SLUMBERFEST LIVE from http://www.blogtv.com/People/mikemcgee

Friday, June 5, 2009

5:36pm: MACLA is set up. We have snacks, sound, dozens of blankets, webcast from my Mac. Hopefully there won’t be too many issues. The sound won’t be great, and neither will the video, but it’s better than nothing. NOTE: Sorry for the ads!

I’ll be posting updates here as often as possible.

David has Skype and the projector ready to go.

If you’re watching online, you’ll probably see my face a bunch, but I’ve tried to put my computer in a spot that gets the stage, Skypers, and audience all in one shot.

6:00pm is approaching fast!

Word to all you nerds!

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6:02: David has started Slumberfest with a Derrick Brown poem.

6:26: Because of so many issues with webcasting, the quality will be poor. Our internet connection is wireless from another room. Plus all video and audio is from my built-in mic and camera on my Mac. Try not running too many apps on your computer while watching. Watch directly from Blogtv.com to get the best connection.

6:30pm: Our first Skype poet is a success!

7:05pm: Papadave Potter, our first musician of the night! Not a big crowd, but the street is filling up outside. The clouds have parted and the sun is beaming. I have been sweating since noon. Last night a lovely young lady commented on my sweat-ability, and asked if I kept a sweat rag in my back pocket. I was surprised. She said all us big, sweaty-types do.

Where my big, sweaty-types at!?

8:40pm: After a series of covers and stories from some of us regulars, Laura Yes Yes is Skyping us some poems from Washington DC. Rousing applause from San Jo! Thanks, lady!

Now San Jose Slam team-member ’09, Danny D, is busting poetry and ran home to get his guitar to perform a song in public for the first time ever…

9:22pm: Geoff and Emily Kagan-Trenchard just Skyped in. Awesome. The streets are packed. There’s an unfortunately awesome drum circle right outside our door! A slight distraction.

We’ve had about 150 people come in and stay for a poem or two so far. 20.5 hours to go! Santa Cruz peeps are in the house.

11:00pm: Joshua Walters wow peeps with an orgasmic beat-box experience. John Staedler gave us a fantastic musical extravaganza. I joined him for a poem/sax revue. He played hot, dirty sax. I talked a lot. We had a glitch with Rob Sturma’s Skype-In. Hopefully we’ll get him back up.

BlogTV is still running, just can’t say how well… Anyone?

Michael Roberts and Jason McBeth are here on tour from L.A. Woot! Michael’s on now…

11:44pm: Had an interesting bit of stand-up comedy from Scumbag Physics. I think people liked his odd turn of phrase and street genius more than he gave himself credit. Now Jason McBeth is on stage, touring with Michael Roberts. Got to make a bit of hang with the two of them last night at Tourettes Without Regrets. Haven’t seen McBeth since IWPS last December.

Slumberfest 2009 has been great so far. Six-hours and no stops. A few stalls, laughs and tears, and…wow…

12:55am: Janelle Wilson just Skyped in from Boise. I love you lady!

Lightning Bug Romantics are up now. We have had so many people in the room tonight. There are still about 30 people here. “Nothing’s gonna stop us now!”

I am up soon. We have a few gallons of Barefoot cold brew coffee.

1:49am: Almost two dozen peeps. I feel like a nap is in order. Just held a Dirty Haiku Battle in my slot. Me versus a lovely young lady named Tanya. She was filthy-awesome and I decided that she won based on the fact that she sort of grossed me out with some of her haiku. Like whoa! Great times has by all.

David Perez is going strong. Most everyone is rocking it, lounge-style. Rob “Ratpack Slim” Sturma just Skyped in, successfully. Awesome! So good to see Sturma on the wall.

Now Kevin Holmes is up now…

2:09am: As I expected, the BlogTV webcast errored itself into disconnect. My computer did well for the last 8 hours, strong and continuous. It deserves a nap for a bit. Will connect a bit later; morningside.

Jen G is up now. Blowing late-night minds and makin’ us laugh. I am so floored by how much has happened in this room tonight. It has been good throughout and within. David and I are already talking about ensuring this happens every year. Keep Slumberfest in your thoughts. Maybe an annual trip to San Jose is something your life needs? Maybe your town needs a Slumberfest? This crowd is bigger than some regular poetry slams right now! Wooty woot! Someone asked us to hold a Winter Slumberfest as well. That’s not too crazy…

9:36am: Man, I slept hard. Poetry never stopped! David’s friend Ellen is performing on Skype right now. Gonna get BlogTV back up in a minute. Hope the world is well. 20 Slumberfesters are lounged around on this lovely morning. Birds are chirping, Barefoot coffee is on the way…

10:41am: Anis Mojgani just Skyped in and he did a bunch of poetry I had not heard before. John Staedler’s friend Heather read a poem. For the first time, maybe? She’s sweet. Khary Jackson has confirmed a Skype performance later this afternoon. Staedler is up now, he’s awesome. I adore his music. His poetry is so intense. I dig it.

I will be at my house in Worcester by this time tomorrow… Can’t wait to see my Worcester peeps. Miss you all.

12:34pm: Baraka and Dusty Rose are Skyping in from Lincoln, Nebraska now. Road dogs! The wall has seen a lot of poets on it. Yay for Skype. There should be a Skype Slam or a Skype Open Mic much more often.

2:24pm: Since around 1:00pm we’ve had Logan Phillips Skype in from Arizona, which was dope. That dude really needs to stop being so handsome and so good on the mic. Jerk-friend! Same with Khary “6 is 9″ Jackson. Dude Skyped in from Minneapolis. He is so my buddy. I like that guy with immense heartitude.

We have 3.5 hours to go. We have a dearth of sign ups as our present Slumberfesters have all filled slots several times over. David Perez is the king of covering others. He’s read about 30 poets so far during his fill-ins. Jack McCarthy, Big Poppa E, Gale Danley, Hans Christian Andersen, Phil West, to name a few.

I know the BlogTV webcast hasn’t been perfect, but I am so glad so many have stayed tuned in. We feel you watching and you’re sexy for that reason among many others. Rock it, Poetryland!

6:30pm: Slumberfest 2009 has come to a close. A slew of poets came through to the end. I napped once more until 5pm, only to be awoken by one lovely Miss Maureen Benson, visiting from Oakland. I hadn’t seen her since Trenchard-Kagan Wedding ’08 in L.A. We had another couple of Skypers check in, like Tracy Vicory-Rosenquest who poeticized for us all, and her friends who joined her with a couple of tunes. Also, the grand finale once again by Lucia Misch, joined by Chelsea Johnson, Skyping in from Victoria, British Columbia. A lovely way to end the ‘Fest. Woot!

Now we’re in clean-up mode. I shall say farewell to family, shower, shuffle some bags and hit up a red-eye flight to Boston tonight. I will land Eastward in the morning.

It has truly been a fantastic 24-hours. A bit longer for David and I.

A super-special-extra-share of gratitude to Elaine Levia for all the driving around and ensuring so many of us were caffeinated with Barefoot brews. She is such an effin’ trooper! I love you, Leaves!

Thanks to all the performers who Skyped in. That really added something so big and special to the event. A true success!

Now we plan for Slumberfest 2010…
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Word to my BlackBerry for making updates so easy, and my Mac for trudging through all night.

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This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on 5 June, 2009 at 5:25 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged 2009, 24-hour, macla, open mic, open mike, San-Jose-California, slumberfest. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post.