Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: Poetry Slam on TV . Good News from Germany !

« on: December 09, 2007, 07:20:22 PM »

Season Two will start to air in January, 2008.

And well, another private TV channel felt the urge
to do some obviously stupid stuff, for not to be left out of
 ... "it". So something called "poetry comedy" will start
to air soon. With a guy who is no poet at all and critisises(sp?)
all the stupid things on TV.

Take care !

andré

2

General Discussion / Re: When Did You 'Fall In Love' With Spoken Word/Slam

« on: September 02, 2007, 05:57:02 AM »

I started writing poetry aged 14 and definitely fell in love with spoken word eight years later, at my first reading, I did with two poet friends of mine in 1978. During the break a young girl came up to me and asked, if she could handcopy one of the poems, I had read during the first set. While looking for the page, I asked her, why she wants to copy it. She held her breath for a second and said "I want to give it to my parents to read it." And as it was a poem about the authoritarian power, parents perform on their children, simply because they are the parents, I was knocked out and blown away. Aged 22 it felt pretty good to realize that my words can be an axe.

It did not take long, until I realized that all my poems are written to be recited. But back then there weren't that many chances, opportunities and venues to do so, in Germany. I worked with musicians, dancers, pantomime, painters, sculpturers and performance artists. So I already had my share and paid my dues when I witnessed my first poetry slam. Miguel Algarin and Bob Holman had invited me to take part in the Deutsch Nuyorican Poetry Festival on Manhattan Island, in November 1995. And before the first poet was done, I knew I would start a slam, when back home again. Because of my love for spoken word, to offer a platform to those, who care about how to "read" their stuff in front of audiences and to have some fun myself. So in September 1996, I became slammaster and mc of one of the first regular poetry slams in Germany.


andré

poet, percussionist & storyteller

3

General Discussion / Re: Contact infor for Luke Watm Water

« on: June 20, 2007, 08:26:48 AM »

Thanks Simone !

Valerie and Michael gave me the same adress
& this one is still working.

andré

4

General Discussion / Re: Contact infor for Luke Watm Water

« on: June 18, 2007, 05:37:02 PM »

My email to the adress Charles posted returned, because the adress failed.

Other suggestions ?

andré

5

General Discussion / Re: Contact infor for Luke Watm Water

« on: June 18, 2007, 03:56:30 PM »

Thank u

6

General Discussion / Contact infor for Luke Watm Water

« on: June 18, 2007, 03:00:59 PM »

Hello Everybody,

I would like to get in contact with Lakota-German poet Luke Warm Water again.
The email adress I have does not work anymore.

Any help appreciated,

andré

7

General Discussion / Re: Poetry Slam on TV . Good News from Germany !

« on: April 20, 2007, 04:20:47 PM »

Evan,

it is "hot" somehow, because poetry slam on TV obviously is a great(?) step to raise awareness.

And it is hot to watch, how some participants squeeze their stuff into the TV 3 minute time limit, none of them is used to, as local slams have time limits from 5 to 7, over here.

On the other hand, I cant help but grin, reading online articles for about almost a year now, dealing with poetry slam, like we did not get started about 15 years ago (over here). And have not had a hype back when. But that's just me elder fart's "problem".

The media just play their game. And hopefully some of the 250,000 people watching will check out reality, instead of TV.

Looking forward to watch the next "episode" tonight, (30' left)


andré

p.s. :  I am about trying to be part of the next "season". Would be my second TV appearance as a poet, after almost 20 years. And opening up the prime time Number One news with my djembé, one day, as part of a demonstration against German military, taking part in some "action" far out, for the first time after Hitler.

Wish me some luck. (although this last sentence might be very bad English). "I'm ready" (Steve Marriott, Humble Pie, Rocking the Fillmore). No matter if they simply pick me, because of my look/beard.

And yes, I mightbe better of, if Marc would have had invented this incredible beast and beauty in 78, in Germany ... bla vodka orange bla ... cuz Spoken Word/Performance Poetry had no real chance over here, when I got started.

Be blessed and ROCK !

8

General Discussion / Re: Poetry Slam on TV . Good News from Germany !

« on: April 20, 2007, 12:44:09 PM »

I thought mediagrl likes this idea,
might have had it earlier,
or will get going after my mail.

Good luck !

andré

Btw. I have no info yet, about the influence,
this TV thing has on local slams.
But I will ask folks about it, soon. And
keep you all updated.

9

General Discussion / Re: Poetry Slam on TV . Good News from Germany !

« on: April 20, 2007, 03:39:45 AM »

Hello Gabrielle !
(and everybody else, but you have asked, to keep you all updated.)


Yesterday the man in charge sent an Email to our mailing list that introduced us to some facts.

Each of the shows, they have broadcastet so far (7 or , had an average of 250,000 spectators from all over the nation.

www.poetryslam.wdr.de got klicked 200,000 times, since the first "episode" on 2/23. With the videos a 100,000 times.

This is beyond the producers expectations and they want to tape the next season in October, to be aired in January 2008.


andré

p.s. :

Yesterday, a poet sent an email that said, he is selling himself to the TV industry. Just a little bit. On one of them shopping channels, where he plans to play poetry CDs, when presenting sound systems, and will use pictures of slam poets, in his segment, each time possible.

Another mail of announced that this May another channel, with not that much spectators, will start to air something named "Poetry Comedy". With comedians reciting own poetry at different locations, while sitting in a "poets chair" enabling them to move around. I do not expect to hear and see great poetry from people, who decided to become comedians, but maybe some electric-wheelchair-like crashes.

10

General Discussion / Poetry Slam on TV . Good News from Germany !

« on: March 05, 2007, 01:18:58 PM »

The Myrmidon proudly announces that


Last midnight we had the second of nine prerecorded Poetry Slams on TV !  (Rerun on Fridays.)

Produced and broadcasted by one of the stations, that can be received in most of the German Bundesländer.

The MC talks to each poet about a minute or two, before they take the stage.

It is always five poets. And a 3' time limit. Which is unusual over here, as most slams in the German speaking countries have 5', some up to 7' minutes.

When going over time, participants get interrupted by one of them musicians, who is joined by more and more of them, until the whole combo leaves nobody a slice of a chance to continue.

The winner is determined by applause of almost 200 people in the audience. And the whole show is done in 30' minutes.

The organizers have picked an interesting mix of slam poets. Great Stuff !  And local slams over here might get packed with audiences, soon. We will see.


andré

11

General Discussion / Poetry Slam, aged 20, joined myspace.com

« on: January 03, 2007, 08:50:25 AM »

Hello everybody !

Xóchil A. Schütz, one of his German girlfriends, made the one
we all love (and sometimes hate) a member at
http://www.myspace.com/poetryslam

The site is in German, even the mp3s, pics and links,
for example to all recent NPS winners. And 70 local poetry slams
in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, that are more up to date
than the contact information in the International Slam Archive at Hellslam.

For networking, she would like to add slam poets, local poetry slams
and people, supporting the poetry slam scene all over the planet.

So you might have a look and a hear,


andré

12

General Discussion / Steve Marsh is Hospitalized

« on: May 31, 2006, 02:28:41 PM »

Dear Deb Marsh !

I tried to contact you, but pm does not work and I don't have your email. So please send (at least) an empty email to a.n.bolten@t-online.de

From what I read, it feels like my ole cyber brother is in serious trouble. And I have something serious to tell you two.

andré

13

General Discussion / What about a 24 hour feature in your town ?

« on: April 20, 2006, 02:10:16 PM »

Hello Everybody !


After I got news that my favorite US located jazz record hunter Scott Woods did a 24 hour feature, with his own as well as other people's poetry, I decided to take the next step and recite part of my own material for 24 hours, both solo and with live music.

Aside of setting up this event in my hometown, I had this crazy idea, the spoken word family in the USA and Canada might be interested in a German poet, percussionist and storyteller, doing such a show in their town. Including a 90' minutes encore of English translations and English originals.

To keep me awake and entertain the audience, I would like to perform with local musicians, maybe dancers, too.


The idea is to do a show no more than once a week. Have at least one free day after each show. Travel to the next city. Meet and great, rehearse/practice with the local artists, interested to participate. And do it again.

Being unemployed, with no real chance to get a job again, I would not even mind to hang out two weeks between shows. I would even do the bouncer at the Poet's Asylumn for free :~)


Aside the pure madness of this idea, I need to make enough money with these shows, to pay for everything I need, including traveling and up to two packs of Chesterfield Plain a day. But I am fine with private accommodation and probably anything else you have to offer.

So please let me know, if you are interested. Also in case you think, I might be better off, talking to some therapist.

Any ideas/help appreciated ...


andré michael bolten

14

General Discussion / UK newsletters and Poetry Info

« on: March 08, 2006, 06:41:16 AM »

Hello John Powers !

Below is some contact information and how to subscribe to a newsletter from the UK. And I don't know of any others. But I am not that representative.

You might use some of the contact information in the International Slam Archives, right here at hellslam, to contact slammasters in European countries and find out about it.


best wishes.

andré




***** SPIEL *****

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If  you'd like to be on the direct mailing-list, please send an email to spiel@spiel.wanadoo.co.uk with "Register" in the subject line.

15

General Discussion / The Report from the PSI International Slam Committee

« on: May 02, 2005, 06:02:36 AM »

Sorry, this was meant for the PSI Members Forum.

andré