Just got back from another open mic night at the coffee shop down the street from my house. Have I told you yet that I love where I live?
Anyways, I’ll just make this post brief, but I really want to encourage you to attend an open mic somewhere in your city. I’m talking about the kind of open mic that spoken word artist show up at and share the most powerfully poetic prose you’ve ever witnessed. Words that are so real, so passionate, and so true they resonate in your mind and heart for days after. If you don’t know where one is, tell me what city you live in and I’ll help you find one.
This is what is so cool about the open mic in my neighborhood, it’s not only honest, but it’s extremely encouraging. I’ve seen such an array of people get up and share something that comes from their heart, and there is always clapping, always shouts of encouragement. It’s beautiful.
And it makes me want to try my hand at a spoken word piece. Spoken word is an art form. It’s performance poetry in a sense, but there is something deeper about it that creates in you a longing to be able to articulate and express yourself in similar ways.
Seeing as this is my playground and sandbox, you might have the opportunity to hear me experiment in spoken word sometime down the road. For now, complete your assignment.
Peace.
I used to attend one all the time, was one of the “draws” at one time…have not been to one in many many years thought..your enthusiasm has me thinking about getting back into it though
You were the ‘draw’?
Do you do spoken word?
I was one of the cats that people talked about and people brought to check out, even did an interview with the local paper…
I did spoken word, but also read from manuscripts
btw..what do you use to get youtube working on your blog?…i tried one widget but it did not work
Elkton, MD does not offer Open Mics.. unless you’re counting Karaoke night at the dive down the road from me. 🙂
My father in law has been helping out with a church hosting one up in Kensington, Philadelphia. I’ve been meaning to get up there, but I’m usually too tired on Friday nights to make the hour long trek up there (somewhere I must have got old along the way). Hopefully I’ll get up there sometime soon.
All right Mr. Open Mic finder…Fort Wayne, Indiana. Good Luck. We’re all counting on you.
Congrats on the book!
Josh,
I’m on it! I emailed some folks and will hopefully hear back soon. For now, here’s an interesting article from the Fort Wayne reader on the topic:
http://www.fortwaynereader.com/story.php?uid=783
Oh,
And here’s an event that will have some spoken word, but might just be
worth attending in general:
http://www.unityperformingarts.com/main.php?pg=UPAFevents
The History of a People, Volume One