Topics

1

General Discussion / Delray Beach Poetry Slam in transition!

« on: February 13, 2011, 11:47:07 AM »

Hello poets!
This is Casandra... I just want to give a shout out and notify that our NEW HOST (and likely soon to be slammaster) of the Delray Beach Poetry Slam is Katie Wirsing!!!
Feature inquiries should go to her: katieontherun@gmail.com
If you contact me, I'll send you to her. With love.

The Delray Beach Poetry Slam is the longest running slam in the state, due in no small part to the widespread dedication to poetry performance in our community, and the consistent love we receive from our venue: Dada.
If you haven't ever visited, please consider traveling to feature here!!!
If you haven't been lately, please consider returning!!! The food and friendship is still warm and delicious.
Our slam is the first Tuesday of each month.  $100 cash prize for first place, gift certificates for second and third.

Peace,
Casandra

2

General Discussion / NPS 2010 Recap

« on: August 10, 2010, 10:59:18 AM »

NPS 2010 from my eyes

So, this was the first NPS as PSI Volunteer Coordinator, and I also coached a team.  Craziness- this perfect storm of work will NEVER be attempted again.  Period.  I’m negotiating with Chunky to come on board as team coach for 2011, and that process is looking really good.

Tonight, I’ll arrive at DADA to host the poetry slam FRESH from the Ft Lauderdale airport after a day of traveling from the Midwest… as I type this, I’m on a bus from Madison to Milwaukee, flying out around 1:30.

Some of these highlights will be similarly discussed on the mic while I’m hosting tonight.  I have the distinct pleasure of hosting a Mr. Jason Carney this evening, so the family vibe from Nationals isn’t even over yet.  WHAT!

Highlights:
-   My team.  Y’all can’t tell this from the final rankings (54 out of 76), but we worked REALLY hard this summer, often over the phone, to put together a few beautiful things for the National Poetry Slam.  I had the best time in a long time working with these consummate professionals: Flow Diva, Chunky, Mr. Rigz, Ebony, and the unconquerable Jashua Sa-Ra.  EVERY voice was represented on stage, and every poet performed admirably.  I couldn’t have asked for a better representation from our state.  And we SERIOUSLY had fun together.  Now, the judges are another story… ☺  Our first bout was pretty great. We knew Atlant’s Art Amok team and the 11th Hour Team from Washington DC would be some tough competition.  Art Amok HANDILY took the 1 in that bout, +2.5 points from us holding down the number 2 spot.  So, while we didn’t get the 1, there might have been a little room to slide into the semis if we took the 1 in our second bout.  Unfortunately, the crowd at the History Theatre on our second night was definitely not interested in anything remotely like theater!  We had a choice: rock out the individual poems we had in our pockets, or showcase the ensemble work we put heart and soul into throughout the summer.  We chose to show our group pieces, which didn’t work for us as a strategy, but seeing as I broke a 5 bout streak of pulling the “d” spot in the rotation, and we were sitting with the “a”, we knew we couldn’t bring down the giants on Lizard Lounge, and rolling out solos for the bout would mean that the group work would never see the light of day.  I was particularly excited about “21 reasons,” a brilliant piece written and performed by Jashua and Ebony, which (to our credit) garnered the highest score we got in that bout.  But we fell to the competition, taking the 4 with honor.

-   NUPIC 2010 (AKA “the Undies).  Underground indies was a beautiful sight this year.  VERY original work, VERY excited poets, VERY TIGHT BOUTS!  THANK YOU Harlem 125 for all your work to make this magic happen once again.  CAN’T WAIT TO SEE IT NEXT YEAR.

-   Volunteer Open Mic.  Jenn Parks called me about a month ago and asked me to host a Volunteer Open Mic.  I said: sure!  And then promptly forgot.  But Jenn didn’t.   When I arrived on Monday and opened up the program to a page with my name on it, I thought: “Hello, WHAT?!” And then I remembered.  This is probably the best idea Jenn contributed to the often confusing and always exhausting volunteer coordinator position.  Giving our illustrious volunteers a chance to touch stage, and touch all of us, was really special.  One of the best side events I’ve seen at an NPS.  Let’s keep this one going!  It was my true honor to host it, and it was super fun to do.

-   Erin Livingston.  Best roommate ever.  Thanks for every giggle, and for final outfit approval for finals night.  I love you forever and ever.  Spa and sushi date at Nationals in Boston!!!

-   Volunteer Coordination with Jenn Parks. We now share a brain.  Crazy.  Jenn did a seriously great job, and only fell apart once, even after getting soaking wet and hit by a car while trying to bike the city, and having about half of her volunteer sign-ups flake out at the last minute.  WHEW!

-   VOLUNTEERS.  This year’s crew was the sexiest, friendliest and best trained crew I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. THANK YOU!  Y’ALL MADE THAT SHIT RUN!  AMAZING WORK!

-   Brother Said’s proposal to limit debate at the SlamMasters meeting.  1minute, forever, please god.  The meeting wasn’t even really painful.

-   Seeing Ms Spelt actually have a good time.  HOORAY!

-   A tie for most beautiful eyes between Hamsa (team Toronto) and Sean (team Portland, ME).

-   Decathalon Slam- a triumph for human kind, 5 years and still going strong.  Best Interpretive dance round in Decathalon history (check the videos on my profile page for proof).

-   Finding balance between working and partying.  Unfortunately, that meant that I didn’t have time to sleep: OH WELL!

-   The Hilton Garden Inn.  Friendly staff, for the most part, pretty good amenities (although a bathroom on the ground floor would have helped. A LOT). The stairwell (highly versatile in a pinch): DING!

-   The 5th floor.  WHAT?!  Best floor of poets ever.

-   Dave at the Artists Quarter.  A love supreme.  Thanks for going above and beyond every day and not even being the least bit put off by it.  And thanks for making out with Angelique on the bar that last night- it was smoking hot.

-   Josh and Tony from Camp.  HOLLA!  I will totally come back to St Paul and party with you guys.  Thanks for getting me Thai food, and getting me wasted, and showing off your tattoos..  You’re newfound love of poetry slam is PRICELESS!

-   The Tournament Team of Henry, Erik and Sean.  It was super weird not having Bill around.  Sean filled his shoes to the best of human ability, and didn’t smell like cigarettes everytime I went in for a hug.  Bill, please stop smoking so I can hug you.

-   Being a go-to person for problem solving: from broken badges to blunts, I was happy to be of service.

-   Every poet who had the chutzpah to try out my hoop.  You are ALL rock stars forever in my book.  Special shout out to Jon Sands, who mastered the break and reversal while waist hooping: your face at that moment was SERIOUSLY priceless.

Lowlights:
-   All that ninja and no big booty?  Seriously?  Whack.
-   St Paul’s Downtown ghost town on Saturdays.  HUH?!
-   Douchbaggery on the finals stage from incidental speaker.  YOU RAT BASTARD! Thank you for seriously ruining it for everyone.  I hope it was worth it.
-   No Garrison Keilor.  Insert sad face here.
-   The band on the last night.  Even a great band (and that band was very good) is a poor choice for a late night event.  We need dj’s, because we ONLY want to dance to stuff we know, at that point. Spoiled by repeats at finals, we can’t HANDLE new shit by the end of the week.  PLEASE: BOSTON- don’t make the same mistake!  I nominate Jive Poetic as NPS DJ Emeritus.
-   The line at registration- when I wait in lines THAT long anywhere else, I get to go on a big slide or a rollercoaster at the end of the wait.  Hearing Abby say “you are all clear, thank you,” does not provide the equivalent delight.  I’m calling bullshit on all the SlamMasters who held up the line because they didn’t have their ducks in a row.
-   Homeless guy who asked if he could come home with me one night.

3

General Discussion / Anybody lose a phone in Oakland?

« on: December 10, 2009, 05:33:37 PM »

I got a strange phone call from 510-827-9782... apparently, if this is your number, you've lost your phone in Oakland, and Abe has it.  Who's Abe?  I don't know.  But HIS phone number is 415-707-9128

I figure this might be Steven Meades or Dahled.  Or Nazeleh.
Or it could be that one other person I might know in the East Bay...?
Peace
Casandra

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General Discussion / Delray Beach Slam Team Featured in Sun-Sentinel

« on: August 06, 2006, 08:35:26 AM »

Hey, we got a great article in the Sun-Sentinel today!
I don't know if there are pictures, I'm going out to get my copies now.  I'm very excited about it, and I'm also pretty impressed by the reporter, who just heard about our slam on Monday, and only came out for about an hour of it this past Tuesday!
There are actually 2 versions of the article online, but I like this one better.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-pslam06aug06,0,2604494.story

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General Discussion / Tropical Storm Chris

« on: August 01, 2006, 09:03:41 AM »

Ok, at 5 am this morning the National Hurricane Center upgraded the newly formed Tropical Depression 3 to Tropical Storm Chris.
At 9:02 am, I found out aboout it.
The local news is telling us to keep an eye on Sunday for any effects.  The forecast discussion over at the NHC (nhc.noaa.gov) is (per usual) non committal.  Our flights (Delray Beach team, flying out of Ft Lauderdale) are scheduled to leave on Tuesday.

This might be a problem.  Or, it might not.
I don't know about Miami, but I'd be willing to bet they are flying, too.
Anyway, I'm keeping as many eyes on it as I can manage, and well just wait and see.
Casandra

PS: How long does it take to drive from Tallahassee to Austin?  Just curious.

6

General Discussion / Today is my Birthday

« on: May 16, 2006, 04:42:27 AM »

And I'm now 26.

I've had a ridiculously rough month at school (I almost, and may still, lost the job I really love) and any message of warmth would be appreciated to a tremendous degree.

Thanks in advance, and Happy Birthday to Me!
Casandra

7

General Discussion / Life post-Wilma

« on: November 01, 2005, 06:00:34 PM »

Hi.

Just wanted to give everyone a bit of an update.
As far as I know, all the poets and their families down here weathered the storm all right.  One venue has already jumped back into action: Power Studios in Miami.  Our venue is supposed to have its slam tonight, but... there's still a curfew in effect for most of Palm Beach County (including Delray Beach, where our slam is, and Lake Worth where I live) so the only way I think it can happen is if we start early, but I have to drive down to the venue in a little while to hash it out in person, as I can't get through via telephone.  For those of you who have featured at Dada (our venue): the big beautiful tree out front is (mostly) still there, and the house/restaurant/bar is fine.

Chris the Imperial appears to be living out of his car.  Everyone else (as far as I know) are still in their homes.

Personally, my house is still without power (and likely will be for at least another week), but we have gas, so we can take hot showers and cook hot food (though I've abandoned cooking, as the constant search for ice just got to me, and I've thrown in the hand towel).

Schools here in Palm Beach County are still closed (week two begins), and we'll know tomorrow if that will continue for the rest of the week (I expect it will: 30+ schools still don't have power, and downed trees and powerlines plus powerless intersections make for BAD transportation issues for school age student families).

NOW- there is no need to make a donation to our recovery: we did this last year (twice) and already once this year (back when Katrina was a Cat 1 Atlantic storm), and we'll likely do it again next year (at least once), BUT...

WE DO LOVE FEATURES!  Hurricane season ends this month!
The weather is great, and the audiences are even better!

Come visit (give us a week, but then come!)!  We'll house you, feed you and pay you!
Call me 561.704.0054
or email me!

Peace
Casandra, aka Mama Cas
Delray Beach (or Lake Worth, or West Palm Beach, depending on the day!)

8

General Discussion / Palm Beach Poetry Festival!

« on: June 30, 2005, 12:06:59 PM »

Just a heads-up on the next festival January 19-22, 2006 where there
will be readings, craft classes, workshops, and literary socializing
with these wonderful poets: Galway Kinnell, Sharon Olds, Marilyn
Nelson, Jane Hirshfield, Thomas Lux, Tony Hoagland, Laure-Anne
Bosselaar, and Kurt Brown.

Visit www.palmbeachpoetryfestival.com for more info.


How to Apply for Workshops

INSTRUCTIONS:
 
1. Deadline:  Your application must be post-marked by OCTOBER 15,
2005 to be eligible for consideration.
 
2.  Submit three (3) TYPED poems without your name or other
identification on them. Send your best work.  
 
3.  Determine which workshop leader you would like to work with
based on their workshop descriptions and biographies and list them
on your application in the order of your preference (1 is your first
choice; 2 is your second, etc.) using the workshop code to identify
your choices.
 
3.  Fill out the workshop application form in its entirety and mail
two (2) copies of the completed form with your three-poem manuscript
to:  Palm Beach Poetry Festival, Workshop Admissions, 3254 Spyglass
Road, Bellingham, WA 98226.
 
The poems will be read by Mary Cornish, who earned her MFA from
Sarah Lawrence College, is a recent Stegner Fellow in Poetry at
Stanford University, and teaches writing and literature at Whatcom
Community College and Western Washington University. (Ms. Cornish
will participate in Tony Hoagland's workshop as a guest of the
festival).  Standards for admission into the Intermediate workshops
will be less stringent than for admission into the Advanced
workshops.

9

General Discussion / Holiday cheers

« on: December 23, 2004, 05:48:30 PM »

May you be blessed with four wheel drive this wintry season.
(stay safe out there everyone: I just totalled my car, again.)

Casandra