Topics

1

General Discussion / General List of Major Slam Poetry Events, Qualified & Unqualified

« on: March 11, 2009, 12:45:59 PM »

I believe this has been asked before, but I did a search & didn't find anything..

I'm trying to find a general list of larger events beyond the PSI-managed dates. Not really win2&UrIn events (unless they're awesome), but Rust Belt Regionals, Southern Fried, West Coast Regionals (i know, I know, may not happen), SW Shootout, the Plains Poetry Pile-up, LEAF, College Union, Youth Speaks, Urban Word, things like that. I don't care if they are "qualifiers" or not; "official" or not.

Just look for where & roughly when my family gathers.   Who'd I miss?

Thanks!
~Gabrielle

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General Discussion / Poet Amy Weaver Needs our Help!

« on: November 29, 2008, 10:50:42 AM »

Dear Family,

Not to be the bearer of bad tidings, but I have been informed of a situation that it’s been agreed you should know about. I spoke at length with our friend Amy Weaver last night, in Plano, TX. (If the name’s not familiar, she’s the wonderfully loud woman from Texas who was on the winning Dallas team in 2004, and a dear friend to me.)

Amy didn’t tell me this summer when we spent time together, but four years ago she was diagnosed with a rare condition called pseudotumor cerebri, which essentially mimics the symptoms of a large brain tumor due to the production of excess spinal fluid. Basically, the fluid builds up in her brain, causing incredible headaches, nausea, and has required no less than 49 spinal taps over the last four years. Even with these treatments, the buildup in pressure can cause her to go blind.

So. First of all, she hasn’t been able to hold a job with the need for constant treatment, so she’s home with her retired parents. Second, her COBRA ran out. Third, her Medicaid application is lost in space for 9 weeks in limbo after the application form was improperly filled out by a new employee (she has a 10 year old brother with Down’s Syndrome who’s receiving both disability and Medicaid, so the family is not unfamiliar with the process, but this is a real screw-up.) Her parents have been fronting for her insurance, to the tune of $400 a month.

That’s plenty. BUT – one of the treatments recommended by her doctors, which cures the condition in 60-70 percent of cases, is to lose a significant amount of weight. So she’s getting lap band put in next Thursday, which will be a non-covered bill of $15,000 (normal weight loss procedures being out of the question with her weakened physical condition). While this procedure will have its own side effects, the more troubling operation is yet to come – a brain operation which will place a permanent shunt in her head to drip the excess fluid into her abdomen, where it’s assumed it will be reabsorbed. Naturally, this is a pretty scary monster to have to deal with, although fortunately this procedure WILL be covered by her insurance.

So, basically.. She’s cut herself off from the scene as she deals with these issues, and I told her it’s ridiculous to go through this alone. Whether it’s emotional support or if we can do a fundraiser, I’d like to help a member of our family BEFORE it’s another significant blow to the community.

If you’d like to pass along words of support, she’s asked me to gather them and give them to her in batches. Her health varies on a daily basis; some days waking up and literally not being able to see, and pretty much constant pain management required. If you’d like to send physical mail, let me know and I’ll send you her address. I would love to hear fundraising ideas. More information on the condition here: pseudotumorcerebri.com, or google pseudotumor cerebri. Thank you in advance for your love.

If you wish to make a donation for Amy, please feel free to use the Livepoets.com donation button, and mark your donation "Amy's Recovery Fund", and I'll make certain to get it to her. Thank you in advance for any kindness you can spare.

Come together,
Gabrielle Bouliane
multimediagrl@hotmail.com
716.884.0225

3

General Discussion / Virtual Slam Seeks Environmental & Social Justice Videos

« on: September 05, 2006, 01:27:32 PM »

http://www.virtualpoetryslam.net/

This seems totally legit to me, got it through a scholaship network I belong to. Don't know how they came up with it, but it might net you some money..

4

General Discussion / LivePoets.com 3.0

« on: June 19, 2006, 01:26:36 PM »

While I had an incredibly unproductive weekend, designer and poet Chris Holmok of fuali.com was busy uploading Livepoets 3.0. Please check it out and let me know what you think. The new design is far more stable, as well as permitting easier navigation to the poets you love.
 
The streamed clips are reduced at the moment as I convert the files to flash video and will be updated as time permits. If there's a piece you can't live without, or you'd like to be a part of the new site, or any other feedback, please let me know at multimediagrl@hotmail.com.
 
Enjoy!
~Gabrielle Bouliane

5

General Discussion / livepoets.com membership

« on: December 17, 2005, 06:21:48 PM »

Hello all,

Just a reminder that if you're interested, memberships are available at livepoets.com. (or, if you'e already a member, please let me know if you have any updates you'd like.)

Poets, if you'd like a solo page:
Basic is $5, with audio, $10, with streamed video, $20 (per year). Paypal available. If you can't afford it, but really want to be up, let me know. (I'll grant most anyone a basic page).

Groups/Publications, etc:
Links are free. Please check your current info, if you've been on livepoets for a while.

For link swaps:
Livepoets.com
Description: The largest collection of freely streamed poetry slam videos in the country, in cooperation with Poetry Slam, Inc.

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General Discussion / SlamNation Multipacks now available!

« on: August 29, 2005, 11:01:50 AM »

Hey folks,

Wanted to let you know that as a result of several inquiries, SlamNation DVDs are now available in a multi-pack discount!

According to Paul Devlin's Publicist/Assistant, Claire Missanelli:
 "We now offer SlamNation multi-packs at a discount, 10 DVDs for $159.50, at http://www.customflix.com/207325."

So, if you want your city to learn more about Slam, or need them as teaching tools, this is the way to go! The DVDs included FULL performances of ALL poems shown during the film, including the infamous "Funky Clown Town."

Yrs, digitally,
Gabrielle Bouliane

7

General Discussion / The First Nickel City Poetry Slam ROCKED!

« on: August 03, 2005, 10:00:31 AM »

Hey everyone:

Rives reminded me that I should update you guys about my first National-level event here in Buffalo, NY. So, adapted from my livejournal:

The first Nickel City Poetry Slam was a raging success, if I do say so. Held at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, a national-level modern gallery (sadly the poets never got to see the main gallery.. ), in conjunction with non-profit Just Buffalo Literary Center, we were able to pay all the artists a base stipend, and then have them slam off for prizes of $500, $250, and $150. (As the checks were issued later, I provided used bowling trophies, with beer cans glued to their other hands, as this is how we roll in Buffalo; and huge gaudy medals with matching ribbons, inscribed "1st Nickel City Poetry Slam, 2005"). As this was the first time anyone had brought national-level work to our audience, the show was an invitational, and the poets were ALL outstanding, unique, and original in their material.

particpants included:
Ansel Appleton
Chris August
Corinna Bain
Alex Charalambides
Cynthia French
Ed Mabrey
Sou MacMillan
Rives
Granma Dave Schein
.. And the lovely April Ardito came along and kept me on point with score & timekeeping (thank god).

Ansel, Corinna, and Sou got jacked by early draws and scorecreep, and it finally came down to Rives taking first, Chris August taking second (watch out, y'all!) and Ed Mabrey taking 3rd by a half-point. Chris hasn't taken off his medal yet, as far as I know.. Very Cowardly Lion, so cute..

The poets brought all the heart, soul, intelligence, playfulness, and poignancy I could have asked for. To watch the audiences' faces as they literally saw something they had never seen before was awe-inspiring. The reaction was thunderous.

It was the highest-attending summer event the gallery had thrown, they were thrilled, want to do it again soon. The non-profit, Just Buffalo Literary Center, immediately began asking to run a regular event. And the backer I talked to previously for another large fall invitational was a judge, with another of this friends, was blown away, bought one of EVERYONE's merch, and couldn't stop singing the praises. Wanted to meet with me the next day to start. The poets had fun, I hope -- we'll tell you more about Alex's underwear later. It was quite the pajama party!

We had a second event the next day at one of my favorite dives, Nietzsches'. still nicely attended, and we got enough $ to buy everyone a beer. Some folks went to Niagara Falls, Rives borrowed my bike & went to the Pierce Arrow museum, and mainly we all sat on the porch and talked until dawn as poets do, with a barbeque with my neighbors on Saturday afternoon..

Oddly, I still (to my chagrin) have a case and a half of beer and a few bottles of hot sauce (from the schwag bags) left. I can't thank everyone enough -- Dave for his constant love, tech support (We'll get that cord back, I promise), and superior driving skills, Chris for being Chris and shopping with me, April for being a rock during the show and a peach all around; Rives, ever, for his generosity with words, spirit, and watching part of the Maltese Falcon with me in the middle of the night; Sou (too briefly) for her sweetness, poet wrangling, and for (I believe) a pair of purple panties for the collection, Ansel for wearing a bflo baseball hat more correctly than anyone ever, and keeping an eye on the Falls trip for me, Alex for being voted "most crushworthy"; Corinna for providing a punk rock presence at all times, Ed Mabrey (again too briefly) for bringing tears to my friend's eyes, and Cynthia for being a total role model of a slammistress to a (POSSIBLY) new member of the group, as well as a steady constant friend.

my thank you to the artists...
I can't thank you enough for travelling to show my city what the spirit of this form is all about. You were gracious, graceful, and incredible artists, taking the form past every hackneyed cliche to what it's really all about -- poetry, friendship, and sharing on every level. I'm so glad! We'll see you SOON, I'm sure.

=========================

So, look for more events in the Fall, and if I ever call you for an invitational, please consider it! We treat our guests RIGHT! And I didn't even tell you about my best pals Molly and David taking three of them to the "Canadian Ballet"....

Best,
Gabrielle Bouliane
Buffalo, NY

8

General Discussion / press photo request

« on: July 18, 2005, 02:51:26 PM »

Hey gang,

I need a digital, hi-res generic shot of a happy audience member (or just a hand, even) holding up a high score that I can have permission to use in press for the Nickel City poetry Slam. Obviously I don't want to use a shot of any of the competitors, lest my baby be killed in its swaddling by shouts of "Conspiracy!" Just kidding, but sttill.

If you have something you'd be able to let me use, with credit, please backchannel me at multimediagrl at hotmail dot com. Thanks!

~Gabrielle

9

General Discussion / Make-out, I mean, Team listing

« on: July 18, 2005, 12:13:19 PM »

So, I noticed that the only list of poets by team that's sort of coming together pubilcally (aside from program bios) is on the slammaster's list, and only 31 teams out of 74 have been posted. Can the rest of the slammasters step up, either here or on hellslam (which you SHOULD be registred on by now) and help a sister out?

I mean, how am I gonna make my makeout list if I don't know who's going to be there?

~ Gabrielle

(x-posted to yahoogroup mail & lj)

10

General Discussion / Seeking Archive Donations

« on: March 05, 2005, 05:00:13 PM »

.. for real this time, guys.

One of the projects I'm working on  that's near and dear to my heart is creating a national archive of as many materials of Poetry Slam as we can gather, back to the days of the dinosaurs.. ok, to 1991. Many of you may have footage in various formats at the bottom of scattered closets, desk drawers, or treasure chests. I have facilities available now for transfer and digitization of most formats, and in the interest of our history, I'm trying to gather as complete a record as possible for later negotiations with libraries and archives (currently being identified/screened.)

Bill MacMillan did quite a bit of research on this two years ago, (and will keep an eye on me through this) and his suggestion was that before we seek grants (although I'm tracking some now) and potential partners, we find out WHAT we have.

So, if you have older sound, video, or pictoral records, in ANY format, please let me know, preferably specifically:
-- what year/event
-- what format (8mm, vhs, dat, etc)
-- approximately how many hours or other units (pics, etc)
-- anything you think of specific interest (ie P. Smith winning in whatever year)

You will get your originals back, probably with a newer copy for the cost of materials & shipping (nothing specific yet). I imagine you would be credited as the source of the material in the final archive as well, but again, I'm just learning about all this.

Should you have any interest or questions, please contact me at multimediagrl@hotmail.com or 716/884-0225.

Thank you, sincerely,
Gabrielle Bouliane

(I'm specifically trying to reach Henry Sampson, Patricia, Gary Glazner, Michael Brown for this.)