"Mighty" Mike McGee's Electronic Place of Himself.
Typings of a well-traveled, talky, funny, hobo-poet.
With all the various poetry slams gearing up for the National Poetry Slam in St. Paul this August (National Poetry Slam), I have been thinking about two ideas involving summertime and slam.
I haven’t been a member of a national poetry slam team since 2004. Seems ages ago. I love most aspects of slam, but I really love the politics and strategy that build up around the events leading to NPS. Ekabhumi and I can chat on the phone for hours and hours on the enigma that becomes poetry slam’s social ramifications.
We’ve joyously discussed (not always agreeing on) every part of what it means to
1) prepare to get on a team
2) ready the whole team while maintaining individual identities
3) strategize in ways that benefits EVERYBODY as best as possible
Poetry slam is not my favorite game. Until the day it limits itself to a square board with letter tiles and word scores, it will only ever be my favorite human sport.
But I do thoroughly enjoy it. In my limited team and individual coaching experience, I have seen numerous positive results — statistically and socially — when performance poets actually listen to me.
In my opinion, NPS is the super bowl of poetry slam (not my words, but I agree), so I firmly stand by the notion that those coming to play the game should play to win, while maintaining a positive outlook on growth, character and art. It’s not easy.
I enjoy the coaching side of poetry slam very much, but I rarely have much time for it.
SUMMER RETREAT IDEAS
IDEA #1
By July, most poetry slam teams know who they’re up against in NPS bouts. By July, I know most of the poets in those bouts. A team makes their way to my house in July. They bring edibles for the whole weekend and we cook and discuss strategy and work on performance. I will book a Kitchen Session for that weekend and they will sign up to read.
It will be mostly conversation.
IDEA #2
Same as above, only I fly to them and spend the weekend in their city. No gigs, just working out kinks and offering ideas.
Either way, I don’t want to make money off of a team, but I don’t want to lose money either. Idea #1 would require team travel. Idea #2 would require a travel ticket for me in which I do not want to pay for.
Idea #2 is easier because I wouldn’t have to limit it to July. If your team is selected in April, and you want my help, that might be possible. I have such a nutty schedule as it is, it would help if I am already coming to your region to perform anyway.
I guess if you know I am coming, and have a team preparing for NPS, or a poet prepping for WoW or IWPS, gimme a holler. I may be down to help.
I love the game, but I love even more the game that happens off stage. It’s probably the most important strategy few poets ever consider before the big game.
———
Word to the nerd.
This entry was written by , posted on 9 May, 2010 at 9:39 AM, filed under Uncategorized and tagged coaching, discussion, performance, retreat, summer, Worcester-Massachusetts. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
With all the various poetry slams gearing up for the National Poetry Slam in St. Paul this August (National Poetry Slam), I have been thinking about two ideas involving summertime and slam.
I haven’t been a member of a national poetry slam team since 2004. Seems ages ago. I love most aspects of slam, but I really love the politics and strategy that build up around the events leading to NPS. Ekabhumi and I can chat on the phone for hours and hours on the enigma that becomes poetry slam’s social ramifications.
We’ve joyously discussed (not always agreeing on) every part of what it means to
1) prepare to get on a team
2) ready the whole team while maintaining individual identities
3) strategize in ways that benefits EVERYBODY as best as possible
Poetry slam is not my favorite game. Until the day it limits itself to a square board with letter tiles and word scores, it will only ever be my favorite human sport.
But I do thoroughly enjoy it. In my limited team and individual coaching experience, I have seen numerous positive results — statistically and socially — when performance poets actually listen to me.
In my opinion, NPS is the super bowl of poetry slam (not my words, but I agree), so I firmly stand by the notion that those coming to play the game should play to win, while maintaining a positive outlook on growth, character and art. It’s not easy.
I enjoy the coaching side of poetry slam very much, but I rarely have much time for it.
SUMMER RETREAT IDEAS
IDEA #1
By July, most poetry slam teams know who they’re up against in NPS bouts. By July, I know most of the poets in those bouts. A team makes their way to my house in July. They bring edibles for the whole weekend and we cook and discuss strategy and work on performance. I will book a Kitchen Session for that weekend and they will sign up to read.
It will be mostly conversation.
IDEA #2
Same as above, only I fly to them and spend the weekend in their city. No gigs, just working out kinks and offering ideas.
Either way, I don’t want to make money off of a team, but I don’t want to lose money either. Idea #1 would require team travel. Idea #2 would require a travel ticket for me in which I do not want to pay for.
Idea #2 is easier because I wouldn’t have to limit it to July. If your team is selected in April, and you want my help, that might be possible. I have such a nutty schedule as it is, it would help if I am already coming to your region to perform anyway.
I guess if you know I am coming, and have a team preparing for NPS, or a poet prepping for WoW or IWPS, gimme a holler. I may be down to help.
I love the game, but I love even more the game that happens off stage. It’s probably the most important strategy few poets ever consider before the big game.
———
Word to the nerd.
Originally published at Mike McGee Town. You can comment here or there.
This entry was written by , posted on at 9:39 AM, filed under Poetry Slam Events and tagged coaching, discussion, ideas, performance, retreat, summer, Worcester-Massachusetts. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.