Suburban Tourist
Magnolia and laburnum weigh down Selly Park roads
Everywhere seems to be a Road around here.
Do they hide their avenues and crescents
behind huge deciduous lawn decorations
that gleefully break up the sun?
I wouldn’t want to meet these branches in moonlight.
A sign for Kidderminster,
I play the word across my tongue
but know nothing of it’s people and buildings.
The people I ask for directions
are surprised that anyone would choose
to walk into town – no-one walks
and if they do, they are on their way to catch a bus!
Walking in other people’s suburbs
I am more awake to the things they would miss:
The hand-painted friezes on Nursery windows,
an attractive balcony,
graffiti so old it has become a blind spot for them.
Belgrave Interchange.
The sky-scrapers approach only at the speed I let them.
Stalling and with time
I nurse monkey-bar calluses on my right hand
from the wheeled suitcase’s adventure
of cobbles, tarmac, paving stones,
the occasional pull of sand
or soft relief of soil.
Holloway Circus Subway
signals the end to my suburban tourism.
Ruth Stacey: Weaved delicate verse and then hit us with “the bear who brings white roses that smell of other girls”. http://ruthstacey.com/
Laura Yates: “Whatever we say it always feels like saying Goodbye.” was a line that felt as if it had been lived by everyone in the room. Birmingham poem. No webpage.
Sarah James: “Vases I have known” addressed the suggested Volume theme and her poem about a born organiser who had Alzheimer’s was difficult to listen to. http://www.sarah-james.co.uk/
Gary Longden: As well as providing a comprehensive blog of the event within 24 hours, Gary also amused us with his adultery poem “Her mind might have been elsewhere, but her clothes were straight”. http://garylongden.wordpress.com/
Bobby Parker: His pieces were raw, but tempered with a delicate dark humour. http://www.argotistonline.co.uk/Parker%20poems.htm
Charlie Jordan: The lines: “hand-drawn maps to the bridge are no use” and“Bridges are where I feel small.”Charlie was so easy at the mic it didn’t surprise me to find out she has taken up a drivetime DJ slot for Smooth FM this week. http://www.charliejordan.co.uk/
Ian Bowkett: Cool Rubik’s cube prop and: “Tomorrow we wake up better people with longer hair and a lesson learnt.” http://ianbowkett.bandcamp.com/
Jenny Hope: The assured gentleness of Jenny contrasted well after Ian’s set. Sound effects “brrrrrtchhhh brrrttcccccch! I meant to ask to see how it was written. ‘satin ribbons from remnant skies’ stunning imagery. “In winter I dress in icy armour, it keeps my heart soft.” www.poetrymaker.co.uk
Ddotti Bluebell: I took dozens of photos in this set as Ddotti was expressive and entertaining. Happily managed to capture her kicking arse. Loving the fact the white hairdressers didn’t know what to do with the Dreads, but neither did the black ones! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmV1nD0nFVI
Matt “Man” Windle: Matt had invested ‘Awe of Us’ with passion. The line that stood out was:”I refuse to belittle… I’m just half as tall.” I asked for a copy of this so I can absorb it, a poem you want to hear a dozen times! And he made me cry! http://mattwindle.wordpress.com/
Massive Brummie Welcome – I was delighted that there was a generous amount of the Brum accent in the performances – in contrast to not one native of York in the previous event.
Birmingham Surprises:
1) I had only met one person in the room for a couple of hours, but the Brummie welcome was so warm I felt I was among friends before I even stepped up the mic!
2) No performer needed nudging about timings
3) The audience were as friendly and enthusiastic about the tour as the performers!
4) Taxi drivers said “How much do you want to pay?” This was especially useful when one took me on a 6 mile round detour by taking me back to Serpentine Road in Harbourne rather than Serpentine Road in Selly Park!
5) Pershore Road goes on forever! Well I never found the end!
6) Akram’s Curry house was excellent.
7) Misfitted Dance (where I bought a bookmark, a badge and a fabric mother’s day gift.
8) I am being interviewed by a member of the audience for a guest blog (not something I had thought was an option).
Hexagon Surprises:
1) The performers, though I knew there was a good mix of performance and more page-based poets I never believed it could go that well.
2) Venue was amazing and we had green rooms and performer’s toilet!
3) This venue had proper tickets!
4) They did a doors open announcement for The Quiet Compere! OOOOH!
5) The panic of having sold 14 tickets before the event dissipated as there were over forty of us in the end!
6) It was fun to have a lanyard again, just under a year after I handed back my last NHS one.
(ALL EXCLAMATION MARKS ARE DEEMED NECESSARY BY THE AUTHOR!)
Learning Curve 3
1) I am trying to get into the habit of posting review within a week of the event, so it feels fresher and I do not over-analyse it.
2) People do not like to fill out questionnaires unless you stand there and wait for your pen back.
3) There will ALWAYS be walk-up!
4) I found I was the not-so Quiet Compere and performed seven poems here, I decided I am still The Quiet Compere because these poems were mostly quiet contemplative pieces rather than all-out performance pieces.
5) It is well worth a small extra fee from venues to have the logo projected on a screen (if the option is available) and to plan this further in advance next time.
6) That I should NEVER get my hopes up about the T-shirts! Still not arrived – were supposed to be ready for Manchester event on 31st January!
7) Ask someone to review each time (in advance if possible – offer a free ticket to known local reviewer). Three reviews posted within 3 days of the event.
8) Next time stay with friends – sharing the poetry buzz is always better – felt a little bereft, but every awake when everyone else left.
9) Superb venues are often worth double the hire cost.
10) I get the impression poets and audience would be happy to pay £5 for this format and this would not reduce audience numbers significantly and may make future tours viable.
Please check out other blogs on this event here:
The Quiet Compere, MAC, Birmingham
The Quiet Compere (21/3/14)
http://thegirlwhogrewintoacrocodile.wordpress.com/2014/03/23/the-joy-of-publication-and-an-evening-with-the-quiet-compere/
The Quiet Compere Tour is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
Birmingham Quiet Compere Review
Suburban Tourist
Magnolia and laburnum weigh down Selly Park roads
Everywhere seems to be a Road around here.
Do they hide their avenues and crescents
behind huge deciduous lawn decorations
that gleefully break up the sun?
I wouldn’t want to meet these branches in moonlight.
A sign for Kidderminster,
I play the word across my tongue
but know nothing of it’s people and buildings.
The people I ask for directions
are surprised that anyone would choose
to walk into town – no-one walks
and if they do, they are on their way to catch a bus!
Walking in other people’s suburbs
I am more awake to the things they would miss:
The hand-painted friezes on Nursery windows,
an attractive balcony,
graffiti so old it has become a blind spot for them.
Belgrave Interchange.
The sky-scrapers approach only at the speed I let them.
Stalling and with time
I nurse monkey-bar calluses on my right hand
from the wheeled suitcase’s adventure
of cobbles, tarmac, paving stones,
the occasional pull of sand
or soft relief of soil.
Holloway Circus Subway
signals the end to my suburban tourism.
Ruth Stacey: Weaved delicate verse and then hit us with “the bear who brings white roses that smell of other girls”. http://ruthstacey.com/
Laura Yates: “Whatever we say it always feels like saying Goodbye.” was a line that felt as if it had been lived by everyone in the room. Birmingham poem. No webpage.
Sarah James: “Vases I have known” addressed the suggested Volume theme and her poem about a born organiser who had Alzheimer’s was difficult to listen to. http://www.sarah-james.co.uk/
Gary Longden: As well as providing a comprehensive blog of the event within 24 hours, Gary also amused us with his adultery poem “Her mind might have been elsewhere, but her clothes were straight”. http://garylongden.wordpress.com/
Bobby Parker: His pieces were raw, but tempered with a delicate dark humour. http://www.argotistonline.co.uk/Parker%20poems.htm
Charlie Jordan: The lines: “hand-drawn maps to the bridge are no use” and“Bridges are where I feel small.”Charlie was so easy at the mic it didn’t surprise me to find out she has taken up a drivetime DJ slot for Smooth FM this week. http://www.charliejordan.co.uk/
Ian Bowkett: Cool Rubik’s cube prop and: “Tomorrow we wake up better people with longer hair and a lesson learnt.” http://ianbowkett.bandcamp.com/
Jenny Hope: The assured gentleness of Jenny contrasted well after Ian’s set. Sound effects “brrrrrtchhhh brrrttcccccch! I meant to ask to see how it was written. ‘satin ribbons from remnant skies’ stunning imagery. “In winter I dress in icy armour, it keeps my heart soft.” www.poetrymaker.co.uk
Ddotti Bluebell: I took dozens of photos in this set as Ddotti was expressive and entertaining. Happily managed to capture her kicking arse. Loving the fact the white hairdressers didn’t know what to do with the Dreads, but neither did the black ones! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmV1nD0nFVI
Matt “Man” Windle: Matt had invested ‘Awe of Us’ with passion. The line that stood out was:”I refuse to belittle… I’m just half as tall.” I asked for a copy of this so I can absorb it, a poem you want to hear a dozen times! And he made me cry! http://mattwindle.wordpress.com/
Massive Brummie Welcome – I was delighted that there was a generous amount of the Brum accent in the performances – in contrast to not one native of York in the previous event.
Birmingham Surprises:
1) I had only met one person in the room for a couple of hours, but the Brummie welcome was so warm I felt I was among friends before I even stepped up the mic!
2) No performer needed nudging about timings
3) The audience were as friendly and enthusiastic about the tour as the performers!
4) Taxi drivers said “How much do you want to pay?” This was especially useful when one took me on a 6 mile round detour by taking me back to Serpentine Road in Harbourne rather than Serpentine Road in Selly Park!
5) Pershore Road goes on forever! Well I never found the end!
6) Akram’s Curry house was excellent.
7) Misfitted Dance (where I bought a bookmark, a badge and a fabric mother’s day gift.
8) I am being interviewed by a member of the audience for a guest blog (not something I had thought was an option).
Hexagon Surprises:
1) The performers, though I knew there was a good mix of performance and more page-based poets I never believed it could go that well.
2) Venue was amazing and we had green rooms and performer’s toilet!
3) This venue had proper tickets!
4) They did a doors open announcement for The Quiet Compere! OOOOH!
5) The panic of having sold 14 tickets before the event dissipated as there were over forty of us in the end!
6) It was fun to have a lanyard again, just under a year after I handed back my last NHS one.
(ALL EXCLAMATION MARKS ARE DEEMED NECESSARY BY THE AUTHOR!)
Learning Curve 3
1) I am trying to get into the habit of posting review within a week of the event, so it feels fresher and I do not over-analyse it.
2) People do not like to fill out questionnaires unless you stand there and wait for your pen back.
3) There will ALWAYS be walk-up!
4) I found I was the not-so Quiet Compere and performed seven poems here, I decided I am still The Quiet Compere because these poems were mostly quiet contemplative pieces rather than all-out performance pieces.
5) It is well worth a small extra fee from venues to have the logo projected on a screen (if the option is available) and to plan this further in advance next time.
6) That I should NEVER get my hopes up about the T-shirts! Still not arrived – were supposed to be ready for Manchester event on 31st January!
7) Ask someone to review each time (in advance if possible – offer a free ticket to known local reviewer). Three reviews posted within 3 days of the event.
8) Next time stay with friends – sharing the poetry buzz is always better – felt a little bereft, but every awake when everyone else left.
9) Superb venues are often worth double the hire cost.
10) I get the impression poets and audience would be happy to pay £5 for this format and this would not reduce audience numbers significantly and may make future tours viable.
Please check out other blogs on this event here:
The Quiet Compere, MAC, Birmingham
The Quiet Compere (21/3/14)
http://thegirlwhogrewintoacrocodile.wordpress.com/2014/03/23/the-joy-of-publication-and-an-evening-with-the-quiet-compere/
The Quiet Compere Tour is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.