way too much fun.

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on 20 July, 2010 at 2:52 PM, filed under Uncategorized and tagged kitchen-sessions, moving, Worcester-Massachusetts. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.