"Mighty" Mike McGee's Electronic Place of Himself.
Typings of a well-traveled, talky, funny, hobo-poet.
I spent the beginning of this week decompressing from last Friday’s Oversocial Mofo Revue. Only the second one held so far and another sell-out crowd. Perez and I have hit upon something here in San José. The every other month schedule must have something to do with it.
I followed Mofo with a pleasant weekend of relaxation with the occasional session of friends. I love open mics and the one at Philz Coffee in downtown San José is pretty handy. I spent this last Monday night there with Tristissima, my roommate William, and various open mic-ers. A lot of swell talent seems to land there from time to time.
I overslept a bit on Tuesday and was rushed by my godsend-of-another roommate Charlie to San José International Airport. One Houston layover and six hours later I ended up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. My good man Ronnie Stephens met me at the pick-up curb and we immediately drove two hours to Fayetteville, Arkansas. So much for Tulsa.
I spent 48 fantastic hours in Arkansas. I am aware that I may be one of the only people to ever use that phrase. I got to catch up with the Stephenses, Russ Ritter and Doug Shields and eat some great food.
I was in town to perform at the University of Arkansas Coffeehouse Open Mic and Poetry Slam. I watched the open mic, did a 35 minutes set, then hosted the poetry slam. It was packed and electric throughout the night. Don’t sleep on Fayetteville. They’re excited about words.
In the morning, Ronnie and I headed back to Tulsa. I hadn’t slept after my gig, so I slept pretty hard on the ride to the airport. I felt bad dozing off on Mr. Stephens, but he’s too kind and generous to ever complain about me. He really should though. One Houston layover and ten hours later I ended up back in San José.
I met Perez to discuss Mofo. Listened to a poem he’s been stuck on for a while and his new edits made it perfect. He’s such a good writer. We joked around a bunch and talked about women. We ate pizza and called it a night. At home I watched an episode of Futurama and dozed off.
This morning I woke up at 7:04am and saw William off to work. I made some brown rice and coffee. I took some phone calls and washed clothes, dishes and surfed the tres-dubs. Before I knew it, William was home and we watched a few episodes of Mr. Show.
My self-imposed exile indoors got me a bit stir crazy, so William and I have come to this café near the house. There is a very tiny live music performance happening. A man is playing the blues, switching between an acoustic and a steel guitar depending on the song. The three people left in here are bobbing and tapping to his tunes. They either have nothing better to do or are pretending they came for him.
I am drinking decaf because it is almost 10:00pm and I want to sleep again. The musician has no idea that I am blogging about how horrible his music is. I feel guilty saying so, but it’s an important detail to my subtle week. It’s also a closing capper to a decade-plus of open mics and live performance. I’ve sucked on stage before, most certainly.
But he sure is making me think. I should put a dollar in his tip jar. Not for his talent, a redemption. My unspoken two cents for all the bad open mic performers I’ve seen this month alone. This guys number 51, I’m sure, so he gets the dollar.
It’s been a good week.
This entry was written by , posted on 20 November, 2010 at 2:11 AM, filed under Uncategorized and tagged arkansas, open mics, San-Jose-California. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
Mike and David sign in:
The Oversocial Mofo Revue is back! November 12, 2010 @ Anno Domini in downtown San Jose. Our first show at AD was a smash success and this one already looks to be just as hearty!
Friday, November 12, 2010
Line up at 7:30pm. Show promptly at 8pm! Seats are very limited!
Anno Domini
366 South First Street
San Jose, CA
(Free street parking after 6pm. Pay garage at corner of 2nd and San Carlos.)
Click here to join our Facebook group.
Join our MOFO Mailer by sending a BLANK email to: MOFO MAILER!
POTENTIAL POETRY COMPETITORS: Read through to learn about our slight change in the poetry slam structure.
The OVERSOCIAL MOFO REVUE is the groundbreaking variety show hosted by “Mighty” Mike McGee, David Perez, and Tatyana Brown with the musical stylings of The John Staedler Symphony Orchestra.
OUR THREE MAIN ACTS
Join us for Oakland’s poetess Joyce Lee, the lush sounds of San Jose’s Veronica Malki, San Francisco’s juggling wunderkind, Bronkar Lee and the all new San Jose Poetry Slam.
LIMITED SPACE. FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE. The outside line up begins at 7:30pm. The show will start at 8pm SHARP!
TICKETS (at door only)
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.
SIGNING UP TO COMPETE IN THE SAN JOSE POETRY SLAM
All poets encouraged to sign up for the slam. WARNING! Slammers must come ready with more than two poems. See slam guidelines below BEFORE COMING TO THE VENUE. If you plan to perform in the poetry slam, line up outside before the draw at 7:45pm.
POETS PLEASE NOTE WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO COMPETE IN THE SAN JOSE POETRY SLAM!
1 one-minute poem
1 two-minute poem
2 three-minute poems
3 haiku (17 syllables each, we won’t time these, but we’ll be counting!)
Poets receive a 10-second grace period for each piece.
Judges selected at random and score from 0 to 100, NOT 0.0 to 10.0.
We will take 8 poets in the first round (7 random and the last 2nd place poet), selected randomly from the sign up list. The top 4 will advance to the second round. Then the two poets with the highest cumulative scores from the first two rounds advance to the Head-To-Head Bout.
SAN JOSE POETRY SLAM FORMAT BREAKDOWN
Round One: 8 poets/1 minute each
Round Two: Top 4 poets/2 minutes each
Head-To-Head: Top 2 poets compete clean slate in a best of three haiku match to select order, then two rounds of three minute poems. Cumulative score will determine winner.
2nd Place moves onto the next slam in January, first slot in the first round, automatic by.
1st Place WINNER is an automatic member of the possible 2011 San Jose Slam Team and receives $5 plus gifts from the Offering Box.
We hope to see you there!
This entry was written by , posted on 3 November, 2010 at 9:35 PM, filed under Uncategorized and tagged anno domini, bronkar lee, joyce lee, oversocial mofo revue, san josé poetry slam, San-Jose-California, veronica lee. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
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 , 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.
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.
I know I am being a little hard headed about this, but I am practicing my own philosophy of owning less than I weigh. I still own a lot and have the luxury of owning a lot. Poor Brian Ellis.
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 , 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
MEDIA CONTACT: Mike McGee
Email: mightymikemcgee@gmail.com
The Oversocial Mofo Revue
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 , 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.
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 , 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.
MUST HAVE
Betty White Calendar for a good cause
MOVING ON – 11 DAYS LEFT IN WORCESTER
Admittedly, due to expenses, I have been on a deep, deep search for the least expensive flight from BOS to SFO. I found a one-way ticket through United that required 12,500 miles. I have 11,544. Ugh. I purchased 1,000 miles for $67 on United in order to get the ticket. It takes two days for miles to post. I called the airline and held the flight for 3 days. Hopefully it will work, but the sadness lies in the fact that the flight leaves Boston on July 27. It was all I could find. This means I am gone in 11 days. No August for me.
I have been wrought with every emotion possible on this move. Worcester has been so good to me. I cannot express it all at the moment.
MONEY SUCKS ASS(ES)
The hardest part about performance touring for a living is budgeting – living off of what you make during your “tour season.” Summer sucks for touring. Less interest, less gigs. Even if you make good money on the road in the summer/winter, you have to deal with uncomfortable weather, incorrigible travel conditions and high costs.
CHANGES TO THE KITCHEN SESSION SCHEDULE
Because I love Kitchen Sessions so much, I booked four of them at my house for July as a month-long series of final hoorahs here in Worcester, plus Simone Beaubien took on tonight’s “Kitchen Session – Boston #1” in which I am the feature. A week after planning these, I canceled July 10 due to over-extending myself. And this week I moved the July 30 “Tony Brown/My Feature” to Saturday, July 24, which was supposed to be “New York Poets Invade Worcester.” I was really hoping to foster a poet-love-in between New York and New England. The very last Kitchen Session at my house will be July 24 in Worcester.
Geography lesson for you west coasters: New York is not in New England. New England = Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. No one knows why Connecticut made it on the list. It’s wedged between NY and MA, I believe it’s a toll road.
Of the 20+ NYC poets I initially invited, three or four excitedly offered to attend. I’ve learned over the past 1.5 years on this coast that New Yorkers really prefer not leaving New York. Ever. I think people in big cities have this subconscious expectation for small towners to come to them.
“Hey, I live in this giant city. Everybody comes to us.”
To the New York poets I invited: I love you. Deeply. Wet.
I understand money concerns and loads of poets are lacking funds these days, but I think a lot of people underestimate the generosity of my peeps here in New England. New England poets adore other poets. I’ve seen more money get passed to features then at most poetry slams. Reps from Manchester, NH’s “Slam Free or Die” crew are always supporting everyone’s events in New England. I nominate them as the most supportive poets in New England. They’re just really good people. And sexy.
HERE, TAKE THIS, I THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE IT
I wish more people here in New England especially, and the rest of North America would consider having a Kitchen Session in their homes. It can be so fulfilling and if you’ve never experienced spoken word in a crowd of people you really dig, with the performer less than 6 feet away from you, then you don’t know what you’re missing. I will say that the interest in your reading will depend heavily on the personality of your host. Because the event really only has your house to rely on for consistency, so you have to look to the face of your event for the feel of the night. Your host has to be comfortable and free to talk and be themselves.
There is something about a room full of people who came to an event specifically for the event. It’s quite familial.
I could also see people organizing poetry slams in their homes. Imagine the San Jose/McGee’s Kitchen Slam Team or Chicago/Robbie Q’s Laundry Room Slam Team representing at Nationals.
Can’t say this enough: The writing at these events MUST be new or never-before-read work (NONBRW), or poets just won’t be as consistent. When you have 8-15 regional poets doing their signature poems over and over again, you WILL lose interest and you WILL NOT put butts in seats. I guarantee it. Also, it’s good to pressure your features to do a minimum of two NONBRW so that your home event has something to offer the community of regulars who intend to follow the feature to other venues. People who’ve been to a Kitchen Session can sit comfortably knowing they are in for something new throughout the entire night.
Actually, I’d recommend this to anyone starting any type of show.
I am stoked that Boston is putting the moves on creating a more permanent Kitchen Session in the region. It should be awesome because it is in good hands.
———
Word to the nerd.
This entry was written by , posted on 16 July, 2010 at 2:17 PM, filed under Uncategorized and tagged kitchen-sessions, moving, San-Jose-California, United States. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
Top 10 Ways to Rock 25 Hours of Uninterrupted Performance:
10. Come ready to perform something– anything.
9. Staple your eyelids open.
8. Bring a donation. The event is free of charge. But it is not free in that "five-finger-discount" or "bro-deal" sort of way. Giving a little something will help ensure more Slumberfests in the years to come.
7. Don’t be the buzz kill (i.e. don’t come so blitzed that you cause a ruckus that makes men with blue uniforms and boom sticks ask David Perez difficult questions).
6. Sleep well the night before.
5. Show your hidden talent. Give us something we don’t already know you can do.
4. Bring a blanket and pillow. We think we have enough to go around but why take a chance.
3. Food might be good. We provide free snacks and coffee but we’re not trying to buy everyone burritos. There aren’t too many eateries around the venue. Plan accordingly.
2. Bring a friend or ten.
and the number 1 way to Rock 25 Hours of Uninterrupted Performance…
……I guess I only have 9.
See you soon,
The Fest
Questions:
408.636.3112
Location:
190 Martha Street, Studio H San Jose, CA 95113
(parking lot is through the
driveway between 4th and 5th)
Time:
8pm Fri. 6/25 – 9pm Sat. 6/26
This entry was written by , posted on 25 June, 2010 at 10:26 AM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged california, open mic, San-Jose-California, slumber party, summer slumberfest. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
PORTLAND, OREGON
Since I’ve notified everyone in Worcester, Massachusetts, for the most part, and told my family in California, I figured I might as well make it known that I intend to move from Worcester, Mass. to Portland, Oregon. Probably this summer.
Barring anything that might make me move sooner, I am thinking that since the fall is a major touring season for me, I’d like to try to get settled on the west coast by September. I miss my family too often to live this far away now. I gave myself a year to live here and my family understood, but it’s getting harder to be this distant.
My father’s side of my family lives in Washington. My mother’s side lives in California. Oregon is a good central location. I have very close friends in and around Everett, WA who I love to visit, as well as in Eugene and Corvallis, OR.
LOTS OF THOUGHT
I want my family, given and chosen, to travel more. Shit — I want everyone I know to travel — but they are a sedentary lot down there in Silicon Valley and up in the Seattle area. If I move to a place they can get to in one flight or train, or even a 12 hour drive, they just might do it.
I’ve been considering this for sometime now, ever since the Elephant Engine Revival Tour last autumn. We spent a pretty solid week in Portland and I fell in love with the city itself, caught up with a surprising amount of friends in the area, and realized it’s proximity and low cost were key to being closer to San José and Vancouver, B.C., the Cities of My Heart.
Portland is a 1h:45m flight to San José and generally very cheap. Portland is also about 6-8 hours by train to Vancouver, or a 1h:10m flight straight through. Seattle’s an easy stop. Boise’s awesome and easy to get to as well.
MY TIME IN WORCESTER
I feel I’ve experienced as much growth in Worcester in the last 13 months as I did in the previous five years on the road. So much of it is thanks to Bill MacMillan and Tony Brown — my brothers from other mothers. I feel like I can be me and I like the me that I’m becoming thanks to the people who have become my New England family. My roommate Melinda Lee is the shit, plain and simple. I have felt very much at home here thanks specifically to Missy Mitchell, Dave Keali‘i MacKenzie, Sou MacMillan, Alex Charlambides, Liz Heath, Cyndi Keeley, Rushelle Frazier (before she moved), Heather MacPherson, Danielle Carriveau, Mark Palos, Sam Teitel, Roger Mindfucker (our cat), Anne O’Neill, Simone Beaubien, Danny Balel, Emily Mele, and a host of other people in New England. I haven’t forgotten any names, I just didn’t want to turn this into an acceptance speech. I will surely write that entry when I do actually move.
WHAT BOTHERS ME MOST
I am sad that so many others promised to visit me in my home while I was here and will have absolutely failed to do so before I move. I am just glad Finneyfrock and Weslowski are coming to do there own respective Kitchen Sessions this spring. And they’re coming from the WEST COAST… At this point, I will be too busy to really host anyone else before I move… Very, very saddening.
PORTLAND IS RAD AND GETTING RADDER
With the growing number of Write Bloody authors living and moving to Portland, it’s a perfect spot for a northern WB hub. We can put on shows/readings, get the ball rolling on events and brainstorm future projects. The city pushes the arts, has a fantastic transit system (which is a HUGE sell for us rare non-drivers), and loves their bicyclists, an activity I’ve missed since my Schwinn cruiser days in downtown San José.
Portland is alive and electric. It excites me. I feel I could be there even if I didn’t know anyone, although, it does also feel very, very transient. I think people come and go like mad, which is my plan as well. The gray skies will get to me in due time, but at least it doesn’t snow very often.
I think people should travel and really try living in other places. It’s easier than it seems and there are a number of people who do it enough to advise newbies. I said I would give Worcester a year and it turned out to be more. I will probably give Portland a year. I think it’s a good idea. You really get a feel for a city when you’ve spent a year there.
WHERE I TRULY BELONG
Of the entirety of the Bay Area, I would really only live in San José/Silicon Valley, but it’s three times the cost of living in Worcester. I am one of San José’s biggest fans, but I have spent 27+ years there (prior to touring) and I really just want to see more places and try out new environments for a while. I will return to San José, but I need just a little more stability and a girl-partner who is also a huge fan of Silicon Valley. And they would have to be a fan of it because anyone who didn’t grow up there has a hard time seeing it’s greatness. I couldn’t love a human baby as much as I love Silicon Valley.
Silicon Valley Example of Greatness #2,482: 300 days a year of sunshine. 300. Yep.
SILICON VALLEY vs. PACIFIC NORTHWEST
There are really only a few places I feel I belong in a living situation and they are Silicon Valley and the Pacific Northwest (Eugene, OR to Bellingham, WA… Vancouver is the Pacific Southwest to Canadians.) I belong in Vancouver. I am so very much at home in Vancouver, but the cost of living there is fuckstupid, especially for an American. With my constant travel, I’d have to fly from Vancouver to U.S. destinations pretty often. I tend to have to book flights on short notice. I just did a sample search and a ONE-WAY flight two weeks from now from Vancouver to Denver is $309-USD. However, one-way from Seattle to Denver is $101-USD. Prices for Canadian flights to the U.S. are almost always three-times U.S. prices, across the board. I could bus it down to Seattle whenever I had a flight, but making the right bus-to-flight connection is a bitch-and-a-half and pretty costly over time. It’s a 2h:30m ride and you have to cross a border every time. I’ve done it and I despise it.
Vancouver Suckiness Example #2: Three short days a year of sunshine.*
I’d be better off living in Seattle, but Seattle has always felt like Vancouver Light. Aside from the awesome poetry people who live there, Seattle feels very, very sad. It is almost like 60 to 70% of the city is depressed. I feel it whenever I am there. The Seattle spoken word scene is pretty stellar thanks to Daemond Arrindell and Youth Speaks Seattle, but a thriving poetry scene is one of the last reasons I would move to a city. If it were my first reason, I’d be living in Vancouver already.
I did seriously consider moving to Bellingham, but it was only because I like the Poetry Night crew and their proximity to Vancouver, B.C.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles is a congested maze and nearly impossible to navigate without a car, but I do like it more than I did five years ago. I have some very close friends down there, but the traffic alone kills me. I don’t know how anyone does it. It seems to me to be the place so many people go to realize their dreams, only to get stuck in a job they despise and eventually abandon their reason for moving there. Success in the arts in L.A. must be limited to a very lucky/determined 2% of the population — if that.
There is so much sadness in L.A. and such a shattered spoken word and poetry scene. In all of my touring I have only ever lost money in Los Angeles. I’ve been paid a few times, but I feel like it was always out of Rob Sturma’s pocket and not really from the community around him. And merch sales? Doubtful. I think so many people are always broke in L.A. because they have to save their money to buy gas and keep their car running. I only ever go there to visit friends. Any gig I get is merely an attempt to deflect some of the cost of travel. But seriously, If I am wrong about L.A., please tell me so. If there is a growing spoken word scene I don’t know about, let me know. Da Poetry Lounge is always a fun gig for me, but it pays irregularly. A lot of poets would like to tour through L.A. but everybody outside of it has no idea where to start.
Orange County seems to have a decent reputation for gigs, but it’s one giant suburb.
Long Beach is the home of Write Bloody and Snoop Dogg, and it’s about an hour away from L.A. I can dig Long Beach, but it’s still too similar to the rest of Southern California. It’s a nice place to visit. All of it really is, but if you have no family there, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle.
THE MIDWEST
Chicago has always been a possibility, but one of the reasons I intend to leave New England is based on my ever-growing spite of the cold. I can handle rain and chill, but to-the-bone-kind-of cold really wears on me and keeps me inside too often. The cold here in New England starts in October and last through April. I have had two seasons of it. I would just be moving into a similar weather system in Chicago, which also has a summer humidity index that makes me want to punt fat babies. I could really only live there in the spring and autumn, if they show up. I love Chicago, but I would only live there for the people I knew and the fact that Chicago has THE BEST FOOD IN THE WORLD, but I would eventually despise the city for its weather.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Chicago is, without a doubt, THE HOME for funny poets. For me, the spoken word scene there has always been a draw for this reason. If you want to be a funny poet and like cold-ass winters and humid-ass summers, Chicago is the place for you. Male, female, emale, wemale — whatever — they are hilarious. Maybe it’s the food and weather. Being well fed and in constant sweaty/freezy conditions must help mold the humor… I am serious. Think about it. If you know the poetry slam/spoken word universe, Chicago has to be the funniest American scene. Germany is very, very big on humor in their poetry, as is Vancouver, but I think Chicago sets the standard as a scene. Hmmm.
I love you, ChiTown. I do, I do.
TIMELINE: JUST TALKING IT OUT
Since I have a bunch of travel this spring, I am going to try to spend as much time in Worcester this summer as I can. Depending on my finances, I will probably move toward the end of August, but I won’t know for sure.
I really don’t want to move while it is hot, so I may have to push it closer to June, which would kill my summer plans here, but would probably be a wiser move. I don’t make as much touring in the summer as I do in the spring and autumn. I would spend money to survive all summer, then spend money to move. I have gigs lined up this spring that would make a June/July move very easy. I am at a loss. I just don’t know.
What would be awesome is a road trip/poetry tour move. Any takers?
———
Word to the nerd.
*I am kidding… Sort of.
Originally published at Mike McGee Town. You can comment here or there.
This entry was written by , posted on 15 February, 2010 at 1:23 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged British Columbia, california, chicago, illinois, left coast, los angeles, massachusetts, moving, oregon, personal updates, portland, relocating, San-Jose-California, spoken word, Vancouver, Worcester-Massachusetts. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
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!
———
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…
———
Word to my BlackBerry for making updates so easy, and my Mac for trudging through all night.
This entry was written by , 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. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.