The downtown area that I live in has an "Art Beat" every year, where artists of various genres station themsleves throughout the downtown area and create a path where people come and view their artwork, which they may be selling, performing, or whatever. So, this year I thought I would showcase my shcool's literary magazine, just to draw some attention to it, if nothing else. I asked one of the English porfessors how I should go about doing this since we do not sell the magazine, it is free. He thought I shoudl exhibit it, but focus my booth on more on the celebration of poetry in general. He thought I should read some poetry or have some audio playing. He suggested that I write a poem on the spot every now and then, (I told him was crazy and was welcome to do that himslef). Anyhow, how would you "celebrate poetry" in the setting that I described? And most of the people walking through are, as someone's grandma once said, "the artsy-fartsy types".

Offer free crumpets

You could always have a poetry reading or a poetry event. Maybe you could invite someone, maybe some of the poets featured in the magazine.

Or instead of just a reading, you could do a poetry event/performance. You can always combine poetry with music or painting or some sort of creative workshop. Perhaps something that the students could take part in. It could be all sorts of things. Depends on the people around you that could help you create such an event. You can connect it with street theartre. You could have flyers with poems on them. You could do an "open reading" thing (see Peter's report on one such event in USP - Friv con thread), Or a poetry Slam. It really depends on who (and what) you have to work with. Maybe some of the artists there would be interested in taking part in such an event.

And (last but not least) Johnny's suggestion is spot on.

What exactly are crumpets anyway?

Talia, you probably should bookmark Onelook: [www.onelook.com] />
A thought for the bazaar. I think a guessing contest using the pictures of
10 famous authors would be nice. If you have enough personnel this might work. Sell tickets for a chance at a $10-15 prize, a meal, or perhaps a ticket to a local theater performance. Sell the tickets for 25 cents, have
the buyer guess a famous poet by picture, if they get it correct, their name goes into a raffle at the end of the day, draw the winning number and award a prize.

Les

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/31/2006 11:26AM by lg.

"musical instruments you blow into made of brass"




Here's a link where a poem is flagellated to demise, but they do mention crumpets before it gives up the ghost:

[www.everypoet.org] />

Crumpets:

[uk.answers.yahoo.com]

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/30/2006 08:32PM by JohnnySansCulo.

Les, I love that idea, but what would I do with the money? Simply compensate the expenses of the prizes? What sort of prizes would be appropriate? How about Dover poetry books? Other literary magazines?

Simply compensate the expenses of the prizes?

Yeah, the first year it would be difficult to judge how much money you might generate. But certainly it wouldn't be to make a profit, simply something to draw attention to your booth.

Les

Crumpets are American?

perhaps only the TastyKake variety