Last night I was privileged to read at Hemingway's with Robin Clarke, Fred Shaw and Robert Gibb. Have you been there? It's a strange physical set-up - large room in the back of the bar, nearly divided by a wall - so that the reader and mic are set up right across from that protruding part-wall and you read to both sides of the room. I always feel a bit like an oscillating sprinkler, moving my head back and forth at hopefully useful intervals.
The tables are close, the crowd big and the (wonderful and long-suffering) waitress has to wind her way through, nearly brushing the mic as her tray of beer and fries moves to meet its buyer. In short it's awkward - and it's wonderful. Why is that?
It's the poets who run this series and the poets who come to hear the readers. Joan and Jimmy and Don-the-sound-guy fill Pittsburgh's summer with readings from all kinds of word-artists. And the Hemingway listeners are among the best you will find. Every face is glued to the reader, all those ears are open, and the feedback for the poet is immediate and genuine. There is something both unpretentious and serious in the room.
The evening closes with an open reading - two poems per reader (many only read one.) When a young man stepped to the mic and announced it was the first time he ever read a poem in public, the whole room murmured encouragement. If you are reading your first poem out loud ever -- Hemingway's is the right place place to do it. The readings are every Tuesday at 8 p.m., the line up is exciting. You can google Hemingway's Poetry Series to learn more. Come on out.
The tables are close, the crowd big and the (wonderful and long-suffering) waitress has to wind her way through, nearly brushing the mic as her tray of beer and fries moves to meet its buyer. In short it's awkward - and it's wonderful. Why is that?
It's the poets who run this series and the poets who come to hear the readers. Joan and Jimmy and Don-the-sound-guy fill Pittsburgh's summer with readings from all kinds of word-artists. And the Hemingway listeners are among the best you will find. Every face is glued to the reader, all those ears are open, and the feedback for the poet is immediate and genuine. There is something both unpretentious and serious in the room.
The evening closes with an open reading - two poems per reader (many only read one.) When a young man stepped to the mic and announced it was the first time he ever read a poem in public, the whole room murmured encouragement. If you are reading your first poem out loud ever -- Hemingway's is the right place place to do it. The readings are every Tuesday at 8 p.m., the line up is exciting. You can google Hemingway's Poetry Series to learn more. Come on out.