A recent discussion in Morris Stegosaurus’ journal and a conversation last night about the poetry scene got me thinking about change and evolution and what influences both.
I haven’t been to Bar 13 in the longest and have been waiting for the next UPPERCASE to come around as a reason to go. UPPERCASE always represented the best of what we did there with the series, putting the spotlight on a handful of relative newcomers and giving them the room to stretch their legs beyond the confines of the open mic or the slam. For many, it was their first time ever as a featured poet. The vast majority stepped up to the plate and knocked it out of the park and were always appreciative of the opportunity. The criteria was admittedly subjective as I was influenced as much by the quality of the work as the quality of the person, and I frequently took chances on people who, by the definition of some, weren’t “ready yet” – a bullshit descriptor in a scene predominantly made up of relatively unaccomplished amateurs.
Anyway, I check their calendar every now and then, hoping to see an UPPERCASE on the bill and have been disappointed every time by its absence. Someone suggested that there just weren’t enough good new people to schedule one but I see that as the craftsman blaming his tools. It’s been six months or so and there haven’t been three decent newcomers on the scene? There’s more than that many at every Acentos! What. Ever.
More discouragingly, I’ve noticed a narrowing of their focus as they’ve begun doing more targeted formats like GrooveNation, for black poets; Raise the Red Tent, the rejiggered – and reportedly more restrictive – House of Woman-aka-WomanNoise; and now Q2, the new queer reading that started out at the Bowery.
Ironic that a venue once known for having one of the most inclusive reading series’ in the city is now drawing such stark lines in the sand. Disappointing, too.
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