Open Mike Night

Last Wednesday, April 11, 2012, I attended my first real open mike night as a spectator. I had so much fun listening to the wide variety of poetry, comedy, and music–I decided that night I would make this a routine and maybe even read something of my own.

So last night I read four of my own poems at an open mike night in Greenwich Village, via The Inspired Word. I finally met Mike Geffner, who through professional matters I had only communicated with via email. He’s as great as you’d imagine: warm, kind, friendly, and professional.

The last time I read any of my poems out loud like that, I wasn’t a published poet–and my poems were much more amateur, but I thought (at the time), “Who’s really listening to me at Barnes & Noble?” back in my hometown of Springfield, Illinois. But I was still shy and nervous.

The problem for me is that I’m one of those poets who writes what looks great on the page–but I rarely read them out loud. Perhaps this is something I’ll just have to start doing as I write more.

Well, okay, so last night–even with some of the lingering effects of my screwdriver, I was still nervous, and I’m sure my cheeks were flaming red. But I did it. And how rewarding it was that, afterward, a few people told me they liked them.

It’s still National Poetry Month, and there are events that you can look into in your area. Check ‘em out!