The Mad Poets Blog

Please join us this Wednesday, March 9, 2011, 6:30 to 8:30 pm for the Mad Poets monthly critique circle in Media, Pa. We will again be at our temporary location directly across the street from the Coffee Club. We’ll be at:

Harris & Smith
211 W. State Street
Media, PA 19063
(in the Media Town Mall, first floor)

As always, we’ll read and hear cool poetry and enjoy the companionship of other local  writers.  We have some aMAZingly talented writers around here — come feast your ears.

I know that 6:30 is a bit early for some of you — please come a little late if need be.  You are always welcome whenever you can get there. We will, however, start promptly at 6:30.  When you arrive, have a seat, wait for the discussion in progress to end, then we will catch you up with copies of our poems, and pass around copies of yours.

Critique Circle participants follow these guidelines:

1. Turn off cell phones, or switch to silent mode.
2. Refrain from interrupting/holding side conversations. One speaker at a time, please.
3. Speak up loud enough so that everyone can hear you.
4. Be open to constructive suggestions.  Don’t argue, don’t defend, just LISTEN.

There is plenty of FREE street parking in Media in the evening, so don’t feed the meters.

Bring 10 copies of one of your own poems-in-progress for constructive, fresh, and friendly ideas on how to strengthen it.  We read each poem out loud and discuss it.  You are also welcome to attend without a poem of your own, to just listen.

We “pass the hat” (actually, the mayonnaise jar) for MPS programs and publications.  Eileen D’Angelo, Director of the Mad Poets Society, uses these funds to help defray mailing, publication, and event costs for MPS.  Our collective donations have made us one of the “Arts Angels” supporting MPS.  If you cannot afford a $1 or $2 donation this month, don’t worry about it …  no one keeps track of who gives what when.

Not exactly a week in preview, since it’s Tuesday — almost Wednesday at this point. Luckily, we haven’t missed anything good yet!

Here’s what we’ve got coming up:

Wed, Oct 13th, 6:30pm: MPS Critique Circle at the Coffee Club in Media, Pa., facilitated by Amy Laub. Bring 15 copies of one of your own poems that is “under construction,” for roundtable critique & discussion. Free & open to public.

Thurs, Oct 14th, 7pm: St. Skribbly Lacroix & Stephanie Durann at Milkboy Acoustic Cafe in Bryn Mawr, Pa., hosted by Autumn Konopka. The featured reading is followed by our open mic — and the last opportunity to read for the open mic contest & shoot for a featured slot in November.

Sat, Oct 16th, 7pm: Aaren Perry & Therese Halscheid read for Otherwise – Poetry at Churchill, in Pottstown, Pa., hosted by Glenn McLaughlin. Featured readings followed by an open mic — and the last chance for the contest spot at Churchill’s. Note: This reading was postponed from last week. So if you thought you missed it, you’ve got a second chance!

It’s a busy week, so I’ll skip all the witty preamble and get straight to the particulars. I’ll post more on each reading throughout the week. Be sure to follow us on twitter (@MadPoetsSociety) so you’re in the know.

Tues., Oct. 5th, 7-10pm: Open mic for poets & musicians at Steel City Coffeehouse in Phoenixville, hosted by Stu O’Connor and Mary Kathryn Morgeneier. Sign up at 6:30pm.

Wed., Oct. 6th, 7pm: Potpourri of Poetry, a new MPS series at the Park House Cafe in Ridley Park. The debut reading will feature Dave Worrell, followed by an open mic. This reading is free & open to the public. Hosted by Camelia Nocella.

Thurs., Oct. 7th, 7pm: Book party for Bill Van Buskirk, winner of the Mad Poets’ Joie DeVivre Book Award. Van Buskirk will read and sign copies of his winning book, This Wild Joy that Thrills Outside the Law, selected by renowned Philadelphia poet and editor Louis McKee. This free event will be held at the Delaware County Institute of Science.

Sat., Oct. 9th, 2-5pm: The Business of Words Workshop, led by Tamara Oakman, at the Blue Grotto in West Philadelphia.

Sat., Oct. 9th, 7pm: Therese Halscheid & Aaren Perry read for the Otherwise – Poetry at Churchill series in Pottstown.

Downer of the week:

Tonight’s Mad Poets Critique Circle, facilitated by the illustrious Amy Laub, at the Coffee Club in Media, PA is cancelled. Boo!

We’ll see you next month (Wed, Oct 13th). Bring 10 copies of your poems and a supportive, creative spirit open to sharing, learning and growing as a poet.

It’s Monday again… what’s going on?

Drop a comment letting us know where you’re reading, where we can read your work, where you’re hosting an event, performing, or where we can buy your book.

As for us, we’ve got a lot going on this week.

*Week of Mar 8*

• Wed, Mar 10, 6:30pm: Amy Laub leads the Mad Poets Critique Circle at the Coffee Club in Media, Pa. Bring 15 copies of one of your own poems for roundtable critique & discussion. Free & open to the public.
• Thurs, Mar 11, 7pm: Ed Krizek (poetry) & Randall Brown (fiction) are the featured readers at the Milkboy Acoustic Cafe mixed genre series. The reading is free, open to public & followed by an open mic. Also, since this is the first reading of the year (sadly, snow killed our Feb reading), this is your first chance to participate in the Open Mic contest & vie for a featured reading in November. Hosted by Autumn Konopka.
• Sat, Mar 13, 2pm: The Business of Words, poetry reading and writing workshop moderated by Tamara Oakman, at the Blue Grotto at Community Education Center in West Philadelphia. Free and open to the public. Bring 10 copies of your own poem.
• Sat, Mar 13, 7pm: Ruth Rouff & Al Taconelli read for the Otherwise-Poetry at Churchill series in Pottstown, Pa. The reading is free, open to public & followed by an open mic. Hosted by Glenn McLaughlin.
• Sat, Mar 13, 7pm: A Little Spring Madness in the Mansion Parlor at the Media Borough Hall. Featured poets include Joseph Dorazio, Amy E. Laub, Linda Fischer & Chris Schaeffer, and Nick Filone is the featured musician. Hosted by Brian Sammond.

Snow — boooo!!!

Looks like the Delaware Valley is going to be deluged with snow – again. Twice in one week. Thrice in one winter. This is some historic stuff here, people. Unfortunately, this historic stuff is forcing us to cancel the MPS Critique Circle at the Coffee Club in Media, planned for tomorrow, Wednesday 2/10 @ 7 pm.

As for Thursday’s reading at Milkboy in Bryn Mawr, we’re playing it by ear. Check the blog & website for updates. And of course, we’ll be tweeting our updates as well, so follow us if you aren’t.

p.s. Considering the sheer volume of snow, not to mention its aforementioned historic nature, we expect inches and inches of snow poems whenever we meet again.

It’s Monday again. That means time to get Shameless with your good news. Reading coming up? Book getting published? Website we should check out? Type it in the comments & let us know. Or tweet it with the hashtag #ShamelessMonday. (And of course, if you’re not following us – @MadPoetsSociety – you should be!)

As for us, we’re really getting back in action this week!

*Week of Feb. 8, 2010*

• Wed, Feb 10, 6:30-8:30 p.m.: The MPS Critique Circle meets at the Coffee Club in Media, Pa. Please note, this is a new location & a new time for 2010. The critique circle is free, open to the public, and will convene in the Coffee Club’s glass-enclosed conference room.
• Thurs, Feb 11, 7 p.m.: We kick off our series at the Milkboy Acoustic Cafe in Bryn Mawr with our annual pre-Valentine’s Love/Anti-Love open mic. This is always LOTS of fun! No featured readers — just you, you, and you reading your poems about love, hate, lust, repulsion, and everything in between.
• Sat, Feb 13, 2 p.m.: Tamara Oakman’s Business of Words poetry workshop moves to the Blue Grotto (at Community Education Center) in University City. The workshop will meet monthly on the 2nd Saturday, Feb thru Nov.
• Sat, Feb 13, evening: The Mad Poets series in Pottstown kicks off… I don’t have full details, yet, but I’ll update later.