Messages

1

General Discussion / My Dearest Poetry Organizers

« on: December 31, 2012, 02:04:14 PM »

Hello everyone,

   Bob Nelson of Mesa, AZ here. I wanted to take a moment of you time an share with you some very important news. On January 25th, 2013, your President Emeritus Scott Woods will be releasing a full length book of poetry, entitled We Over Here Now.

   As the publisher of said book, I thought it would be fun to organize a nationwide series of readings celebrating the release of the book. My thought was to set up a Twitter Handle and Facebook event page, and have people post their smartphone pics and videos of attendees reading from the book, roasting or praising Scott, or otherwise making use of an opportunity to celebrate poetry.

   In regards to the books themselves, we would offer a discount for readings that order a group of books for their event, and I can include bookmarks and other promotional materials (although the idea of life sized cardboard cutouts of Scotty seemed to make him uncomfortable, so we may forgo those).

   Anyway, if you are interested in making this book release a special event for him, please feel free to email me, bob @ brickcavemedia.com with your ideas and for more information.

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General Discussion / Insomniac Poets, watch Scott Woods 24 Hour Poetry Reading right now...

« on: April 01, 2012, 01:28:01 AM »

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/scott-woods-24-hour-feature#utm_campaign=www.facebook.com&utm_source=10774396&utm_medium=social

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General Discussion / Re: 10th anniversary poetry slam in Omaha tomorrow night

« on: January 19, 2012, 09:51:40 AM »

For you multitudes in the area, Omaha's 10th anniversary of poetry slam at the OM Center is tomorrow (a night earlier than normal this month due to a booking conflict).  We'll have a feature of poets who won here in 2002, show off the new 2012 Golden Monkey trophy, AND make it British foods night with spotted dick for 1st place, mushy peas for 2nd.

Matt,

Having "done time" in Omaha for many of years and lived in the neighborhood of your venue, congratulations on developing a long lasting and dedicated event in a place that can be challenging even in the best of times.

That is a testament to the passion of your belief and work.

Here's to 10 more!

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General Discussion / Re: 2012 Women of the World Information

« on: January 19, 2012, 09:42:45 AM »

Suzi... Who would be the best person to contact about poet bags, and including stuff in them?

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General Discussion / Mesa is open and booking

« on: August 23, 2011, 08:15:45 PM »

Hi Kids, Mesa is open and available for touring poets, for the rest of the year:

October 8th
November 12th
December 10th

And of coarse into next year as well.

2nd Saturday Each Month
8PM-11PM
Queens Pizzeria
125 W Main St
Mesa, AZ, 85210
http://www.queenspizzeria.com

But Wait, there's More:

There will be a new Mesa Open Mic (Starting October) on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays:
1st & 3rd Thursday Each Month
7pm-9pm
Lo-Fi Coffee
105 W. Main
Mesa, AZ 85201
http://www.loficoffee.com

You are welcome to email me (bob@anthology.org) regarding either show. And, of coarse, your tour can come with the complete package, including an interview for an upcoming SpokenWorld Show podcast

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General Discussion / Back at it, The SpokenWorld Show

« on: August 22, 2011, 11:20:02 AM »

At the risk of exposing the ages of a few people, a "few" years ago, I had done a webcast called The SpokenWorld Show, where I would, in essence, pretend to be a DJ spinning spoken word tracks for an hour a week.

I was a little ahead of the ability of people to listen easily, however (no broadband) and it faded away.

Anyway, over the last few months I have been working on it, and have done a couple podcasts under the radar, just to see if I could get back into the swing of doing a weekly podcast. So I did, and I am pretty comfortable that I am, and you can see the results here:

http://www.spokenworld.com

and you can subscribe on iTunes here:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-spokenworld-podcast/id458416169

So, here's the deal, I have ALOT of material, just that that material is, say, "a few" years in age, and I would rather not be the spoken word oldies guy- so, I have a submission page where you can either send me an MP3, or mail me a CD of your work.

For everything I've been playing, I am looking for places to link to where people can buy said track or album, and putting that link if I have it on the archive to the show.

First couple shows are pretty chaotic, but feel free to give them a listen...

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General Discussion / Re: Membership Retention

« on: September 03, 2010, 01:59:43 PM »

I love the idea of a members-only reading at NPS that is free.

That should be at the Booster Level or above...

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General Discussion / Money, Money, money, Monaaaay, Mooonay!

« on: September 03, 2010, 01:23:24 PM »

The financial industry geek in me comes out:

Steve,

   When you say PSI has only had 2500 members in it's lifetime, those are under the behaviors that we have exhibited up to now, so we have to be careful to not use that as a benchmark- I mean, How many members MIGHT WE HAVE HAD if we had place a comprehensive relationship program in place years ago. The membership program became centered around event participation because it was, for lack of a better term, easy.

   And when it is put out there that PSI has only had at peak 900 active at one time, it says there are a number of people, that for whatever reason, didn't feel they were getting value from their membership. That's an opportunity to look at that relationship and say, "hey, what's important to you? Even if you aren't going to the big tournaments any longer, what can we offer to make your membership worthwhile?"


Let me put this forth-

Let's say we have a "fairly" comprehensive membership management program- so, let's say we communicate a "single of the week" to the membership in the same way that Apple iTunes does, and offer them an mp3 of someone somewhere at a reduces rate. Let's say we tag onto that email a message about the upcoming tourney, and a breif profile about one of the certified venues. When a new DVD comes out, let's say we throw a promotional tag into the email for it.

Let's also assume that we are promoting the $35 membership level, and offering some additional benefits as outlined below.

   Membership is a source of income, just like event registration- think of it it's own reoccurring event, I mean:

900 paid Members at $35/per is $31,500

If you keep the "costs" associated with a $35 member to $15, that's an additional $18,000 to the bottom line (with 900 members).

So, with 900 members, you can offer $13,500 in benefits.

Now, say:
    2% (or 18 people) of those members an all access pass to NPS at (retail $50)  say $40 because they got a discount for being a member, that adds an additional $720. You've spent $180.
    2% (or 18 people) of those members purchase all access pass to iwps at $40 (again, let's say they got a 20% discount from $50), then there is another $720
    WOWps? OK, lets assume the same, plus $720. You've spent $180.

     And the Merch store, let's say that we send out a regular MP3 of the week for sale for $.89 (exclusive to members), and 1%, or 9 people, from the membership list purchase that MP3 each week- that's  $8.01 per week or an additional $416.52 per year. You've spent $46.80

     And the year two thousand whatever DVD that results from the show? Again, let's say they get a discount (20%), and 1% of membership, or 9 people buy one (retail $19.99, disc $15.99), so we have spent $40, and acquired an additional $143.92

So far, you have "Spent" $550 of your $13,500, and added $2000, or in the neighborhood of generating $4 for every $1 you spend.

Now, let's assume you would liek to add to your membership rolls, beyond the 900. So, let's say we go to one of our most popular poets, a different one every year, and we ask them to donate the use of 5-10 recordings to use in an exclusive membership. I think it's both fair and I think alot of poets would be willing to help. Or, even turn it into a contest, or something similar.

So, we make a Special CD each year, and if someone refers someone to be a member (that had not been a member in the previous 3 years), then, each of them receive a copy of the special edition disc (cost at $6.50- shipping). Let's assume 2% (18 people) of the existing population each year actually refers someone and get credit,  so now, we have "spent" $234 additional dollars, and added $630 more dollars in income. This creates an upward cycle, creating a larger membership base and growing the other numbers organically.

These are all fast and furious numbers, but numbers I don't believe are unrealistic- IF there is a dedicated person working on the program on a regular basis.

So, let me summarize this a little better...

Assumes 900 members at the $35 level.

Category                         Generated Income       Expense
Membership Renewal         $31,500                    $5,000*
NPS Discount                    $720                         $180
iWPS Discount                  $720                         $180
WOWps Discount              $720                         $180
Store Sales
   MP3                               $416.52                    $46.80
   DVD                        $143.92                    $40
Referral Drive                      $630      $234

Totals                                 $34,850.44              $5,860.90 

Let's just assume that misc costs associated with emails, reminders, and time are placed here.   

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General Discussion / Re: Membership Retention

« on: September 02, 2010, 06:09:42 PM »

Steve-

   I'll put forth that you are correct, however, I will also put forth, at least in regards to your first point, that by allowing some of the income to be moved, you have an important additional benefit- a relationship.

   A relationship that can be leveraged later when the DVD comes out to offer it to them.
   A relationship that can be leveraged to ask for volunteers at upcoming events
   A relationship that can be motivated to participate in other activities such as the boot camp

  You're right, it doesn't change your financial well being THAT DAY. But as an investment in the future of the organization to leverage 10,000 or 20,000 (or more) person contact lists to promote events, purchase additional products, see a poet on tour, etc.

   The net cost, which basically moves some zeroes from one column to another, is low, compared to the potential benefit, is endless... how many mp3's could we sell if we posted an MP3 of the week by email? Video of the week?


The challenge, and as much as I love you, I'm gonna call you on the carpet a little on this one,

Is that PSI has not had the most success with building relationships with it's constituants. Because it is manditory to be a member to participate in events, and because nobody has ever invested the time energy, or (yeah) money in real relationship building efforts, membership, and it's opportunites have always been basically been prioritized behind other areas deemed more immediate.

Kudo's to Abbey's recent work, in reminding people of their status proactively and reaching out.

I believe, as you well know that my pro-membership position extends back many years, that PSI should consider a stipend for a qualified individual to be a membership chair, with the goal of growing new membership, and leveraging relationships within existing membership to grow PSI.

Just to put my money where my mouth is-

I will be happy to serve on a committee that discusses membership, it's opportunities and perhaps outlines some recomendations to the New ED about how to proceed.

Amy, for the record, getting more members and losing revenue from tickets and store sales is kind of taking cash from one pocket and putting it in the other. Doesn't change your financial well-being.

And your membership is completely deductible already. You get a receipt (actually you get two) and you can write this off your federal taxes each year. If you are the person who is a member at a level higher than $250, you need a special receipt, but that too happens automatically at that level.

We tried a member rate at the last one. Only two people took us up on it. It was not a big discount.

I love the idea of a members-only reading at NPS that is free.

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General Discussion / Re: Membership Retention

« on: August 31, 2010, 12:09:00 PM »

Here's the actual link on the public website for membership Q&A:

http://www.poetryslam.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=104&Itemid=123

In regards to Micro, I can totally see where he would feel that his membership has failed to provide them with a benefit.

Is that service a tangeble (and cost reasonable) benefit that we can or want provide to members outside the US?

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General Discussion / Re: Membership Retention

« on: August 30, 2010, 05:08:30 PM »

As I have been a member (at the associate level & as a Slammaster) for some time, I'll just say that there are two factors for me regarding membership:

- Ensuring that my team, and individuals can participate in PSI events
- Allowing products we create to be sold in the PSI store

As my relationship with slam is now changing, I will no longer be a slammaster that I know of, the first reason has been removed from my consideration. The second item, given that sales have not been able to recoup the amount of the membership, is also waning in importance.

What's important to me?

The development of the art form, less the sponsorship of multi day competitions and more the continued work to get slam into new places. I do not know if it is, but membership money should be budgeted seperatley from registration money, and used for other purposes than the events themselves. I am hard pressed to find a compelling motivator for me to renew my membership when it comes due, other than that someone in PSI whom I care about asking me to.

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General Discussion / Re: Publishing slam poetry?

« on: March 30, 2010, 01:26:09 PM »

1. How many slam scenes (show of hands) publish themselves? By which I mean, do you publish a book, chapbook, or CD anthology of your slam team? Of your open mic readers?
Mesa has published itself fairly regularly since 1999, with a year or two exception. Some are classics (Oof!, and Oof! 2 are veritable collector's item now), some are long lost to history. None were certifiable best sellers, and all were simple fund raising items. But then, the context in which they were published was as a fundraising item and not a true book to document the community.

Since 2000, also fairly regularly, we have released a CD of our slamoff, and as MP3's have matured as an audio medium, we are seeing a slow, but steady stream of fiscal support over time. The past continues to pitch in for the present and the future, as it were. CD's, as much as I love them, have never been a good medium for our slams. I genuinely think that the revolution in online media will be the best for slam, as it will allow the least amount of capital investment with the greatest potential for return. And as portable access to the internet becomes ubiquitous, that advantage will only increase.

We also have a good 200-300 hours of audio sitting around, waiting for attention, to be cleaned up and released. But when you're one guy, and there new stuff being created all the time, well, you know...

2. What impact has your participation in slams/ open mics had on your interest in/ ambitions for publishing your work in journals or books?
I am going to discuss (not necessarily entirely disagree) your suggestion that Journals somehow would be unable to provide the same number of recipients as a performance would. Having published a literary journal for ten years, and hosted a slam for sixteen, I would say the while each has their opportunities- both have their merits as well.

While people still talk to Mesa poets about their 1999 performances, just as many people send me emails about someone's apearence in Anthology magazine in 1999. There is an immediacy to a live performance that, depending on the performer, can last forever for the people that were there, that not even video can replicate.

There is, however, a lasting record in the journal that can extend far beyond perhaps even the life of the performer, allowing people to discover the value of the creator ad infinitum. the availability of lasting video may start to play into that some, but I believe that print provides an opportunity for the recipient's imagination that video does not.

I mean, to answer your final question, I as a publisher could guarentee that 100 people would read your poem if it were in my journal, they just would not all be in the same room providing instant gratification that seems to have found it's way to the center of the movement.

rajones hasn't logged back in since the date of his orginal post, so I feel comfortable hijacking this thread and pulling it into a slightly different direction. Two questions.

1. How many slam scenes (show of hands) publish themselves? By which I mean, do you publish a book, chapbook, or CD anthology of your slam team? Of your open mic readers?
Cantab publishes a chapbook each year with 3-4 poems from each member of our slam team. For the past two years, we've recorded an "EP" CD with each team member's "signature" track. I'd love to put together an anthology of our open mic readers, but our open mic comprises over 60 regular readers of varied styles and skill levels. I have no idea how we'd wrangle that down to a cohesive, economically feasible chapbook.

So prepping a poem for a slam and being serious about making it a better poem along that process can raise your publication odds.

-Matt

2. What impact has your participation in slams/ open mics had on your interest in/ ambitions for publishing your work in journals or books?
I used to send stuff to journals, enter newspaper contents, plaster my stuff all over the Web, dream of "making it" as a published poet, but those ambitions have largely died with my involvement in Boston's open mic scene. I can read a poem in front of 100 people at my home venue. How many journals can guarantee 100 people will read my poem?

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General Discussion / Re: Paging Scott the Mysterious (Otherwise Known as El Presidente)

« on: January 23, 2010, 05:12:01 PM »

Indeed it is there now, Big E! Thanks...

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General Discussion / Re: Paging Scott the Mysterious (Otherwise Known as El Presidente)

« on: January 22, 2010, 01:15:32 PM »

Just so ya know, good sir, I have not seen the actual attachment either... Brother Said is not crazy, unless I am crazy too, I am sure Brother Said does not want to be crazy like me...

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General Discussion / Re: Dear Steve

« on: December 23, 2009, 12:05:00 PM »

Max Scherzer will be solid.

That may be, I did miss his games last season so I didn't get to see him pitch, but I am more giving Steve grief about the Yanks getting Granderson than the Tiggers coming up short.