Topics

16

General Discussion / What should I know about sound equipment?

« on: January 07, 2008, 11:22:19 AM »

I'm going to produce my first performance poetry show in about a month.  The venue is a coffee house with a small stage.  Some of you might know the (now-defunct) Java Hut in Worcester; it's a similar room layout, but maybe 75% of the size.  This will be an open-mic and feature.  I figure I need a microphone and mic-stand on stage, a speaker on stage, and possibly a speaker in the back of the room.

I know the sound goes into the microphone and comes out of the speaker.  Usually louder.  That's about what I know about sound equipment.

My wife is a school choir director, so she has some knowledge of this stuff, but amplifying/recording a big chorus with piano and soloists is a much bigger thing than I'm trying to do, and also her school has students and staff to handle a lot of the technical stuff.

Mostly this venue hosts folk musicians, jazz trios, etc.  Those people tend to bring their own equipment.  I've seen a professional storyteller in this venue; she brought her own hide-in-hairdo wireless mic setup.  In fact, she brought two, which was a good move, because her battery died and she had a plan B.  The venue has some sound equipment.  I'm sure I'll get more details on that.  That's all I know.  When I start discussing my equipment needs with the venue owners, I want to have some idea what I'm talking about.

Thanks in advance!

17

General Discussion / My first out-of-town show... publicity advice?

« on: November 23, 2007, 07:53:42 PM »

A week from now, I'm going to be the featured poet at a place where nobody knows me.  They put out a call a few months ago for features, I responded, and they booked me.  I'm new at this, I've never been to the National Poetry Slam, heck, I only have 40 MySpace friends.  I'm completely unknown on the West Coast.

The organizer says that December is usually their worst month in terms of attendance.  (It's entirely possible that's why I got booked.)  Still, I want to pack the place.

So, open question to you touring poets out there: what kind of publicity do you do for your shows?  The venue has a MySpace page and Web site, and I'm mentioned on those.  The SlamMistress (her term) sent a press release to the weekly Arts & Culture paper, and I suppose she has a mailing list or something.  That's what the venue can do.  What can/should I do?

I've printed up about 50 die-of-cute fliers and I'll be putting them up at the local university (my buddy attends grad school there, so he'll be my guide on campus).  There's a big craft fair/farmers' market the morning of my feature; it's apparently a big event, so I'm going to put on my best smile and try to hand out fliers there, too.

Is there any percentage in getting in touch with student newspapers/college English departments/high school English departments?  I mean, I was pretty nerdy in high school, but even I drew the line at asking my English teachers for suggestions on what to do with my Saturday nights.

The show is on Saturday, and I'll arrive in town Thursday night, so I'll have 48 hours to drum up an audience.  I feel weird and awkward about marketing myself to strangers, but I also know that life doesn't get much more weird and awkward than reading poetry in a mostly-empty room, so I'm willing to put some effort into this.  I'm very grateful to the venue for booking me, and I want them to feel good about that decision.

I'd be grateful for any advice.

-Ransacked

(PS: I've deliberately avoided giving out specifics on this post, because while I'd love to use the forum to plug my own shows, it seemed just a little bit icky.  PM me if you'd like specifics or you'd just like to see the die-of-cute flier)