"Mighty" Mike McGee's Electronic Place of Himself.
Typings of a well-traveled, talky, funny, hobo-poet.
Spoken Word Artists & Poetry Slam Competitors!
One of my favorite things to do is offer up coaching and advice to poetry performers preparing work for the stage, especially with regard to poetry slam competitions. My experience in poetic competition is unique and storied. I thought – since I am on a “very long hiatus” from competing for titles and monetary gain – why not help others in their pursuits?”
I know that I cannot be in every town at once, and there is nothing like the benefits of one-on-one coaching of spoken word performance, so I am offering a simple avenue to my services via the internet. If you have Skype and are in need of performance advice and critique from someone like me (or me specifically,) than this might be for you.
As you can see in this PayPal drop-down menu I have broken it up into three groups (if you cannot see the form, go here: http://www.mikemcgee.net/spoken-workshop
One-Hour Personal Performance Poetry Coaching By Mike McGee $100.00
On Skype, I will watch, critique and guide up to two (2) poems (or one group poem.) We can discuss anything about poetry slam, competitive strategy and the performances in question. I may – and usually do – advise toward some written editing of the poems.
Can be scheduled as two 30-minute sessions. Scheduling dates based on availability between 8:00am and midnight, Pacific Time.
When ordered, I will contact you with instructions and questions about scheduling. I will also request an electronic text copy of the poem(s).
Half-Hour Personal Performance Poetry Coaching By Mike McGee $40.00
On Skype, I will watch, critique and guide one (1) poem (NO group poems.) We can discuss anything about poetry slam, competitive strategy and the performances in question. I may – and usually do – advise toward some written editing of the poems.
Can be scheduled as two 30-minute sessions. Scheduling dates based on availability between 8:00am and midnight, Pacific Time.
When ordered, I will contact you with instructions and questions about scheduling. I will also request an electronic text copy of the poem(s).
Two Drafts of Poetry Editing By Mike McGee
I will read, edit, advise any one (1) poem, especially written for the stage. I will offer two rounds of edits and recommendations by email. You send me your poem, I edit it and send it back. You make edits, and accept or reject my edits, and send it back to me. I do one more round of editing to the poem and return it to you. We can discuss the poem over email.
BE SURE TO:
…have a solid internet connection
…commit to the work you will do
…schedule your time wisely with no interruptions
…have a goal in mind with your work
…be honest with me about your results
…use our time wisely during the workshop period (we can catch up another time)
…take notes
Once the workshops have been completed, there will be no refunds.
Purchase of personal workshop expires when we do.
Any questions? Gmail me: ilikemike
This entry was written by , posted on 8 June, 2011 at 12:49 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged online, performance, poetry, skype, workshop. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
Hey, poetry slammers and regulars. Please read and enjoy this list. Feel free to add to it in the comments. In the spirit of roasting my homies and with lots of love:
You might be a slam poet if…
…the only team you’ve ever been on included 3 other poets.
…you prefer judging someone silently, in a corner and pouting, rather than with numbers.
…you call running away from responsibility and commitments “going on tour.”
…you think your homemade book of poetry might be worth more than $5.00.
…you think someone will actually read said book of poetry.
…you have made a pact to never date another poet, but break that pact at the drop of a pants.
…you think 8.5 out of 10.0 is a low score.
…you bank all of your vacation time each year to go to the National Poetry Slam.
…you tell everybody at the National Poetry Slam that you’re on vacation and getting paid to be there.
…you wouldn’t dare go to the National Poetry Slam if you had to pay for it yourself.
…you are planning a tour as an excuse to move to another city.
…you sign up at literary readings and open mics to “blow them away” with your “performance skills.”
…you hope that [insert poet name] is going to be at [insert event] because they complimented your work that one time and you were sure they were hitting on you.
…you think a viable career path is: 1. Make a slam team; 2. Win Nationals; 3. Get record/movie/TV deal; 4. Become friends with celebrities; 5. Return to perform at local slam as a huge favor to the scene.
…you love conscious hip-hop AND some country.
…you’ve beaten other people in a competition of words with a poem about unity and peace.
…you’ve met Mos Def.
…you’ve bragged to others (who’ve never heard of poetry slam) that you’re on a slam team.
…you have many recipes for ramen noodles, cheap booze and own a counterfeit monthly bus pass.
…you think your poem about oral copulation can not only win a poetry slam, but also change the world’s view on sexuality.
…you think performing in three to ten venues a year is getting your work “out there/making a difference.”
…you are proud of your lowest score ever.
…you have cried for losing a poetry slam.
…you want to be the next Bukowski, Ginsberg and/or Kerouac.
…you are the next Plath.
…you are seeking fame and notoriety through pretty/vulgar three minute rants.
…still have a Myspace account because it’s where people can listen to your “tracks.”
…the old slam guard won’t acknowledge you.
…you wrote poetry at a coffee shop instead of going to college.
…you have five memorized poems and three of them “do well.”
…you’re “looking” for an agent, but don’t do stand-up, play an instrument, do magic/hypnosis, sing or juggle.
…you slept with anyone in Berkeley, California between 1998 and 2006.
…you’ve toured through Los Angeles and lost money.
…you watched Shane Koyczan’s Olympic performance on YouTube.
…two meals in one day and free drinks is “livin’ it up.”
…you can’t remember that one poet’s name, but you just love them to death.
…you complain about Starbucks, McDonald’s, or WalMart, but can be found at one at some point throughout the year.
…you have Kinko’s/copier experience and have been called “a connection.”
…you have tried out for every team in your region because people are expecting to see you at the National Poetry Slam.
…you wonder how your poems would fair in a New York/Boston/Chicago/Berkeley poetry slam.
…you look forward to traveling with people you can’t stand to an event full of people you can’t stand.
…you snap your fingers when something is good or someone is screwing up.
…you prefer your poetry scene to your own family.
…you’ve ended a full day at an all-night diner with a plate of fries or mozzarella sticks, a glass of water, surrounded by poets, all excited about the event you just left, and thought, “Man, what a great night.”
I guess I am a slam poet.
———
Word to the nerd.
This entry was written by , posted on 8 July, 2010 at 3:49 AM, filed under Poetry Slam Events and tagged humor, Performance Poetry and Spoken Word, poem, poetry, slam poet list, you might be a slam poet. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
Writers: You now have a little over 24 hours to get me your poems for consideration of this—> http://tinyurl.com/2wyt8zu
This entry was written by , posted on 1 July, 2010 at 3:11 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged funny, humor collection, poetry, short ones for the shitter. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
Kitchen Session #14 starts on Saturday, May 22 at 8:00pm Eastern Time.
The video below is streamed live from Worcester, Massachusetts.
There will be a host of opener poets performing never-before-read work, then a mini-feature from Tony Brown. Our feature tonight is RC Weslowski of Vancouver, B.C.
Your host with the most to roast is yours truly, Mike McGee.
This entry was written by , posted on 22 May, 2010 at 11:24 AM, filed under Uncategorized and tagged kitchen-sessions, Performance Poetry and Spoken Word, poetry, rc weslowski, Vancouver, Worcester-Massachusetts. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
Kitchen Sessions are monthly (and sometimes twice monthly) spoken word and poetry events held… in my kitchen of all places. I had always wanted a home for an event like this. To be specifically intimate with our words. A reason for me to host people in my home and to emcee in front of my refrigerator. Back in July 2009, I mentioned it to my roommate Melinda, and she agreed it should happen in our home, specifically asking me to hold them on her nights of. Those have changed, but being our home, we can entertain a KS anytime we want.
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.
This entry was written by , posted on 22 March, 2010 at 10:54 AM, filed under Uncategorized and tagged house party, kitchen, kitchen-sessions, live performance, mike mcgee, poetry, spoken word. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
Kitchen Sessions are monthly (and sometimes twice monthly) spoken word and poetry events held… in my kitchen of all places. I had always wanted a home for an event like this. To be specifically intimate with our words. A reason for me to host people in my home and to emcee in front of my refrigerator. Back in July 2009, I mentioned it to my roommate Melinda, and she agreed it should happen in our home, specifically asking me to hold them on her nights of. Those have changed, but being our home, we can entertain a KS anytime we want.
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.
This entry was written by , posted on at 10:54 AM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged house party, kitchen, kitchen-sessions, live performance, mike mcgee, poetry, spoken word. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
Just landed in Little Rock, Arkansas. Mo-Man picked me up with Krysis. I hit a bank and now we’re at a local reading at ACAC. The vibe is extraordinary and the people are warm and lovers of spoken word. This is a home for them and they’ve brought me into it with open arms. Ginna Funk Wallace just offered me a saucepan of homemade mac and chee. We’d only known each other via Facebook. I am home.
It’s out here, people. Come to it. Hit the road. Summer of Love II, I’m telling ya.
———
Word to the nerd.
This entry was written by , posted on 18 March, 2010 at 4:44 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged fitting in, home, poetry, Travel. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
I am Mike McGee. I shouldn’t write this in this state, but I did a show tonight that was supposed to be stand-up comedy. I didn’t know this. The students who showed up for a comedian stayed for a funny poet. They stayed and they listened. They thanked me for being honest and liking spoken word for the first time. I am buying beer for the fucking table. I thought I was risking it all by bringing heart to a comedy night. Dirty Dimes prevailed.
Goddamit! I don’t know how long I have on this planet, but the jukebox is playing Hotel California and, to me, it is also Hotel Worcester…Hotel Vancouver. It is the loudest, most necessary thing in my ears. I have new, young friends who found some truth in my words, funny or not. They are celebrating this life with me in the cold, beautiful mountains of Southern Colorado.
I will finish this Scottish ale and love Lionel Ritchie, who has taken over for Don Henley. I want to party all night long too. I want to know who paid for this song to play!
I was asked to accompany a woman to her hotel room last night. I thanked her and declined. I think she deserved more. Fuck! But I am so alive now. She will cross my path again. That’s how it works in my world.
Come see ny world.
FUCK! YES! Fuck is the best of meanings!
Thank you, Thoma, for reminding me to post.
This is Mountain Time. Come on and sing aalong. All night long. All night.
I miss you. Let’s live and post from loud bars. Let’s fucking be awesome.
YES!
———
Word to the night.
This entry was written by , posted on 15 March, 2010 at 9:45 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged humor, me, poetry. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
I am Mike McGee. I shouldn’t write this in this state, but I did a show tonight that was supposed to be stand-up comedy. I didn’t know this. The students who showed up for a comedian stayed for a funny poet. They stayed and they listened. They thanked me for being honest and liking spoken word for the first time. I am buying beer for the fucking table. I thought I was risking it all by bringing heart to a comedy night. Dirty Dimes prevailed.
Goddamit! I don’t know how long I have on this planet, but the jukebox is playing Hotel California and, to me, it is also Hotel Worcester…Hotel Vancouver. It is the loudest, most necessary thing in my ears. I have new, young friends who found some truth in my words, funny or not. They are celebrating this life with me in the cold, beautiful mountains of Southern Colorado.
I will finish this Scottish ale and love Lionel Ritchie, who has taken over for Don Henley. I want to party all night long too. I want to know who paid for this song to play!
I was asked to accompany a woman to her hotel room last night. I thanked her and declined. I think she deserved more. Fuck! But I am so alive now. She will cross my path again. That’s how it works in my world.
Come see ny world.
FUCK! YES! Fuck is the best of meanings!
Thank you, Thoma, for reminding me to post.
This is Mountain Time. Come on and sing aalong. All night long. All night.
I miss you. Let’s live and post from loud bars. Let’s fucking be awesome.
YES!
———
Word to the night.
Originally published at Mike McGee Town. You can comment here or there.
This entry was written by , posted on at 9:45 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged humor, Ideas & Projects, me, poetry. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
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 entry was written by , posted on 17 November, 2009 at 4:44 PM, filed under Travel and tagged amadeus project, bellingham, books, derrick, derrick brown, Independent-Publishing, live performance, mike mcgee, poetry, stories, washington, write bloody. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.