Mike McGee ([info]mikemcgee) wrote,
@ 2008-09-04 22:31:00
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Entry tags:collaboration, ideas, open duets, performances, poets, tour/touring

An Idea for Spoken Word Performers

I came up with an idea, not sure if I did it independently, but I don’t know of any posting or discussion on it prior to this weekend.

I was hanging out in Chicago with many poetry friends and family and it occurred to me while hanging out with Joel Chmara, Robbie Q and Alvin Lau that I’ve always wanted to perform duets with them. I’ve actually considered preparing duets with many performance poets all over the spoken world.

So the idea is this: Any one writes any number of duets. Make them available online as scripts, with the parts designated for anyone; could be random or specific people in mind. Your part vs. anyone’s part. Any one could memorize the alternate part, then when the primary author gets to town, or the alternate performer is in the same locale as the primary author, they can do the poem anywhere.

The Sweet Nugget

© 2008 Mike McGee

MIKE: I like nuggets.

VOICE 2: I like sweetness.

MIKE: We could join them up to make…

BOTH: SWEET NUGGETS!

I like this idea a lot. Imagine a duet with Roger Bonair-Agard and Paulie Lipman. An ode to awesome things with Ken Arkind and Tony Brown. Patricia Smith and Rob “Ratpack Slim” Sturma rockin’ to childhood. The potential for collaborations are endless. Andrea Gibson and I remarking on love and ladies.

I’m sure somone has done this, but I’m thinking of collecting collaborative duets and posting them on my site.

I think I may post a not-oft-used duet I wrote with Shane Koyczan. That could be fun to do with almost anybody.

I think it could be such a nice addition to a poetry feature if I had a duet or two to do with a poet I have very little access to.

Thoughts?

–––––––––

Word to the nerd.

2008: Doing it!

Originally published at Mike McGee Town. You can comment here or there.


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[info]runthecops
2008-09-05 06:21 am UTC (link)
that sounds like an amazing idea
DO IT
i recommend having people take videos of the duet being performed and posting that alongside the script

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[info]needleinthehay6
2008-09-05 07:40 am UTC (link)
I think it's a splendid idea!

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Neat
[info]lv_prosewriter
2008-09-05 07:44 am UTC (link)
I am much more a fan of duets than entire ensembles.

This is a variation (at least I think so):

You could be on tour and have it known that at EVERY stop you have a duet that you do with someone from that scene. Same duet--different person every time. Might have to be a part that is sometimes read off paper? Person could be your choice, or the slammaster, or some people might event get into doing it as a contest--winner of a special slam or something.

Then after a tour, there might be a record of you doing the same piece with as many as 20 people. Could be interesting.

I think it's only a variation in the sense of having it be a publicized, set part of the feature on that tour. A sort of focus and highlight that would get buzz and people would look forward to. Can you imagine having a bunch of them posted on youtube--all the different versions and people?

I may just be elaborating on your general idea to begin with.

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Re: Neat
[info]nerak_g
2008-09-05 02:43 pm UTC (link)
That's A to the WE some, to gank from Mike.

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[info]shannyjean
2008-09-05 01:07 pm UTC (link)
WHAT A WENT-FOR-IT, DOING-IT IDEA!
I think it would also be interesting if the traveler wrote pieces with Blanks in it for the local yocals to fill in with their own voice.

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[info]cyn
2008-09-05 01:46 pm UTC (link)
Big Deal Silverberg & I did a groovy duet... he took my piece "Hippie" and wrote a second voice / counterpoint to it.

When we recite it we bounce back & forth so fast it's pretty amusing and about to go off the rails at any time.

yes - more people should do this!
even if it's read off the page and only rehearsed twice before the performance... it's something DIFFERENT. and that's nearly always good.

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[info]succulentpoet
2008-09-05 01:53 pm UTC (link)
Katie FS did two group pieces with local poets when she came through Vancouver. It was a pretty cool experience. We practiced a couple of nights beforehand until we were almost off-paper.

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[info]elliotharmon
2008-09-05 06:48 pm UTC (link)
Which poems? Katie's done totally badass remixes of "I Got a Haircut" with both Zedeka Poindexter and Paulie Lipman.

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[info]succulentpoet
2008-09-06 01:34 am UTC (link)
We did Sara Lihz Dobel's Single Breasted Sisters piece, and Katie's Test of the Emergency piece.

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[info]nerak_g
2008-09-05 02:45 pm UTC (link)
RAWK and YES!!!

Been having that idea back-burning in my head since last year & dreaming of such spin-offs happening around IWPS & WOW.

I ADORE this idea.

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[info]cherylmaddalena
2008-09-05 06:45 pm UTC (link)
Love it. We're planning to recreate a Minny poem when Cynthia is here, I love the idea of collaborating with more people who come through.

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[info]itsme_karyne
2008-09-05 06:52 pm UTC (link)
I don't know much about this stuff..but that sounds neat to me! I like how a lot of your post talk about ideas you have...and then I love how you actually do them! :)

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[info]mikemcgee
2008-09-05 08:50 pm UTC (link)
I am glad people are diggin the idea. I just hope people get to it.

Note: Spoke with Alvin Lau this morning. He says he mentioned an idea like this to me some time ago. I don't doubt it. It's weird how an idea will enter the brain and fester until it goes away or ferments into something that makes you drunk with creativity.

Thanks for the drunk, Alvin.

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[info]spillogical
2008-09-06 03:36 am UTC (link)
sounds like a keeno, mr mcgizzle! hehehe...*imagining me and roger doing song for Trent Lott"...giggles

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