Slamarillo poets… What do you want?

Hello poets

As the New Year settles into our lives I believe it’s time to take a breath and focus ourselves. Slamarillo is in transition to a new slammaster and by doing so slamarillo will naturedly get a new feel. I have my own general vision for slamarillo. It’s no good if I keep it to myself… so here it is… I want Slamarillo a “self funded community arts experience” meaning…

Self Funded… The audience and poets is our lifeline. The poetry slam doesn’t spend more than it makes. So if we need a mic or to pay a feature… we have to have the funds… we will definitely seek donations and help from the community BUT in most cases it will be partnerships meaning we earn the respect of the community first…

Community… A give back mentality that helps us poets walk what most of us talk. We poets seem to have this “the world owes me” mentality… and I don’t know where it comes from… it has no place in Slamarillo that’s why poets and audience alike pay the cover. We have to earn the respect from our community so they can feel they can back us. In the Amarillo art world this usually means we donate our time and talents… donate… for free. Give first then take.

For example: (I’ll get back on track in a sec) Slamarillo has been working on different relationships with WTAMU. In 2009 we will start a college spoken word radio show on 91.1, have a bi-monthly poetry slam at the panhandle plains historical museum (last Thursday of every other month starting in Feb) and will be part of a poetry writer’s workshop featuring a Slamarillo Poetry Slam. Cool Huh? None of this would be happening without partnerships with Jenna from the YMCA, Daniel’s hard work on contacts and some workshops I did. I say that to make the following point…

If only a few Slamarillo poets participate in the featured WTAMU Slamarillo Slam… What kind of an introduction is that to poetry virgins? What kind of relationship will that build with the radio station? Or the panhandle professional writers association which is part of the workshop? Would WT want to continue supporting poetry through us after that? Slamarillo ends up being a joke. You may think I’m over exaggerating but there have been plenty of outreach opportunities that slamarillo has had in the past that ended up being Daniel and I or Jenna and I. heck, one workshop opportunity that could have put slamarillo on a great rotation and donation Daniel had to do on his own. We weren’t asked back. Not because Daniel didn’t do a great job but because in their eyes they saw the great SLAMARILLO POETRY SLAM! And only one poet showed he cared by donating his time to spread poetry to youth. BUT… Not any more, right? We are a Slamarillo Poetry Community that gives back. (Ok back on track…)

Arts Experience… Poets want ears to hear, Slammers want judges to judge and the Audience wants a reason to pay and be somewhere on a Tuesday night. Most audiences unknowingly sing to the words of Nirvana “here we are now Entertain Us”. Slamarillo is intelligent entertainment! Intelligent entertainment is having a poetry slam that encourages the arts to be part of show. Inviting open mic-ers, novelist, painters, music (of all kinds…yes, even country), freaks, dancers, comedians… to be part of the show turning it into an experience. An experience not only for the audience but also for the poets and performers. (I mean really, why have our own poetry slam bore us.)

A self funded community arts experience! What do you think? No really What do you think? Here’s the more important part….

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

You see the above is just part of the vision for Slamarillo… I’m asking what you the poets want. Because it’s no use in putting forth energy and funds for “A” to happen when you couldn’t careless if “A” happens. You rather be doing “B”. But I won’t know if you don’t tell me. What is important to you as Amarillo Slamarillo Poets? (By important I mean “____” is your goal with Slamarillo. Or This is why you slam at slamarillo. This is what you want more of…)

Examples:
I want to be around artsy people like me without censorship.
I want to hang out with friends and be part of the art community.
I want it to be more open mic like 806 but different.
I want to be on the team going to NPS.
I want to educate people about poetry.
I just want to read my stuff and have fun.
I don’t care about being on a NPS team but I like competing.

The more you tell me the better Slamarillo can be… I have my ideas BUT What I need to know is… Slamarillo Poets what do you want?

BE HONEST!

Thanks for your time and info.

Raul

WTAMU, the Panhandle Professional Writer’s Association & Slamarillo Lit & Poetry Workshop

Join WTAMU, Panhandler's Professional Writer's Association & Slamarillo for a writer's workshop at WTAMU on January 16 & 17
Various techniques for short stories, novels & poetry.

We need at least 30 writers to sign up.... yeah i said 30 writers...

Slamarillo's own Raul "magic man" Rodarte will be doing a Spoken word / Oral Poetry Workshop. Then later at 7pm after pizza Slamarillo will host an open mic and poetry slam at Legends! Respond to this blog to sign up for the slam.

Get details and Sign up at the following links…
http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3Lnd0YW11LmVkdS9+cHR5cmVyLw==
http://www.wtamu.edu/~ptyrer/Writer%27sWeek-End.html


Reading gives us some place to go when we have to stay where we are." -- Mason Cooley

Slamarillo in 2009!