The crowds are always awesome, hovering somewhere between 22-33 people. I missed the Rachel McKibbens/Rob “Ratpack Slim” Sturma double-feature in November due to travel. While they were rocking my kitchen in Worcester, I was making two gallons of clam chowder at Anis Mojgani’s house in Portland, Oregon.

Anis ate one gallon.

I am writing about this today because I am stunned by how many people ask me about them around the country. I am impressed by who asks for a feature or just to read when they come through. Poets and poetry lovers alike are making it a stop when they pass through New England. The list of readers is impressive and it makes me so happy to have a viable alternative to a venue. There is so much more freedom running a KS.

Here’s the group page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=241163070354

Join it and stay in touch. Especially if you want start your own…

McGEE’S KITCHEN SESSION FORMAT
What you’ll need:
*a space large enough for 30+ people
*a large table for food and drinks
*access to poets and writers
*a good emcee… (Should be the resident organizer, really)
*the express consent of all roommates
*space for features to crash, maybe even a neighbor’s couch nearby
*a donation collecting vessel

It’s very simple. Start an online group for your sessions. Facebook seemed like the best option since that’s where 98% of my acquaintances gather these days. LiveJournal is fading, Myspace is barely breathing and I still don’t get mailing lists…

I generally start a Kitchen Session between 8:00pm and 9:00pm, depending on whether it follows another local event. The night is split in half. The first half is for the “openers,” usually about an hour long, and the second half is for the “features” who get up to an hour to perform. Very extensive. I have people sign up for the opener by messaging me on Facebook privately. The first person to sign up goes last, second sign up goes second to last and so on. No favoriting. Openers can read up to two poems that must be debuts — NEVER BEFORE READ IN PUBLIC! That’s key to KS, I think; long features and new work. Mandatory. Also, I have never read any of my own work at KS. Never plan to, the emceeing is quite enough. It’s my time to roast anyone sitting too close. And believe me! In my house, everyone’s too close.

OTHER MANDATORY ELEMENTS
*positive attitude, leaving personal differences on the porch
*$3-5 for the feature, or buy a product from them
*a dish — homemade or bought — to be shared
*beverages to share, but no hard liquor
*energy to listen and have fun
*respect for the home, residents, neighborhood and the space

TWO KITCHEN SESSIONS THIS WEEK!
Thursday, March 25, 2010 – 8:30-ish
Kitchen Session #11
With Sonya Renee and Denise Jolly of Salt Lines
6 person opener. Sign up with me through Facebook message.

I will hold KS#12 either Friday or Saturday. Join the group and send me your vote.

I cannot decide if I want a day off after KS#11 or if I want KS-free weekend. Two in a row…? Friday off?

KS#12 will be ALL OPENERS. No feature. 16 person sign up, up to 3 poems each. All poems must be written in 2010… Brand new shit.

I already have about 7 people signed up.

Please consider holding your own home sessions. They are fantastic and pretty easy. I will help you! I will read when I am near!

While events like these have been happening for a very long time, I feel the world could use a helluva lot more of them. Let’s do this!

Living rooms! Bath rooms! Dorm rooms! Bed rooms! Garages! Bring the poets home!
———
Word to the nerd.

The crowds are always awesome, hovering somewhere between 22-33 people. I missed the Rachel McKibbens/Rob “Ratpack Slim” Sturma double-feature in November due to travel. While they were rocking my kitchen in Worcester, I was making two gallons of clam chowder at Anis Mojgani’s house in Portland, Oregon.

Anis ate one gallon.

I am writing about this today because I am stunned by how many people ask me about them around the country. I am impressed by who asks for a feature or just to read when they come through. Poets and poetry lovers alike are making it a stop when they pass through New England. The list of readers is impressive and it makes me so happy to have a viable alternative to a venue. There is so much more freedom running a KS.

Here’s the group page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=241163070354

Join it and stay in touch. Especially if you want start your own…

McGEE’S KITCHEN SESSION FORMAT
What you’ll need:
*a space large enough for 30+ people
*a large table for food and drinks
*access to poets and writers
*a good emcee… (Should be the resident organizer, really)
*the express consent of all roommates
*space for features to crash, maybe even a neighbor’s couch nearby
*a donation collecting vessel

It’s very simple. Start an online group for your sessions. Facebook seemed like the best option since that’s where 98% of my acquaintances gather these days. LiveJournal is fading, Myspace is barely breathing and I still don’t get mailing lists…

I generally start a Kitchen Session between 8:00pm and 9:00pm, depending on whether it follows another local event. The night is split in half. The first half is for the “openers,” usually about an hour long, and the second half is for the “features” who get up to an hour to perform. Very extensive. I have people sign up for the opener by messaging me on Facebook privately. The first person to sign up goes last, second sign up goes second to last and so on. No favoriting. Openers can read up to two poems that must be debuts — NEVER BEFORE READ IN PUBLIC! That’s key to KS, I think; long features and new work. Mandatory. Also, I have never read any of my own work at KS. Never plan to, the emceeing is quite enough. It’s my time to roast anyone sitting too close. And believe me! In my house, everyone’s too close.

OTHER MANDATORY ELEMENTS
*positive attitude, leaving personal differences on the porch
*$3-5 for the feature, or buy a product from them
*a dish — homemade or bought — to be shared
*beverages to share, but no hard liquor
*energy to listen and have fun
*respect for the home, residents, neighborhood and the space

TWO KITCHEN SESSIONS THIS WEEK!
Thursday, March 25, 2010 – 8:30-ish
Kitchen Session #11
With Sonya Renee and Denise Jolly of Salt Lines
6 person opener. Sign up with me through Facebook message.

I will hold KS#12 either Friday or Saturday. Join the group and send me your vote.

I cannot decide if I want a day off after KS#11 or if I want KS-free weekend. Two in a row…? Friday off?

KS#12 will be ALL OPENERS. No feature. 16 person sign up, up to 3 poems each. All poems must be written in 2010… Brand new shit.

I already have about 7 people signed up.

Please consider holding your own home sessions. They are fantastic and pretty easy. I will help you! I will read when I am near!

While events like these have been happening for a very long time, I feel the world could use a helluva lot more of them. Let’s do this!

Living rooms! Bath rooms! Dorm rooms! Bed rooms! Garages! Bring the poets home!
———
Word to the nerd.

Originally published at Mike McGee Town. You can comment here or there.

I fly to Salt Lake City tomorrow. I get to hang with Jesse Parent. He’s cool and has Worcester cred. He’s gonna show me the Mormon Temple like a tourist. (MUST take photos.) Then I am off to Denver for a show at Johnson & Wales University on Thursday. I’ve been there before and I had a blast last time. Denverites: Spread the word!

I have many gigs to tend to. Click here for updated dates. Looking forward to rocking some schools and Denver Poetry Slam. Will have a few days of free time next week. I was hoping to go to Fayetteville, Arkansas for a day or two, but the cost of travel makes it very difficult to get out there. I miss Fayetteville and my peeps there. Will have to get there this year.

Shit. I really need to hit up the whole mid-west. Big time. Texas to Minnesota. Like mad.

GAMING
I am bringing a Magic deck with me. If you play, lemme know, bring your deck. We’ll make it happen. I am also down for Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, and Bananagrams, but you’ll have to supply them.

YOUTH WORKSHOP
Ken Arkind is working out a youth poetry performance workshop for me to facilitate in Denver this weekend. Should be good times. Will update with information soon.

CHICAGO IS MINT AND BOSS
After my last mid-west school on March 19th, I think I am just going to catch a train and ride to Chicago. One: Because I love Chicago. Two: Because I love trains. If anyone wants to ride the train with me, come! Let us ride the train and play games. I need to see Chicago peeps like mad.

ON A RADTASTIC NOTE
Got a call tonight from my friend John. I wedded him and his wife Audra last August in Milwaukee, my very first wedding. They wanted me to know that I will be an uncle this year as they have gone made themselves pregnant. I am so very happy for them and their child as they will be incredible parents.

Babies having babies, man. Babies having babies.
———
Word to the nerd.
Bunnies having bunnies, man.

March 10, 2010
Utah State University
0105 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322
Venue: Taggart Student Center Ballroom
Show Starts: 8:00
Event listing

March 11, 2010
Johnson & Wales U
7150 Montview Blvd. 
Denver CO, 80220
Venue: SAGE Lounge (Hospitality College)
Show Starts: 8:00pm

March 14, 2010
Denver Poetry Slam
Venue: Mercury Café
2199 California Street
Denver, Colorado
Show starts: 8:00pm

March 15, 2010
Fort Lewis College
1000 Rim Drive
Durango, CO 81301
Venue: The Vallecito Theatre (103 Student Union, 1000 Rim Drive)
Show Starts: 7:00 P

March 19, 2010
Lyon College
2300 Highland Rd.  
Batesville, AR 72501
Venue: Edwards Commons/Lower Union
Show Starts: 7:30p

March 24 & 25, 2010
Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)
Brooklyn, New York
(Private)

March 26 or 27
Kitchen Session #11
(No Feature, 3 poem limit)

April 1, 2010
Hawaii Slam Finals
Every first Thursday of the Month
Fresh Cafe Warehouse
831 Queen Street (@ intersection with Cooke Street)
Honolulu, HI 96813
Doors & Poet Sign-Ups at 7:30pm
Show starts at 8:30pm
Admission is $3 before 8:30pm, $5 after
All Ages

April 7, 2010
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, California
Another Type of Groove
(More info to come)
CalPoly Event Calendar

April 15, 2010
College of Saint Rose
Albany, New York
Frequency North Reading Series
Also with Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz and Derrick Brown
———
Word to the nerd.
Bunny up.

If you’re in Portland, Oregon and on Facebook, feel free to add yourself to the event (login required):

Portland Poetry Slam Event on FB
———
Word to the nerd.

If you’re in Portland, Oregon and on Facebook, feel free to add yourself to the event (login required):

Portland Poetry Slam Event on FB
———
Word to the nerd.

Originally published at Mike McGee Town. You can comment here or there.

Now, here is a list of my upcoming shows. If you want more information, just drop me a line or leave a comment.

2010 SCHEDULE
January 26 – Mount Union College, Alliance, OH – http://www.muc.edu/

January 27 – WSU Pullman, WA http://www.wsu.edu/

February 5 – Eastern Oregon University – http://www.eou.edu/index.shtml

February 16 – Urbana Poetry Slam, Bowery Poetry Club, New York

March 14 – Denver Poetry Slam, Mercury Café, Colorado

NOTE: More dates to come in Utah and Colorado in March.
———
Word to the nerd.

Now, here is a list of my upcoming shows. If you want more information, just drop me a line or leave a comment.

2010 SCHEDULE
January 26 – Mount Union College, Alliance, OH – http://www.muc.edu/

January 27 – WSU Pullman, WA http://www.wsu.edu/

February 5 – Eastern Oregon University – http://www.eou.edu/index.shtml

February 16 – Urbana Poetry Slam, Bowery Poetry Club, New York

March 14 – Denver Poetry Slam, Mercury Café, Colorado

NOTE: More dates to come in Utah and Colorado in March.
———
Word to the nerd.

Originally published at Mike McGee Town. You can comment here or there.

Derrick Brown and I will be having a sweet, intimate “End of The Road Show” in Bellingham, WA tomorrow night. There will be special guests, Stuh-RANGE ROAD stories, Q&A, and special performances of rare pieces by Brown & McGee.

7:30pm.

The Amadeus Project: 1209 Cornwall Avenue
Bellingham, Washington 98225
360+815+1825

This show sounds like a great time! I am excited!

Here are all of the details for the show sent to me by the one and only Mr. J. Bradley:

Thursday, July 23 at The Cameo Theatre (located in the old Cruises Only building – 1013 E. Colonial Drive), Team Orlando 2009 will face off against three other teams packed with amazing poets in a National Poetry Slam style bout where, after four rounds, one team will win the first ever Showdown in O-Town. Our teams are so far:

Team Orlando 2009: Shawn Welcome, Curtis Meyer, Ronin, MyVerse, Alex Ruiz – the most talented team Orlando will ever throw at the National Poetry Slam thus far. This is an amazing mix of accomplished poets and hungry newcomers who will rock your faces off with their poetic might.

Team Slamazon: Kendra Corrie, Dani O., Veronica Smith, Holly Riggs – this team features both winners of the 2009 Fringe Poetry Smackdown (who both won with 30s), a 2009 Smackdown runner up, and a poetic leviathan emerging from the depths. This team is fierce. They will destroy you with their verse, then wear your skin like a pelt.

Team Payback: Tod Caviness, Trevor Fraiser, Tam Tam the Sandwich Man, Alex Vega – all these poets were part of the Broken Speech Post-Season and they seek vengenance on Team Orlando for denying them from representing the City Beautiful.

Team Pandemonium : Chaz Yorick, Lilly, Michael Sloan, Zachary Kluckman – this team is the ultimate wildcard. We can only speculate the mayhem this mysterious group can cause.

Kicking off the night will be Mighty Mike McGee, the only poet to hold the individual National Poetry Slam and World Poetry Slam titles.

These teams will face Team Orlando at the Showdown in O-Town in an epic bout never seen before in the City Beautiful…until now.

Wanna hear the best part? You can see this National Poetry Slam bout for just $5. $5 to see amazing poetry. $5 to get your face rocked so far off, you can put it on a wall as a trophy to tell your grandchildren about that time poetry rocked your face off on this night. For your $5, you not only get to witness awesome poetry but get your name thrown in the hat for a door prize: a $25 gift card to Urban Think, Orlando’s only independent book store. All proceeds go to Team Orlando 2009.

The Showdown in O-Town is proudly sponsored by Stardust Video & Coffee, our home venue, Park Ave CDs, Seven Sisters Coffee, and Urban Think.