I’m all right, Jackanory

Posted by Jeff on Jun 20th, 2021 in News | 0 comments

Hi there.

Up for some poetry on a Saturday morning?
Think of it like the Saturday morning cartoons from your childhood.

This Saturday the 26th at 9:00 a.m. EST, I’m featuring on Zoom in Jackanory (based in Wakefield, England) along with my Nashville friend Christine Hall (host of Poetry in the Brew) and British poet Pauline Seawards. Hosted by Halima Mayat. There’s also an open mic, so bring something of your own. Link on the right sidebar.

That’s about it for now.

Now watch this.

Bye there.

Lucky we didn’t say anything about the Runcible Knife

Posted by Jeff on May 2nd, 2021 in News | 0 comments

It’s May. Two events coming up… and a bit more publication news.

First up: next Sunday, I’m doing another Zoom feature in Runcible Spoon, based in Leeds, England. This is my second Runcible gig in less than five months – they must like me or something.

The other feature will be my Australian Zoom buddy Skylar J. Wynter, who has been very busy over the last year. Her recent book Pieces of Humanity was included in gift bags for Academy Award nominees, which makes her, if not famous, at least famous-adjacent.
The night (afternoon here) will be hosted by American expat Kathleen Strafford, and there will be an open mic, so tune in and bring something of yours to read or perform. Another truly international poetry event.

Also, another Ad Lib night happening later in the month. I promote this monthly event as a gig, even though it’s really more of a glorified open-mic night these days… anyway, bring something to share for a supportive group.

More info and stuff on the side. If there’s no Zoom link yet, be patient.

*****

Also: the Italian arts website The Dreaming Machine recently published my poem “If It Happened Now”. Here’s the linky link.

I initially worried that this poem was going to offend and anger people. I was expecting reactions like, “How dare you suggest cancel culture might exist!” or “How dare you take a swipe at the #MeToo movement!” or “How dare you make fun of Saint Ronan Farrow! And his brave sister, God bless her!”
Instead, people seem to like the poem. And the few who don’t are more like, “Oh come on, you’re just trying too hard again, stupid. More of your dumb hacky stand-up clichés,” followed by bored yawns and snorts.

But that’s the weird thing about offence, isn’t it?
I have a long history of offending and angering people, with my spoken word and social-media posts, and ninety-nine percent of the time, it’s not on purpose. It’s when I think I’m going to offend people that nothing happens, or I get bored reactions like the one above. But then, people – sometimes even the same people – will completely freak out and tell me I’m single-handedly destroying society because of one throwaway line that I didn’t think about, that it never even occurred to me would be offensive. That’s what happened with “A Love Letter”, of course, and with a few other pieces. It’s a constant learning experience. You can never predict what will trigger people, or what won’t.

Anyway. Who cares? It’s just art.
Like this:

Good day.

April, come I will

Posted by Jeff on Mar 28th, 2021 in News | 0 comments

April isn’t shaping up to be quite the Month of Jeff that March tried to be. But with the silly lockdown still going on everywhere, I’m still racking up the online performance gigs. Here’s what I got coming up:

1) Life of Brian
This Saturday night, I’m going to play Brian Cohen (the Graham Chapman role) in a live Zoom script reading of the classic Monty Python movie – just in time for Easter. Put together by Mark Kalzer, who also organized the It’s a Wonderful Life reading a few months ago in which I played Mr. Potter. Mark, my friend Damon Lum, and other local actors will play multiple smaller roles. The reading will be livestreamed on Facebook.

2) The Word Is Write
Instead of taking that left turn at Albuquerque, or missing it, why not just stay there? This weekly New Mexico-based poetry open mic is hosted by Marissa Prada, and I’m featuring alongside Maine poet Generalissimo Bryan Franco.

3) Voices of Poetry
A showcase of different, unique poetic styles, hosted by James “Mr. Speaker” Sears. Featuring poets from New York, Virginia and Baltimore. I get to be the token Canadian.

More info/links on the right sidebar.

* * * * *

Performance of spoken word is fun and cool, but it’s publication where the real literary credibility lies. This year – thanks to the contacts I’ve been making or reconnecting with via Zoom – I’m being published in no fewer than five (5) anthologies, in three different countries:

1) Things Fall Apart: Mischievous Machines (Leeds, U.K.)
Hannah Stone, who co-hosted my feature at WordSpace in 2018, edited this anthology of comedic poems and prose about historical technology failures. It includes my flash-fiction piece “The Flying Car”. Copies are limited; to get one, e-mail Hannah at hannahstone14@hotmail.com. It’s £2.50 including shipping.

2) Globalisation: The Sphere Keeps Spinning (Sydney, Australia)
My poem “ZoomMobile” appears in this Zoom-inspired anthology edited by Kelly Van Nelson, who recently interviewed me in the podcast Wordsmith. The book includes dozens of globalization-themed works by poets from around the world. You can buy a copy at this link.

3) Brownstone Poets 2021 Anthology (New York)
This annual anthology, edited by Patricia Carragon, will be published around June and include my poem “This Is Not Real Poetry” (written in late 2015).

4) Great Weather for Media (New York)
I’ve got a bit of a history with this NYC press, having featured in their Sunday series at the Parkside Lounge in 2014. This year, they’ve accepted my experimental poem “How to Make Money in Poetry” for their annual anthology, which is due out in August.

5) Bodies (Nashville)
Poetry in the Brew is one of the blessings of the Zoom poetry world, a weekly series in which poets from around the world feel safe to try out new material before a supportive community. In 2021, the series is celebrating its tenth anniversary with an anthology called “Bodies”, on the theme of… bodies. Included will be my comical prose poem, “Kirschner’s Groovy Style”. This will also be published in August.

See? I do stuff. I write, I perform, I even pretend to act.
Now have a swell spring. Here’s a puppy.

March comes in like Dev Patel and goes out like Rael

Posted by Jeff on Feb 28th, 2021 in News | 0 comments

Remember the Summer of George?
Looks like March may be the Month of Jeff. Hopefully it’ll go better for me than that summer went for George Costanza. But it’s not just egotism that’s motivating this proclamation. It’s because I’ve got a bunch of events going on this month… in four different countries, thanks to Zoom.

1) March 2: Interview on ThatChannel.com
This Tuesday, fellow Toronto poet Ivy Reiss is interviewing me live on http://www.ThatChannel.com. The likely topic will be the international Zoom poetry community, although I’m still waiting for confirmation on that.

This will be the second time Ivy interviews me live on Internet TV. Here’s the first time, two years ago. I expected more anger and controversy from this topic, but it didn’t surface. Maybe I should have been angrier or something:

2) March 12: They Call Me Mitch
I’ll be the feature at this weekly San Francisco spoken-word series, which has picked up a wide international following over the last several months on Zoom. There’s an open mic too.

3) March 14: Run Your Tongue
For months, host Rob Reeves has made me the unofficial headliner at this Kettering, England semimonthly poetry series, slotting me at the end of the first set with extra time. Now, I’m getting a full feature set. There’s an open mic too.

4) March 19: Nowt But Verse
British poet Hannah Stone interviews me and lets me perform a few pieces in this event hosted by the Leeds Library in Leeds, England. A free event, but donations to the Library are encouraged.

5) March 25: Globalisation anthology launch
My poem “ZoomMobile” is included in the upcoming anthology Globalisation: The Sphere Keeps Spinning, based in Sydney (but with contributions from all over the world). The editor, Kelly Van Nelson, hosts the Making Magic Happen Press monthly open-mic night as a launch for the book.

There’s also supposed to be a launch event for another anthology I’m being published in, but I’m still waiting for confirmation on the date. I may update this post when I know. In case anybody’s actually reading this.

For links and other information, check the right sidebar. I can’t do everything, you know.

Also, remember that Valentine’s Day show I did a couple of weeks ago? If you missed it, you can watch it here. Lots of interesting performers from all over the world:

Be kind and stuff.

In the mood for art? Simply because it’s not near you?

Posted by Jeff on Feb 7th, 2021 in News | 0 comments

Got nothing to do on Valentine’s Day?
(That’s not a comment on your love life or your sexual prowess. That’s an honest question. Because if the answer is “Why, my schedule is free, good sir,” then I have a fun suggestion. Do keep reading.)

Because you can attend St. Valentine’s Day Mascara.
This is going to be the biggest international Valentine-themed poetry event ever. Well, the biggest one that I’ve ever heard of, anyway. And I’m one of many performers – mostly poets, but also some music and performance art.

Like I said, this is truly an international event – a co-production of Poetry in the Brew (Nashville), Like a Blot from the Blue (Scotland), and Eye Publish Ewe (San Francisco), with poets from the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland, Australia, Mexico, and more. Zoom has made this gathering possible.

The lineup includes Christine Hall, Tish Camp, Edith Blackbird, Kelly Van Nelson, Skylar J. Wynter and others. Many of us made short videos to promote the thing. Here’s mine:

The link to the Facebook event page is on the listing on the right sidebar. The event will broadcast on Facebook Live.

Also: Ad Lib Talent Night happens again on February 19. Link to come on right sidebar.

Now, GO, my son.

The Wordsmith podcast is up. Come visit me in Australia.

Posted by Jeff on Jan 21st, 2021 in News | 0 comments

I’ve mentioned in a couple of past posts that I was interviewed for an Australian poetry podcast called Wordsmith. You didn’t think I’d lie about something like that, did you?

Well, burn and drown your suspicions in castor oil, my friends, because the episode is now live.
Here’s the Spotify link.

If you’re not a fan of Spotify, fear not – it’s also on Anchor:

Bestselling Australian poet (yes, you read that right – down under, apparently, poetry books can become bestsellers) Kelly Van Nelson interviews me and allows me to perform a few pieces: “Like Poem”, “An Ode to the Moon”, “Kids Write Jokes: A Found Poem” and one that I don’t do often, “Online Public Shamer”.
I rarely read the last one because it’s a controversial take on cancel cul—I mean, online shami—I mean, Twittermobbi—okay, FINE, “accountability”.

In the meantime, keep your ears peeled and your eyes flaked for some Zoom events I’m involved in. Tomorrow is another Ad Lib Talent show (celebrating host Damon Lum’s birthday), and there’s more stuff coming in the next three or four months.

And congratulations to America’s new leader, President NotTrump.

Bye now.

There’s more of gravy than of grave about you, whatever you are

Posted by Jeff on Dec 21st, 2020 in News | 0 comments

Just a quick note that I’ve been featured in this week’s episode of the Poets and Muses poetry podcast. Imogen Arate interviews me about my poem “Wilfred Owen’s Off-Day”, and then we talk about her poem “I Bought the 18″ ”.

The interview was recorded from a Skype call, and my side came out scratchy for some reason. Just imagine you’re listening to it on a phonograph in 1925. Listen to it here:

I mentioned a couple of posts ago that I was also interviewed for the new Australian podcast Wordsmith. The podcast has begun, but I don’t know yet when my episode is being aired. I’ll be sure to bug you about it when I know.

Also, Ad Lib’s Got Talent is happening again soon… twice. Once on New Year’s Eve, and again for Damon Lum’s birthday. Zoom links to come, via the right sidebar.

Now look at doggies.

Merry Xmas, you beautiful old Building & Loan.

Three events and a wacky story

Posted by Jeff on Dec 12th, 2020 in News | 0 comments

Hi visitors. If you exist.

Here’s what I’m doing over the next few weeks:

1) Runcible Spoon
Tomorrow afternoon, I’m featuring in this Zoom poetry series based in Leeds, England, with three other features and an open mic.

2) It’s a Wonderful Life
Next Saturday, I’m playing Mr. Potter in this live Zoom reading of the script of the Christmas staple, with a bunch of local actors. And I promise to pay fifty cents on the dollar for all holders of Bailey Building & Loan shares.

3) Ad Lib’s Got Talent
Another one of these things. But this time, it’s a special New Year’s Eve show.

Check the listings on the right sidebar for more info.
There should be links with Zoom info closer to the dates.

Also, I posted a new short story on my Wattpad site:
“Filmmakers’ Heaven”
I’ve been revising this one on and off for more than two years. It’s still far from a final draft, I’m sure, but it’s such a fun concept that I enjoy sharing it, and it seems to amuse people.

Holly Happidays.

I’m in a podcast Down Under. Where verses flow and words thunder.

Posted by Jeff on Nov 6th, 2020 in News | 0 comments

Gonna make this as quick as I can, as I’ve got a lot I want to do this weekend, and I know you’re all distracted by the election silliness down south…

1) Wordsmith Podcast Launch
I was recently interviewed for Wordsmith, an upcoming poetry podcast series in Sydney, Australia. Date of the episode to come. If you can’t wait until then (and you’re cool with waking up at four in the morning), I’ll be at the Zoom series launch event this Sunday. Featuring Kelly Van Nelson and Miriam Hechtman; other guests include my friend Special K and many others.

2) Ad Lib’s Got Talent
Another one of these. The usual gang of idiots, including me. Blah blah blah.

3) Runcible Spoon
Another Zoom gig in the U.K., next month. More details closer to the date.

More info and links on the right sidebar. Do your thing.

By the way, did you read my Digital Journal article about the Zoom poetry phenomenon?
No? Well, here it is.

Bye now. Happy November.

Radio Plays the Poetry Stars?

Posted by Jeff on Oct 13th, 2020 in News | 0 comments

As further evidence of my bold assertion in the previous entry that October is the Month of Jeff, here’s a quick note to let you know that I’m going to be on the radio tomorrow.

British radio, that is.
I’ll be reading two silly poems – “Adequate Man” and “How to Make Money in Poetry” – in Under the Evening Light, which airs on Severn FM in Gloucester, England. (My readings are pre-recorded.) If you’ve been following my Zoom exploits over the past couple of months, I’m sure you’ve already heard these two pieces about ten times each now. If you haven’t, though, then they’ll be new to you.

Other readers: Scott Coe, Clive Oseman, Gary Huskisson and Simon Alderwick.
Lucia Daramus hosts the program. 2:00-3:00 Eastern Standard Time.

“But Jeff,” you say, “I’m in Toronto. How can I listen in if the station is all the way over there? My radio isn’t that powerful. Nobody’s is. You’ve got a lot of explaining to do, Sonny-me-boy.”
Fortunately, you can hear the show online at this link.

Also, a reminder that I’m doing these two events on October 30:

Afternoon: Pic n Mix
A U.K. event, which will feature other spoken-word artists and an open mic.

Evening: Ad Lib’s Got Talent – Zoom Edition
The usual gang of idiots is back, for this talent night that happens at Toronto’s Arts and Letters Club during normal times.

Info on the above events in the right sidebar. Click back for updated links.

Oh! And I just posted a new work-in-progress story on Wattpad.com.
It’s called “Pencil”. It’s about a young man who almost loses his prized writing tool. And some other stuff happens.

Now? Time for a cartoon.