"Mighty" Mike McGee's Electronic Place of Himself.
Typings of a well-traveled, talky, funny, hobo-poet.
David Perez & I are at it again!
Our 3rd Annual Summer Slumberfest is coming to San Jose on Friday-Saturday, June 25-26.
It’s a 24-hour open mic, slumber party, jamboree! You can slumber with us in San Jose or Skype in.
Join the Facebook group here AND visit my Slumberfest 2010 page for more info.
———
Word to the nerd.
This entry was written by , posted on 4 June, 2010 at 7:45 AM, filed under Uncategorized and tagged david perez, open mic, slumber party, slumberfest, summer. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
With all the various poetry slams gearing up for the National Poetry Slam in St. Paul this August (National Poetry Slam), I have been thinking about two ideas involving summertime and slam.
I haven’t been a member of a national poetry slam team since 2004. Seems ages ago. I love most aspects of slam, but I really love the politics and strategy that build up around the events leading to NPS. Ekabhumi and I can chat on the phone for hours and hours on the enigma that becomes poetry slam’s social ramifications.
We’ve joyously discussed (not always agreeing on) every part of what it means to
1) prepare to get on a team
2) ready the whole team while maintaining individual identities
3) strategize in ways that benefits EVERYBODY as best as possible
Poetry slam is not my favorite game. Until the day it limits itself to a square board with letter tiles and word scores, it will only ever be my favorite human sport.
But I do thoroughly enjoy it. In my limited team and individual coaching experience, I have seen numerous positive results — statistically and socially — when performance poets actually listen to me.
In my opinion, NPS is the super bowl of poetry slam (not my words, but I agree), so I firmly stand by the notion that those coming to play the game should play to win, while maintaining a positive outlook on growth, character and art. It’s not easy.
I enjoy the coaching side of poetry slam very much, but I rarely have much time for it.
SUMMER RETREAT IDEAS
IDEA #1
By July, most poetry slam teams know who they’re up against in NPS bouts. By July, I know most of the poets in those bouts. A team makes their way to my house in July. They bring edibles for the whole weekend and we cook and discuss strategy and work on performance. I will book a Kitchen Session for that weekend and they will sign up to read.
It will be mostly conversation.
IDEA #2
Same as above, only I fly to them and spend the weekend in their city. No gigs, just working out kinks and offering ideas.
Either way, I don’t want to make money off of a team, but I don’t want to lose money either. Idea #1 would require team travel. Idea #2 would require a travel ticket for me in which I do not want to pay for.
Idea #2 is easier because I wouldn’t have to limit it to July. If your team is selected in April, and you want my help, that might be possible. I have such a nutty schedule as it is, it would help if I am already coming to your region to perform anyway.
I guess if you know I am coming, and have a team preparing for NPS, or a poet prepping for WoW or IWPS, gimme a holler. I may be down to help.
I love the game, but I love even more the game that happens off stage. It’s probably the most important strategy few poets ever consider before the big game.
———
Word to the nerd.
This entry was written by , posted on 9 May, 2010 at 9:39 AM, filed under Uncategorized and tagged coaching, discussion, performance, retreat, summer, Worcester-Massachusetts. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
With all the various poetry slams gearing up for the National Poetry Slam in St. Paul this August (National Poetry Slam), I have been thinking about two ideas involving summertime and slam.
I haven’t been a member of a national poetry slam team since 2004. Seems ages ago. I love most aspects of slam, but I really love the politics and strategy that build up around the events leading to NPS. Ekabhumi and I can chat on the phone for hours and hours on the enigma that becomes poetry slam’s social ramifications.
We’ve joyously discussed (not always agreeing on) every part of what it means to
1) prepare to get on a team
2) ready the whole team while maintaining individual identities
3) strategize in ways that benefits EVERYBODY as best as possible
Poetry slam is not my favorite game. Until the day it limits itself to a square board with letter tiles and word scores, it will only ever be my favorite human sport.
But I do thoroughly enjoy it. In my limited team and individual coaching experience, I have seen numerous positive results — statistically and socially — when performance poets actually listen to me.
In my opinion, NPS is the super bowl of poetry slam (not my words, but I agree), so I firmly stand by the notion that those coming to play the game should play to win, while maintaining a positive outlook on growth, character and art. It’s not easy.
I enjoy the coaching side of poetry slam very much, but I rarely have much time for it.
SUMMER RETREAT IDEAS
IDEA #1
By July, most poetry slam teams know who they’re up against in NPS bouts. By July, I know most of the poets in those bouts. A team makes their way to my house in July. They bring edibles for the whole weekend and we cook and discuss strategy and work on performance. I will book a Kitchen Session for that weekend and they will sign up to read.
It will be mostly conversation.
IDEA #2
Same as above, only I fly to them and spend the weekend in their city. No gigs, just working out kinks and offering ideas.
Either way, I don’t want to make money off of a team, but I don’t want to lose money either. Idea #1 would require team travel. Idea #2 would require a travel ticket for me in which I do not want to pay for.
Idea #2 is easier because I wouldn’t have to limit it to July. If your team is selected in April, and you want my help, that might be possible. I have such a nutty schedule as it is, it would help if I am already coming to your region to perform anyway.
I guess if you know I am coming, and have a team preparing for NPS, or a poet prepping for WoW or IWPS, gimme a holler. I may be down to help.
I love the game, but I love even more the game that happens off stage. It’s probably the most important strategy few poets ever consider before the big game.
———
Word to the nerd.
Originally published at Mike McGee Town. You can comment here or there.
This entry was written by , posted on at 9:39 AM, filed under Poetry Slam Events and tagged coaching, discussion, ideas, performance, retreat, summer, Worcester-Massachusetts. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
David Perez and I are planning for the 2010 San Jose Summer Slumberfest this summer. We’re looking at at Friday-Saturday in August.
Anyone interested in helping, commuting, or being a part of it this year?
Anyone interested in holding their own Slumberfest this summer? I may be able to come help put one on with you.
Slumberfest is a 25-hour spoken word, poetry and music event broken up into 100 15-minute slots where people can sign up to use the mic for a full 15 minutes for whatever performative purpose they wish to express. Attendees bring pillows, snacks, blankets and pajamas and spend the night in the venue. The idea is to have nearly no dead air on the mic for 25 hours. Slumberfest rules!
———
Word to the nerd.
This entry was written by , posted on 31 March, 2010 at 4:51 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged 2010, slumberfest, summer. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
David Perez and I are planning for the 2010 San Jose Summer Slumberfest this summer. We’re looking at at Friday-Saturday in August.
Anyone interested in helping, commuting, or being a part of it this year?
Anyone interested in holding their own Slumberfest this summer? I may be able to come help put one on with you.
Slumberfest is a 25-hour spoken word, poetry and music event broken up into 100 15-minute slots where people can sign up to use the mic for a full 15 minutes for whatever performative purpose they wish to express. Attendees bring pillows, snacks, blankets and pajamas and spend the night in the venue. The idea is to have nearly no dead air on the mic for 25 hours. Slumberfest rules!
———
Word to the nerd.
Originally published at Mike McGee Town. You can comment here or there.
This entry was written by , posted on at 4:51 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged 2010, Ideas & Projects, slumberfest, summer. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
Quite a lonely place.
SWEET NUGGET
1. I am writing.
2. My roommate is rad.
3. Lots of relaxation.
4. Opportunities to cook for us both, and other hungry friends.
5. Dave Perez and Lara Bozabalian are coming to stay. Possibly my friend Art Flowers as well.
6. My porch.
7. Worcester poets.
8. Kitchen Sessions with Simone Beaubien.
SHIT NUGGETS
1. Loneliness.
2. Surfing the net aimlessly.
3. Too many projects. Little direction. No focus. Road withdrawal. (This may be due to three months on the road. Like a quit smoker not knowing what to do with their hands.)
4. Bills. I think I spent so many years touring and forgot about how easy it is to spend money. I don’t buy meals for friends as often. Suxabit.
I think touring is the best thing a poet can do. I want to help everyone, but it’s hard to keep up-to-date on email and such. People write me seeking help and I have a difficult time being motivated once I get off the road.
Most poets ask me when they should tour and I always want to ask if they’re a “professional” or a “hobbyist.” Hobbyists are the regulars that perform up to 6 times a month. They may buy traveling poet merch and support a local scene. They may “go out” for a slam team, but they usually aren’t willing to cut themselves free from a solid paycheck. It’s scary, but very necessary.
I will write more about this later. Gotta go through security here at Logan.
Florida, here I come. Sorry it took so long.
———
Word.
This entry was written by , posted on 22 July, 2009 at 2:17 AM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged 2009, Love, summer. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
Quite a lonely place.
SWEET NUGGET
1. I am writing.
2. My roommate is rad.
3. Lots of relaxation.
4. Opportunities to cook for us both, and other hungry friends.
5. Dave Perez and Lara Bozabalian are coming to stay. Possibly my friend Art Flowers as well.
6. My porch.
7. Worcester poets.
8. Kitchen Sessions with Simone Beaubien.
SHIT NUGGETS
1. Loneliness.
2. Surfing the net aimlessly.
3. Too many projects. Little direction. No focus. Road withdrawal. (This may be due to three months on the road. Like a quit smoker not knowing what to do with their hands.)
4. Bills. I think I spent so many years touring and forgot about how easy it is to spend money. I don’t buy meals for friends as often. Suxabit.
I think touring is the best thing a poet can do. I want to help everyone, but it’s hard to keep up-to-date on email and such. People write me seeking help and I have a difficult time being motivated once I get off the road.
Most poets ask me when they should tour and I always want to ask if they’re a “professional” or a “hobbyist.” Hobbyists are the regulars that perform up to 6 times a month. They may buy traveling poet merch and support a local scene. They may “go out” for a slam team, but they usually aren’t willing to cut themselves free from a solid paycheck. It’s scary, but very necessary.
I will write more about this later. Gotta go through security here at Logan.
Florida, here I come. Sorry it took so long.
———
Word.
Originally published at Mike McGee Town. You can comment here or there.
This entry was written by , posted on at 2:17 AM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged 2009, blackberry mobile post, Love, personal updates, summer. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
After my UCF gig in Orlando on July 22, I am staying another day to perform at the Orlando Team Fundraiser, “Showdown in O-Town.” I have never been to a Florida poetry slam. It’s about damn time.
This show sounds like a great time! I am excited!
Here are all of the details for the show sent to me by the one and only Mr. J. Bradley:
Thursday, July 23 at The Cameo Theatre (located in the old Cruises Only building – 1013 E. Colonial Drive), Team Orlando 2009 will face off against three other teams packed with amazing poets in a National Poetry Slam style bout where, after four rounds, one team will win the first ever Showdown in O-Town. Our teams are so far:
Team Orlando 2009: Shawn Welcome, Curtis Meyer, Ronin, MyVerse, Alex Ruiz – the most talented team Orlando will ever throw at the National Poetry Slam thus far. This is an amazing mix of accomplished poets and hungry newcomers who will rock your faces off with their poetic might.
Team Slamazon: Kendra Corrie, Dani O., Veronica Smith, Holly Riggs – this team features both winners of the 2009 Fringe Poetry Smackdown (who both won with 30s), a 2009 Smackdown runner up, and a poetic leviathan emerging from the depths. This team is fierce. They will destroy you with their verse, then wear your skin like a pelt.
Team Payback: Tod Caviness, Trevor Fraiser, Tam Tam the Sandwich Man, Alex Vega – all these poets were part of the Broken Speech Post-Season and they seek vengenance on Team Orlando for denying them from representing the City Beautiful.
Team Pandemonium : Chaz Yorick, Lilly, Michael Sloan, Zachary Kluckman – this team is the ultimate wildcard. We can only speculate the mayhem this mysterious group can cause.
Kicking off the night will be Mighty Mike McGee, the only poet to hold the individual National Poetry Slam and World Poetry Slam titles.
These teams will face Team Orlando at the Showdown in O-Town in an epic bout never seen before in the City Beautiful…until now.
Wanna hear the best part? You can see this National Poetry Slam bout for just $5. $5 to see amazing poetry. $5 to get your face rocked so far off, you can put it on a wall as a trophy to tell your grandchildren about that time poetry rocked your face off on this night. For your $5, you not only get to witness awesome poetry but get your name thrown in the hat for a door prize: a $25 gift card to Urban Think, Orlando’s only independent book store. All proceeds go to Team Orlando 2009.
The Showdown in O-Town is proudly sponsored by Stardust Video & Coffee, our home venue, Park Ave CDs, Seven Sisters Coffee, and Urban Think.
This entry was written by , posted on 16 July, 2009 at 10:46 AM, filed under Travel and tagged florida, live performance, orlando, Performance Poetry and Spoken Word, poetry, spoken word, summer, sweetness, Team Orlando 2009, university of central florida. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
After my UCF gig in Orlando on July 22, I am staying another day to perform at the Orlando Team Fundraiser, “Showdown in O-Town.” I have never been to a Florida poetry slam. It’s about damn time.
This show sounds like a great time! I am excited!
Here are all of the details for the show sent to me by the one and only Mr. J. Bradley:
Thursday, July 23 at The Cameo Theatre (located in the old Cruises Only building – 1013 E. Colonial Drive), Team Orlando 2009 will face off against three other teams packed with amazing poets in a National Poetry Slam style bout where, after four rounds, one team will win the first ever Showdown in O-Town. Our teams are so far:
Team Orlando 2009: Shawn Welcome, Curtis Meyer, Ronin, MyVerse, Alex Ruiz – the most talented team Orlando will ever throw at the National Poetry Slam thus far. This is an amazing mix of accomplished poets and hungry newcomers who will rock your faces off with their poetic might.
Team Slamazon: Kendra Corrie, Dani O., Veronica Smith, Holly Riggs – this team features both winners of the 2009 Fringe Poetry Smackdown (who both won with 30s), a 2009 Smackdown runner up, and a poetic leviathan emerging from the depths. This team is fierce. They will destroy you with their verse, then wear your skin like a pelt.
Team Payback: Tod Caviness, Trevor Fraiser, Tam Tam the Sandwich Man, Alex Vega – all these poets were part of the Broken Speech Post-Season and they seek vengenance on Team Orlando for denying them from representing the City Beautiful.
Team Pandemonium : Chaz Yorick, Lilly, Michael Sloan, Zachary Kluckman – this team is the ultimate wildcard. We can only speculate the mayhem this mysterious group can cause.
Kicking off the night will be Mighty Mike McGee, the only poet to hold the individual National Poetry Slam and World Poetry Slam titles.
These teams will face Team Orlando at the Showdown in O-Town in an epic bout never seen before in the City Beautiful…until now.
Wanna hear the best part? You can see this National Poetry Slam bout for just $5. $5 to see amazing poetry. $5 to get your face rocked so far off, you can put it on a wall as a trophy to tell your grandchildren about that time poetry rocked your face off on this night. For your $5, you not only get to witness awesome poetry but get your name thrown in the hat for a door prize: a $25 gift card to Urban Think, Orlando’s only independent book store. All proceeds go to Team Orlando 2009.
The Showdown in O-Town is proudly sponsored by Stardust Video & Coffee, our home venue, Park Ave CDs, Seven Sisters Coffee, and Urban Think.
Originally published at Mike McGee Town. You can comment here or there.
This entry was written by , posted on at 10:46 AM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged events, florida, orlando, Performance Poetry and Spoken Word, poetry, spoken word, summer, sweetness, Team Orlando 2009, tour/touring, Travel, university of central florida. 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.