Pop-Ups
the best new idea?
I fully believe art should be free and artists should be paid. What a conundrum! How do I solve this for myself and my writing/art practice? In the present moment, it means finding a way to give something to the community and support myself a little.
April, being National Poetry Month, will be an experiment with the Pop-Up workshop. To that end, I will be holding weekly writing workshops at local bookshops and libraries within a ten mile or so radius. I have developed a few BRIEF (1-2 hour) workshops based on my longer ones. I will announce this project tomorrow night at the launch of my latest book of poems. 6:30PM AT ROCK CITY CAFE in Rockland, ME. Here is the book.
THE BOOK
Come if you can and meet others who enjoy poetry. Two local poets, Claire Millikin and Ellen Goldsmith, will join me and read from their work. My “wing women.” Books and small art available for sale via hello, hello books. Small open reading too! Bring a poem.
But I digress…
The pop-up workshops will be FREE to attend. Yup… FREE. As in zero $$$ to attend.
Participants need only show up with a pen or pencil and an open mind. As for venues, I will ask local shops and libraries to provide me a table, chairs, and a place to put up a sign announcing the workshop. We will all write together on a topic chosen by the venue and me. Open mind…. we will play with words and experiment. No “talent” needed, just the aforementioned open mind.
Should be fun. Will be fun. I kinda, sorta guarantee that.
SO…
What about the part where the artist gets paid? How the heck will that happen at a FREE workshop?
Enter the tip jar.
At each pop-up, I will have a “suggested donation” (tip) jar and rely upon the good will and pleasant workshop experience of participants to drop in a fiver, a buck, loose change from the couch cushions, or a big fat check (no, probably not), or maybe buy one of my books.
This whole thing may be a colossal flop. Or it may be the best new thing. I have an idea that maybe it will work. Come find out with me.
Possible workshop topics:
The List Poem
The Self Portrait Poem
The Prose Poem (yes, it’s a real thing)
The Memory Poem
The Family Story Poem
One-Page Booklet Poem
The Letter/Postcard Poem
The Rant Poem (political or social justice)
Another wild possibility: Want to host a free pop-up? I will do one for your poetry or book group, your local library, etc. NO FEE. Just a table, chairs, tip jar, books. Get in touch with me: mainepoet@me.com to set up something. Anything within a 10-15 mile radius of Rockland, ME. I will be available all spring and summer except for April 14-20 and July 4-11.
That’s it for now. Please comment below whether you think this is nutty or a great idea.