Page Seventeen

This year we roamed wide and free in search of poetry at open mic nights. It is never an easy job to choose a poem that works well in performance as well as on the page.  However three great poems for Issue 8 have been chosen.

Congratulations to:

Brisbane – Chris Lynch  and ‘Pop-pop’s Backgammon Set’

Adelaide – Khalil Jureidini and ‘Untitled’

Melbourne – Angelina Mirabito and ‘Alone Together’

A big thanks to our judges Amelia Walker and Graham Nunn.

And our venues – Stoppingallstations, Hardboiled, and SpeedPoets.

Vicki Thornton – Acting Editor

Melbourne’s poem has been chosen. Soon we shall have Adelaide’s  safely in the bag. And just to prove that we do get around, it will soon be Brisbane’s turn to have a poem  selected for Issue 8 at one of their spoken word events.

More information you demand?

Sunday August 1st, SpeedPoets @ InSpire Gallery Bar, 71 Vulture St West End, Brisbane, 2-5 pm.

Entry is a gold coin donation

Judge-  the one and only Graham Nunn

So get your writing shoes on- get out there  and have a go.

And don’t forget you can still make it to Hard Boiled poetry @ La Boheme, 36 Grote Street, Adelaide – this Thursday 29th July, 8.30 pm. Judge -  Amelia Walker. 

We’ve had a few questions regarding the choosing of the poems at these events…the guidelines are set according to the events open mic  ’rules’.

Some events have a 3 mt time limit, others have a 5 mt limit. Some events have a restricted number of open mic spaces- so first in, best dressed.

Be aware that the judges are looking not only for a poem that is a great performance piece, but one that works brilliantly on the page.

Best of luck

Vicki Thornton – Acting Editor

This year we are getting out and about, having fun selecting poetry at spoken word events for Issue 8.  We already have one  poem from Melbourne, chosen with love and care, and now it’s Adelaide’s turn.

Where you ask?

‘Hard Boiled’ open mike poetry @ La Boheme, 36 Grote Street, Adelaide.

This Thursday, July 29th 8.30 pm.

To be judged by Amelia Walker.

Come along for a great night of spoken word and who knows…your work  may appear in Page Seventeen.

Vicki Thornton – Acting Editor

Up to 5 poems for Issue 8 will be selected at spoken word events around the country. Issue 7 includes two poems selected this way, one from Melbourne and one from Queensland.

If you want to get in on the action, all you need to do is put your name down in the open mic section at one of the following events and hope the judge thinks your piece is The One (take a copy of your poem to leave with the judge if that’s the case). Or if you just want to hear all the fabulous offerings, by all means go along as audience and show support.

VIC: Saturday, June 19, 2-5pm at Stopping all Stations, Station St cafe, 26 Station St, Nunawading. $5 entry includes lucky door prizes and June’s featured poet is Catherine Bateson. The judges are myself (Tiggy) and Vicki.

SA: Thurs July 29, 8.30pm at Hard Boiled, La Boheme, 36 Grote St, Adelaide. Free entry. Judged by Amelia Walker.

QLD: Sunday August 1, 2-5pm at SpeedPoets, InSpire Gallery Bar, 71 Vulture St West End, Brisbane. Entry by gold coin donation. August feature TBC. Judged by Graham Nunn.

I’m working on a couple other states and will keep you posted. Keep an eye out for our Events page (to appear soon) where these details will be posted, including any updates.

Oh, and you can ‘enter’ whether or not you made a general submission to the same issue. The guidelines are set according to the event’s open mic ‘rules’. For example, some events may impose a limit of 3 minutes on the open mic and others 5 minutes, and each event may close the open mic list once a certain number of people have registered. The judges are looking for a poem that, while fabulous as a performance piece, would also be great on the page.

So, scribble one of those dates in your diary and get cracking on a fabulous piece.