"Mighty" Mike McGee's Electronic Place of Himself.
Typings of a well-traveled, talky, funny, hobo-poet.
HOUSEMATE
I brought in a roommate to my house back in April. It made sense: I have two bedrooms, rent is cheap, and even cheaper with a second person added to the mix. I had my “hermit time” this winter. I got to live alone for four months. I liked it, but since I travel so much, it finally made sense to keep the place in use whenever I was on the road. It is in good use now. Her name is Melinda and she is one helluva new poet as well. She’s my homie and her being vegan is helping me eat less crap. Sort of. I would have a very hard time practicing veganism, but I can appreciate the values of it. I have always felt pescetarian in my own right, prefering seafood to red meat any day. I made vegan shepherd’s pie the other night and it ruled our faces.
KITCHEN SESSIONS
Being a lover of intimate poetry readings, I have wanted to hold something awesome in my house. I have always felt that some of the best audiences are small, familiar crowds–ones that get to sit very close, where no microphone is needed. I have performed spontaneously in hundreds of homes and apartments, but I have always wanted to host a regular night in my residence. When I brought this up to Melinda (who I am prone to call Minja), she was excited and all for it. When I head out on tour, she may run them.
Kitchen Sessions may become a monthly event. The format can be played with, but the crux of it will be focused on the invited, and likely, traveling feature. Someone not from Worcester. Since March, I have wanted Simone Beaubien to take on the first Kitchen Session. She is not only the super-organized slammaster for the Boston Cantab, but probably one of its best, and most under-appreciated poets. She really is a well-respected sweet nugget.
Since there are so many weekly events in Worcester, I couldn’t decide what night to hold KS regularly. Melinda hoped I would hold it on her nights off, Fridays or Sundays. Friday is always a weird day to hold poetry events, and Sundays are Poets’ Asylum, Worcester’s original open mic and slam. I asked Simone, and she was available on July 26. During our conversation, we realized that Poets’ Asylum usually ends around 9:00pm, giving ample time to hold another event right after. With PA’s venue being a “family cafe” there are limits on language, holding a KS right after PA will allow people to get their fill of fuck.
The first Kitchen Session will be hosted by Melinda and I at our house on Sunday, July 26, 2009 from approximately 9:30pm to 11:00pm.
We will invite three to four local poets to open the night with two new poems each (mandatorially new work!), then pass the kitchen over to Simone for the remaining time. This should give the featured poet up to an hour to bring out obscure works and really talk to the room.
I will make every attempt to webcast it on BlogTV or some equivalent streaming site. DJ Muse has offered to attempt a recording of the audio as well. This will take some work, but I am graciously accepting that offer.
There is no reason people cannot hold their own poetry house event. This is probably happening around the world, I just want to bring my kitchen to as many people as possible.
Considering the amount of venues that do AND could hold poetry events, versus the amount of HOMES that do AND could host poetry events, I believe homes win that battle. Imagine the beautiful intimacy of a poet spilling their guts, mingling with friends, then sleeping on the couch in the next room (if needed.)
If I ask everyone to bring a snack to share, a beverage to share, and $3 to $5 for the feature, then everyone’s full and the feature makes some cash.
My place ain’t huge, which is why I want to do this event. People will be free to move about the kitchen, and they should be able to hear the poet from the front porch to the livingroom without a microphone.
I won’t always be around to host these, which is why they’ll be monthly events at most, and probably never landing on the same day each month, but it feels good to have an event locked down and to debut it with such a strong feature. The scheduling will be a bit irregular, but when have I had a regular schedule since 2003?
Since my homie David Perez, one of my best friends (Team San Jo, what!?!), is dropping in for a visit after NPS in August, as is Lara Bozabailian from Toronto, I think Melinda and I have August locked up for Kitchen Session features. David and Lara don’t know this yet. I should tell them. Same with hosting Jack McCarthy in the fall. Oh, Jack, I love you so much…
With so many poets in my neighborhood, the local pool is so fantastic. There should be some wonderful things going on in my kitchen each month.
If you are sure to attend on July 26, please RSVP ASAP ROFLMAO CBS ABC JK TCB:
ILIKEMIKE at Google’s mail service, or send me a private Facebook message. Or talk to me tonight at Poets’ Asylum.
———
Word to the nerd.
This entry was written by , posted on 12 July, 2009 at 6:26 AM, filed under Writing and tagged gathering, intimate, july, kitchen-sessions, performance, poetry, snacks, spoken word, webcast. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
HOUSEMATE
I brought in a roommate to my house back in April. It made sense: I have two bedrooms, rent is cheap, and even cheaper with a second person added to the mix. I had my “hermit time” this winter. I got to live alone for four months. I liked it, but since I travel so much, it finally made sense to keep the place in use whenever I was on the road. It is in good use now. Her name is Melinda and she is one helluva new poet as well. She’s my homie and her being vegan is helping me eat less crap. Sort of. I would have a very hard time practicing veganism, but I can appreciate the values of it. I have always felt pescetarian in my own right, prefering seafood to red meat any day. I made vegan shepherd’s pie the other night and it ruled our faces.
KITCHEN SESSIONS
Being a lover of intimate poetry readings, I have wanted to hold something awesome in my house. I have always felt that some of the best audiences are small, familiar crowds–ones that get to sit very close, where no microphone is needed. I have performed spontaneously in hundreds of homes and apartments, but I have always wanted to host a regular night in my residence. When I brought this up to Melinda (who I am prone to call Minja), she was excited and all for it. When I head out on tour, she may run them.
Kitchen Sessions may become a monthly event. The format can be played with, but the crux of it will be focused on the invited, and likely, traveling feature. Someone not from Worcester. Since March, I have wanted Simone Beaubien to take on the first Kitchen Session. She is not only the super-organized slammaster for the Boston Cantab, but probably one of its best, and most under-appreciated poets. She really is a well-respected sweet nugget.
Since there are so many weekly events in Worcester, I couldn’t decide what night to hold KS regularly. Melinda hoped I would hold it on her nights off, Fridays or Sundays. Friday is always a weird day to hold poetry events, and Sundays are Poets’ Asylum, Worcester’s original open mic and slam. I asked Simone, and she was available on July 26. During our conversation, we realized that Poets’ Asylum usually ends around 9:00pm, giving ample time to hold another event right after. With PA’s venue being a “family cafe” there are limits on language, holding a KS right after PA will allow people to get their fill of fuck.
The first Kitchen Session will be hosted by Melinda and I at our house on Sunday, July 26, 2009 from approximately 9:30pm to 11:00pm.
We will invite three to four local poets to open the night with two new poems each (mandatorially new work!), then pass the kitchen over to Simone for the remaining time. This should give the featured poet up to an hour to bring out obscure works and really talk to the room.
I will make every attempt to webcast it on BlogTV or some equivalent streaming site. DJ Muse has offered to attempt a recording of the audio as well. This will take some work, but I am graciously accepting that offer.
There is no reason people cannot hold their own poetry house event. This is probably happening around the world, I just want to bring my kitchen to as many people as possible.
Considering the amount of venues that do AND could hold poetry events, versus the amount of HOMES that do AND could host poetry events, I believe homes win that battle. Imagine the beautiful intimacy of a poet spilling their guts, mingling with friends, then sleeping on the couch in the next room (if needed.)
If I ask everyone to bring a snack to share, a beverage to share, and $3 to $5 for the feature, then everyone’s full and the feature makes some cash.
My place ain’t huge, which is why I want to do this event. People will be free to move about the kitchen, and they should be able to hear the poet from the front porch to the livingroom without a microphone.
I won’t always be around to host these, which is why they’ll be monthly events at most, and probably never landing on the same day each month, but it feels good to have an event locked down and to debut it with such a strong feature. The scheduling will be a bit irregular, but when have I had a regular schedule since 2003?
Since my homie David Perez, one of my best friends (Team San Jo, what!?!), is dropping in for a visit after NPS in August, as is Lara Bozabailian from Toronto, I think Melinda and I have August locked up for Kitchen Session features. David and Lara don’t know this yet. I should tell them. Same with hosting Jack McCarthy in the fall. Oh, Jack, I love you so much…
With so many poets in my neighborhood, the local pool is so fantastic. There should be some wonderful things going on in my kitchen each month.
If you are sure to attend on July 26, please RSVP ASAP ROFLMAO CBS ABC JK TCB:
ILIKEMIKE at Google’s mail service, or send me a private Facebook message. Or talk to me tonight at Poets’ Asylum.
———
Word to the nerd.
Originally published at Mike McGee Town. You can comment here or there.
This entry was written by , posted on at 6:26 AM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged blackberry mobile post, events, gathering, ideas, intimate, july, kitchen-sessions, performance, poetry, snacks, spoken word, webcast, writing. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
And a happy June to everyone!
Summer approaches and so does our 24-Hour Summer Slumberfest 2009, the
second annual event I started with David Perez. It was born out of my half-assed December 2007 attempt to read poetry for 24 hours straight. I made it about 18-hours with a huge nap in the middle. Luckily, it lead us to a new idea.
Ten months later, David and I decided to replicate the event, but knew we had to open the mic to anyone that wanted to perform.
24-Hour Summer Slumberfest 2008 was a hit last September. MACLA, also the home of the San Jose Poetry Slam, was the perfect venue for such an endeavor. We had nearly 200 people stop by, and had a parliament of 30+ people most of the time. To take a nap at 3:30am, and to wake up an hour later to see that the crowd laying around you has grown is a sight to behold. It was indescribable fun to have such confirmation for the Slumberfest.
San Jose’s just the right setting for an event of this kind. The people want it–nay–need it and MACLA’s more than happy to pursue just about anything to promote art in all of its forms. It has been a purveyor of art for sometime now, and is the true home of spoken word in Silicon Valley. There is none higher.
Last year David mentioned his interest in bringing more international performers to the Slumberfest, and being a low-cost event, we certainly could not fly people out to attend. It’s quite literally a slumber party with a stage, a few mics, a pile of blankets, sleeping bags, pillows, food (all sorts!) and a couch or two.
But dammit! We live in Silicon Valley! We’re poets and artists who are also tech nerds. There must be something we can do to bring the world to MACLA.
SOLUTION: Skype + projector + wall + camera = INTERNATIONAL SLUMBERFEST!
If you think, “Man, this sounds like fun, but I can’t fly to San Jose, California (although you really should), but I do have a Skype account and I do have a webcam and I do have internet access and I do have poetry or music that is or isn’t mine and I do like the idea of reading it aloud…” Then you’re all set to be a part of the show! Join us from your very own country, province, state, cafe, school, bar
kitchen or bedroom.
We are signing people up for Skyping or those interested in just showing up to perform. Anyone outside of the United States will get priority with time slots. If you’re interested, look up the event listing on Facebook http://tinyurl.com/kpuwej, or comment here with the the general time slot you’re interested in.
Slumberfest 2009 runs from June 5 to June 6 – 6pm Friday to 6pm Saturday.
Slots may be less than 15 minutes, but not more than 15 minutes, depending on demand. The later the better. It will be easier to get a slot at 6am then at 11pm. Pay close attention to the difference in time between your time zone and Pacific Time.
http://www.timeanddate.com/
Examples:
“I am Joe Davis. I am a poet. I live in San Jose. I will attend in person. I would like to sign up between 6pm and 7:30pm. My email address is XGHKIG at HJJIY dot COM.” “Hey, Slumberers! I am Suzy. I live in the UK. I am a musician. I would like to play my songs over Skype sometime between 3am and 5am Pacific Time. You can reach me at SUZY at SUZY dot COM.”David and I will be working everything out for the rest of this week, and you will get a response with your time slot and explicit Skype instructions by Thursday, June 4 or the morning of June 5.
There will be lots of laying about, aside from David and I hosting and filling in empty slots on the mic. It is recommended that if you bring food or beverage, please bring enough to share.
NO BOOZE OR DRUGS. This is a clean event. We’d love for you to get high on life instead.
MACLA
510 South First Street, Between William and Reed in Dowtown San Jose
Free street parking after 6pm.
Meters in the daytime.
Suggested donation: 5 to 7 bucks.
Original time slotted was 7pm to 7pm, but scheduling forced us an hour ahead. It is 6pm to 6pm.
Various prizes and games for those who volunteer and stay the whole 24-hours.
Get plenty of rest beforehand and be sure to bring plenty of water if you intend to stay up.
We will attempt to webcast the event throughout, but due to issues in the past, we can make no promises. Check back to this blog throughout
the week for more info.
———
Word to the nerd.
This entry was written by , posted on 2 June, 2009 at 6:00 AM, filed under Podcast, Writing and tagged 2009, 24-hour, 24-Hour Open Mic, all night, barefoot coffee roasters, Bay Area, downtown, event, festival, live bands, live music, live performance, live poetry, macla, marathon, mike mcgee, Music, open mic, pillows, poet, poetry, san josé poetry slam, San-Jose-California, sleep over, sleeping bags, sleepover, slumber fest, slumber party, slumberfest, snacks, spoken, spoken word, summer, sweetness. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
And a happy June to everyone!
Summer approaches and so does our 24-Hour Summer Slumberfest 2009, the
second annual event I started with David Perez. It was born out of my half-assed December 2007 attempt to read poetry for 24 hours straight. I made it about 18-hours with a huge nap in the middle. Luckily, it lead us to a new idea.
Ten months later, David and I decided to replicate the event, but knew we had to open the mic to anyone that wanted to perform.
24-Hour Summer Slumberfest 2008 was a hit last September. MACLA, also the home of the San Jose Poetry Slam, was the perfect venue for such an endeavor. We had nearly 200 people stop by, and had a parliament of 30+ people most of the time. To take a nap at 3:30am, and to wake up an hour later to see that the crowd laying around you has grown is a sight to behold. It was indescribable fun to have such confirmation for the Slumberfest.
San Jose’s just the right setting for an event of this kind. The people want it–nay–need it and MACLA’s more than happy to pursue just about anything to promote art in all of its forms. It has been a purveyor of art for sometime now, and is the true home of spoken word in Silicon Valley. There is none higher.
Last year David mentioned his interest in bringing more international performers to the Slumberfest, and being a low-cost event, we certainly could not fly people out to attend. It’s quite literally a slumber party with a stage, a few mics, a pile of blankets, sleeping bags, pillows, food (all sorts!) and a couch or two.
But dammit! We live in Silicon Valley! We’re poets and artists who are also tech nerds. There must be something we can do to bring the world to MACLA.
SOLUTION: Skype + projector + wall + camera = INTERNATIONAL SLUMBERFEST!
If you think, “Man, this sounds like fun, but I can’t fly to San Jose, California (although you really should), but I do have a Skype account and I do have a webcam and I do have internet access and I do have poetry or music that is or isn’t mine and I do like the idea of reading it aloud…” Then you’re all set to be a part of the show! Join us from your very own country, province, state, cafe, school, bar
kitchen or bedroom.
We are signing people up for Skyping or those interested in just showing up to perform. Anyone outside of the United States will get priority with time slots. If you’re interested, look up the event listing on Facebook http://tinyurl.com/kpuwej, or comment here with the the general time slot you’re interested in.
Slumberfest 2009 runs from June 5 to June 6 – 6pm Friday to 6pm Saturday.
Slots may be less than 15 minutes, but not more than 15 minutes, depending on demand. The later the better. It will be easier to get a slot at 6am then at 11pm. Pay close attention to the difference in time between your time zone and Pacific Time.
http://www.timeanddate.com/
Examples:
“I am Joe Davis. I am a poet. I live in San Jose. I will attend in person. I would like to sign up between 6pm and 7:30pm. My email address is XGHKIG at HJJIY dot COM.” “Hey, Slumberers! I am Suzy. I live in the UK. I am a musician. I would like to play my songs over Skype sometime between 3am and 5am Pacific Time. You can reach me at SUZY at SUZY dot COM.”David and I will be working everything out for the rest of this week, and you will get a response with your time slot and explicit Skype instructions by Thursday, June 4 or the morning of June 5.
There will be lots of laying about, aside from David and I hosting and filling in empty slots on the mic. It is recommended that if you bring food or beverage, please bring enough to share.
NO BOOZE OR DRUGS. This is a clean event. We’d love for you to get high on life instead.
MACLA
510 South First Street, Between William and Reed in Dowtown San Jose
Free street parking after 6pm.
Meters in the daytime.
Suggested donation: 5 to 7 bucks.
Original time slotted was 7pm to 7pm, but scheduling forced us an hour ahead. It is 6pm to 6pm.
Various prizes and games for those who volunteer and stay the whole 24-hours.
Get plenty of rest beforehand and be sure to bring plenty of water if you intend to stay up.
We will attempt to webcast the event throughout, but due to issues in the past, we can make no promises. Check back to this blog throughout
the week for more info.
———
Word to the nerd.
Originally published at Mike McGee Town. You can comment here or there.
This entry was written by , posted on at 6:00 AM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged 2009, 24-hour, 24-Hour Open Mic, all night, barefoot coffee roasters, Bay Area, downtown, event, events, festival, ideas, live bands, live music, live performance, live poetry, macla, marathon, mike mcgee, Music, open mic, pillows, Podcast, poet, poetry, san josé poetry slam, San-Jose-California, sleep over, sleeping bags, sleepover, slumber fest, slumber party, slumberfest, snacks, spoken, spoken word, summer, sweetness, writing. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.