SparkCon Planning Site

PoetrySpark Mtg Notes – 6/22/09

PoetrySpark Organizing Group Mtg Notes – 6/22/09

Attendees: Cal Nordt, Sara Claytor, Chris Tonelli, Charlie Nordt, Jim Koger

Discussion ·
Spark Name:
Group chose “PoetrySPARK.” PoetSPARK was rejected. WordSPARK was considered, thinking we might be asked expand to include storySPARK After Dark (the erotic poetry reading that was part of last year’s storySPARK), but group had a bias toward emphasizing poetry and not trying to take on more than we wanted to handle.
Action Item: Chris T. to reach out to last year’s organizers of the erotica reading to see if they want to be included on the PoetrySPARK call, and how they feel about the name. ·

Timeline:
“Call For Poets” must be in to SparkCon organizers by 7/1. (SparkCon is 9/18-9/20). The “Call” is necessary for inviting the public; we can also invite poets individually. We agreed that planned events need to be listed on the “Call.” Cal mentioned that an edited anthology would need to be in Katie Nordt’s hands by 8/1 for design and layout to be ready for distribution 9/18.
Action Item: Chris T. to draft call based on these mtg notes, once they have been vetted by attendees (or before 6/30 mtg). ·

Event Plan:
General consensus for organized events was a series of (3) themed poetry workshops on Saturday during the day, and a corresponding series of identically themed poetry readings on Saturday night (see tables below). Making a current list of planned events doesn’t preclude changing or adding to it. ·

Workshops:
Each workshop would have workshop leaders and participants. Participants would sign-up on the call sheet, and bring a poem to be workshopped.

Readings:
Each reading would have Organizers, Headliners, and Readers. Organizers will recruit and enlist the Headliners, select the other Readers from solicited poets as well as from call submissions, and possibly act as emcee at the event. Headliners will be asked to speak for 2-5 min about the theme before the reading, and read for 7-10 min. Readers will read for 3-5 min. Goal is to have 1-2 Organizers, 2 Headliners, and approx 10 Readers, and for each reading to last no more than 1hr 15 min. We felt that Organizers and Headliners should have a lot of “say” in the specific format actually presented.
Action Item: Chris T. to reach out to Morning Times to see if they will let us use the 2nd floor Saturday night. ·

Poetry Slam:
Cal could shake the bushes to see if anyone enthusiastically wants to take this on. If so, it could be held on the Main Stage. If not, we will not try to make it happen. [Information 6/23 to Cal and Chris is that storySPARK is in fact planning a Poetry Slam and After Dark erotica reading as part of their effort, so we will wish them well and do nothing in that genre from our SPARK. Cal]

Workshop Ideas
Theme/ Workshop Title / Leaders&Organizers
Humorous Poetry /??? /???
Narrative Poetry /??? /???
Free Verse-Language-Lyric/ ???/   Chris Tonelli? / ???

Readings Ideas
Theme/ Reading Title/ Organizers/ Headliners
Humorous Poetry /??? /Jim Koger David Bradsher/??? /???
Narrative Poetry/ ??? /Sara Claytor/ ??? /???
Free Verse-Language-Lyric/ ???/ Chris Tonelli /??? /???

Other Possibilities for Workshops/Readings:
We also discussed a Traditional/Formal/Metrical theme, Cal threw out the idea of children’s poetry earlier Sat pm, and we want to leave the door open for other ideas, but we also felt that the Saturday night reading should be capped at 3 readings. We will leave it to other PoetrySPARK organizers who could not be present at the 6/22 mtg to step forward and champion other readings/events, possibly to be scheduled for Friday or Sunday. ·

Next Steps:
Group will next meet on 6/30, 7:30 pm, at DesignBox. Group will need to finalize event plan and corresponding call sheet on 6/30.

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