Mike McGee's Journal

Twitter Updates for 2009-11-12

2009-11-12T09:57:00Z

No show tonight. Heading to the East Bay from Reno with the boys. #
In Reno. Night off. East Bay bound. Stopping by the Berkeley Poetry Slam with Anis Mojgani and Derrick Brown. We'll be there to party. #

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

Twitter Updates for 2009-11-10

2009-11-10T09:52:38Z

Revival show tonight was fun. It feels so great to be back in the van with the boys. It feels just as great to be back in California. Golly! #

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

Twitter Updates for 2009-11-09

2009-11-09T09:53:11Z

Fly to Long Beach, CA today. Join the Revival w/Buddy, Anis and Derrick. Mucho missing both my homes. Love ya, Silicon Valley and Worcester. #

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

Twitter Updates for 2009-11-08

2009-11-08T09:55:06Z

Updated performance schedule: http://www.mikemcgee.net #

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

Twitter Updates for 2009-11-07

2009-11-07T09:53:51Z

My love of coffee (especially Barefoot; Silicon Valley) I am determined to find the best in each town. So I sit at Stumptown in Portland… #

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

MY UPCOMING PERFORMANCE DATES

2009-11-06T19:38:01Z

NOTE: All bold events through 11/20/09 are with The Elephant Engine High Dive Revival (Derrick Brown, Anis Mojgani and Buddy Wakefield.)

Sun Nov 8
Santa Margarita Catholic High School
Time of Show: 7:00 pm
GYMNASIUM
22062 Antonio Parkway
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
$5 donation

Tue Nov 10
Student Union
University of Nevada
1500 N. Virginia
Reno, NV
7pm
Free

Wed Nov 11
Main Theatre
Dominican University
50 Acacia Avenue, San Rafael, CA
Free for students, $10 for general
8PM all ages

Mon Nov 16
Kilworth Chapel
Puget Sound College
Puget Sound, WA
N. 18th and Warner St., Tacoma, WA, 98416
Free for students, $5 for general

Tue Nov 17
Lewis and Clark
0615 SW Palatine Hill Rd Portland, OR
97219.,
Student Union Auditorium
8PM, all ages, FREE

Wed Nov 18
Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA,
Details TBA

Thu Nov 19
Whatcom Community College, Syre Auditorium
237 West Kellogg, Bellingham WA 98226
7:30pm

Fri Nov 20
Reed College
Reed College’s Kaul Auditorium
3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland OR
8:30pm

Wed November 25: Berkeley, California; Berzerkely Poetry Slam “Annual Pre-Thanksgiving Mike McGee/Sock Puppet Slam” at the Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Ave. Sign up: 7:30pm

Wed December 2: Albuquerque, NM; Poetry & Beer, Blackbird Buvette, 509 Central NW. Sign up at 7:30pm.

Mon December 14: Vancouver, B.C.; Van Slam, Café Deux Soleils, 2096 Commercial Drive.

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

Twitter Updates for 2009-11-06

2009-11-06T09:51:15Z

My lovely people of Honolulu. My good man Ed Mabrey is featuring tonight during Hawaii Slam at Pipeline Cafe. Go love him. Say hey for me! #

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

Twitter Updates for 2009-11-05

2009-11-05T09:56:20Z

Touring Project: if you have ever gigged, please consider filling out my survey here: http://mikemcgee.livejournal.com/194003.html #
Who's following me here and on Facebook simultaneously? Does my message duplication bother you? #
Sweet Word: gallivant – "wander aimlessly in search of pleasure" #
I think I'll be deleting my Twitter account very soon. If you wish to stay updated on my where-why-whenabouts: http://www.mikemcgee.net #

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

Twitter Updates for 2009-11-04

2009-11-04T09:52:07Z

Performing tonight in Idaho. Women Of Steel Gallery; 3640 W. Chinden Blvd. Garden City, ID 83714. Workshop: 6pm. Poetry Slam: 7pm. #
Flying into Portland, OR on Friday morning. Real early. Would like to make hang with peeps free to gallavant until the afternoon or evening. #

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

Mike McGee's "Touring Quest-ionnaire!"

2009-11-03T21:08:59Z

In my ever-growing quest to get people on the road, I have come up with a survey. Please, if you know a performer (NOT limited to poets) looking to tour or has toured, send this to them and have them respond to it as a comment or send it to me at ilikemike at g mail with the subject: "Completed Gigging Survey." I will use some of this information for a project later. I may also re-post this information on my website's How-To page.

My definition of a bare-minimum tour: More than a week of continuous travel between a minimum of two states/provinces, with no less than five gigs performed, each one being at least 30 miles apart from the last, thus having traveled at least 150 miles with no return home during the tour. Anyone who has experienced this or more, please feel free to respond to the survey.

I am initially seeking a little more transparency in gigging (touring; traveling outside of your home region to perform for audiences) and to help debunk a lot of the myth with regard to it so that more people will consider it as an option with their poetry experience.

Here's what I want to know from touring people and the people who know them well enough to answer each question factually. Please use the corresponding letter-number when answering if not copying over each question:

A. FOR THOSE NOT TOURED
a1. If you have considered touring, but have yet to embark on a trip, what has/is stopping you?
a2. What would lure you onto the road?

B. FOR ORGANIZERS OF POETRY EVENTS
b1. What poetry event do you organize?
b2. What do you look for in a featured performer/poet?
b3. Is their notability a factor in booking them? When is it not?
b4. What is your rate of pay for featured performers/poets?
b5. What do you expect from a poet professionally?

C. FOR THE CURIOUS
c1. What questions would you ask of an experienced traveling performer?

D. FOR THOSE TOURED
d1. Have you toured more than once?
d2. How long did your tour last? What is an ideal length for you?
d3. What type of venues did you play? How many?
d4. What year was your first tour?
d5. How many times have you toured since?
d6. How many tours would you say you broke even, lost money, or made money?
d7. What was your poetry, slam, comedy or music experience prior to your first tour?
d8. How many people have you toured with? Explain.
d9. What are your best memories from touring?
d10. Did you keep a job during any of your touring (was your tour during a break/vacation from work)?
d11. Would you tour again? What would you do differently?
d12. What was/were your primary method(s) of travel?
d13. What was your favorite venue? Which city did you enjoy the most? (May very easily be two different places.)
d14. What was your goal in touring?
d15. Would you consider a long-term career in touring your craft?
d16. Do you consider what you do on stage a craft?
d17. What has been your longest performance? (Marathon events and planned all-nighters not included.)
d18. Are you published or recorded professionally? Who released your product? (Not including any self-made merchandise.)
d19. Does this company support your tours? Do they promote you and your travels, gigs and appearances?
d20. What has been your longest gap between tours?
d21. How do you feel when you are touring? How do you feel when you are not?
d22. When is your favorite time of year to tour? Least?
d23. What was your worst experience on the road?
d24. Ever had to cancel a show? What were your reasons for doing so?
d25. Ever had a show canceled you were booked for? What were the circumstances for cancellation? How did it affect the rest of your tour?
d26. Ever been stranded in a town where you knew nobody? Why?
d27. What is your ideal tour? Explain.
d28. Where do you stay on the road?
d29. What's your usually daily budget on the road?
d30. What do you carry with you? Your must haves.
d31. How many bags, including merchandise?
d32. Do you create your own merchandise? What do you make for sale?
d33. What are your average nightly sales? What was your biggest sale?
d34. Smallest crowd you did a full set for? Largest? How did they feel?
d35. Most surprisingly attentive audience? Reactive? Best?
d36. Most unexpected result from touring?
d37. Biggest learning lesson from touring?
d38. Longest stay in one place for a gig?
d39. How did you book your tour? Did people vouch for you? Have you vouched for others? Have you regretted it?
d40. What is the most money you've ever been paid for a performance? (ONLY if it is under $1,001, otherwise, just state "Over $1,001") Has this been consistent?
d41. What questions are you asked most on the road while touring by non-performers? New-performers?
d42. How many shows have you done for free? Why did you do them? (Not including product sales)

E. FOR POETS SPECIFICALLY
e1. How do you label yourself when seeking gigs to people who don't know you, in your bio, or to your non-poetry friends and family? (Ex. poetry slammer, spoken word artist, Talky McTalkerson, slam poet, poet, funny poet...et cetera.) Why? Is this important?
e2. Do you use a stage name? If so: Why? Has is been a benefit? Has this hindered your ability to get published? Has it kept you from getting gigs outside of poetry slam? If you were offered a gig/publishing deal, but only if you were use your real name, would you take it?
e3. Ever toured with a group? Slam team? Duo? What were they called and do they/you still work together? Was this easier or harder than gigging alone?
e4. Have you competed in poetry slams? If so, has your involvement in poetry slam hindered your ability to book readings/gigs? Has it been a benefit?
e5. How do you view the relationship between poetry slams and being a touring poet?
e6. Do you enter into poetry slams or competitions anymore? Why or why not?
e7. Do you prefer open mic or poetry slam features? Give details.
e8. Do you view yourself a professional poet? Why?
e9. Who are your biggest influences in writing? Performance? Touring? Humanity?
e10. What are your short-term goals? Long-term?
e40. Are you a bad-ass Bay Area rapper?
---------
Word to the road nerd.

Twitter Updates for 2009-11-03

2009-11-03T09:54:12Z

I rarely watch NFL, but just happened to turn on the last quarter of ATL in New Orleans and, wow, this is a pretty exciting game. Go Saints! #
Oh, and, Go Phillies! #

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

Twitter Updates for 2009-11-02

2009-11-02T09:52:01Z

Kentucky. Last time I was here, I was born. We moved back to California for better hospitals. And to get away from KY. That was Feb '76. #
If I get to be elderly, I wanna be the old guy at the airport information desk. I'd probably greet erebody with "Howdy!" I'd also be Santa. #
Landed. Boise. Home of my Ladies of Slam. Gonna chill here for a few days, then off to Portland, Oregon. #

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

Twitter Updates for 2009-11-01

2009-11-01T09:56:46Z

Happy Holloweenie, nerds! #

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

Twitter Updates for 2009-10-30

2009-10-30T10:52:44Z

Riding now with Mark Palos to the Bowery Poetry Club in NYC. Gonna see Ladson! Gonna meet Lulu. Gonna hug Rachel. Gonna get her new book. <3 #

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

Twitter Updates for 2009-10-28

2009-10-28T10:58:24Z

Just chatting with friends about how effing rad Betty White is. I love her. I adore Betty White. Betty White is a vulgar genius of comedy. #

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

Twitter Updates for 2009-10-26

2009-10-26T10:54:02Z

I will be in NYC on Tuesday for Indiefeed's first ever live podcast show. http://bit.ly/1vz666 #
I just got an invite for Google Wave. Can anyone explain what it is? #

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

Twitter Updates for 2009-10-21

2009-10-21T10:52:37Z

This Friday: Kitchen Session #5 with Jack McCarthy. Seek my Kitchen Sessions Group on FB. Add yourself if you're interested in attending. #
My Jams: "Philipino Box Spring Hog"-Tom Waits. "West Coast" by Coconut Records. "The Vowels, Pt. 2"-Why?. "Private Dancer"-We Got Action. #
Hello, Massachusetts. #

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

Home and Home

2009-10-20T21:33:22Z

Things are changing dramatically for my family in Silicon Valley. My mom has been in the tech field there since I was six months old and she was 20. She's been unemployed since January. So she went to school and graduates this Friday as a certified flobotomist. She passed her written test on 09/24, her 54th birthday. I am very proud of her. Now it looks as though she'll be moving much further north in California. A beautiful area, but a long drive to the Bay Area. I am so impressed by what my mother has accomplished. She is so rad.

This puts two of my sisters in a small bind, as they now must move in with other siblings of ours. I know they will be fine, it's just big brother worries.

I am proud of my family. I love them all so much. My cousin Daniel became a father last month as well. So many new bebes in our brood. I am very happy for him as well.

Christina, the third oldest of my womb-mates, just bought a house with her husband. It is at least an hour drive from Silicon Valley. I am ecstatic for them and their family.

This all means that my life-crew is spreading out a bit further. I was the first to branch out on the road, then into a house in Worcester.

I am one of the luckiest men I know. I have a fantastically generous and loving family. Whenever I leave the Bay Area, I am on the verge of tears. But now, I long to see my Worcester family as well. I love having them in my life. Daily life, that is.

I want my given family to know my chosen family and vice versa.

I feel lucky that I get to say I am heading home no matter which direction I am moving.

Do me a favor: Introduce me to your families. I really want to meet them all.
---------
Word to the nerd.

Twitter Updates for 2009-10-19

2009-10-19T11:01:58Z

Will be back in the Bay for my annual Berkeley Slam feature, night before Thnxgvg. I wanna plan a Leftovers Dinner the day after Thnxgvg. #

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

Twitter Updates for 2009-10-18

2009-10-18T10:51:25Z

Heading to Pruneyard to hang at 6pm tonight. If you're near Campbell, please come hang like old times. I wanna take over the cafe again. #
Making party-hang in San Jose. Come hang. Never too late. #

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

Twitter Updates for 2009-10-17

2009-10-17T10:52:55Z

Going to San Francisco tonight to see Anthony R. Miller's "Zombie: The Musical." http://zombiemusicalsf.com #

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

Twitter Updates for 2009-10-13

2009-10-13T10:55:16Z

I am hosting the San Jose Poetry Slam tonight: 510 South First Street, Downtown. Sign up at 7:30pm. Show at 8:00pm. Featuring Rob Sturma. #
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving to everybody, but especially my Canadian family up north. I love you and am very grateful for your friendship. #
http://twitpic.com/lbdrf – Barefoot Coffee #

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

Twitter Updates for 2009-10-11

2009-10-11T10:54:16Z

IWPS 2009 FINAL RANKS
4. 6 is 9
3. Rudy Francisco
2. Iyeoka Ivie Okoawo
1. Amy Everhart #

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

IWPS 2009 FINAL RANKINGS

2009-10-11T06:26:18Z

4. 6 is 9
3. Rudy Francisco
2. Iyeoka Ivie Okoawo
1. Amy Everhart

Finalists and Pictures

2009-10-11T00:56:38Z

2009 IWPS Finalists (from ekabhumi )

The Original Woman
Theo Wilson
Alvin Lau
Amy Everheart
William Evans
Kim Johnson
Iyeoka Ivie Okoawo
Tara Hardy
Sierra DeMulder
Rudy Francisco
6 is 9
Ed Mabrey

Not a shabby list!

I will be emceeing these peeps. Should be fun.

As for pics of the last few days, I've uploaded a few hundred to Facebook. You should be logged in to see them.
–––––––––
Reporting live from 2009 IWPS
Berkeley, California