About this Event
A words-based Friday evening by Word Space & Waterstones. A monthly special collaboration in the swanky new Waterstones basement bar including; open mic slots, poem sharing, discussion, feedback and communal writing activities.
Bring your pens, pencils and daydreams. Doors & open mic sign ups from 6:00pm.
Poems: 6:30-9:00pm
This is an open mic social - think what Friday nights actually should be: meeting new creative friends, vibey expression in a gorgeous atmosphere, cocktails, low light, high fidelity. Bring yourself, bring your workmate who doesn't like poetry (yet), finally organise that date and impress them with your cultured, literary chops.
open mic slots are limited - names in the hat and the poetic gods decide!
A little about Word Space:
Poetry is a team game.
We spend so much time sat alone trying to find our muse. Trying to put that blemishless idea down on blemishless paper, or being frustrated that we can’t just stop scrolling and independently pull out a fully polished poem from deep within our psyche. The truth is, for most of us, art is easier, more rewarding and more alive when social. Playing with words was collectively developed for real social functions - telling stories for a reason; it is empathising, it is wearing other people’s glasses for a minute, it is the practice of connection - warts, mistakes, scrappy first drafts and all.
Word Space is about listening as much as writing or performing. About community and being wholly generous with our much fought for attention. It is about the necessity of space to hear, think, and digest someone’s words and give encouragement, appreciation and artistic support. Miles Davis said something like ‘jazz is the gap between notes’. Word Space might be the breath after a full stop – followed by telling someone you loved their third line.
Location:
Waterstones
82 Gower Street
London
WC1E 6EQ
(2 minutes walk from Euston Square Station
3 minutes walk from Warren Street Station
10 minutes walk from Tottenham Court Road Station)
Agenda
🕑: 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM
Welcome, intro & Sign up
Info: Come on in, grab a drink, find a cosy seat, say hello to someone friendly and sign up to read on the open mic
🕑: 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Open mic 1
Info: Poets, poets, poets - We have some words, each poet has five minutes to read; either their own poems or poems of others that they love and want to share with the world. After each reader we have some 'space', communal space for discussion, chats and artistic encouragement - it's really lovely
🕑: 08:00 PM - 08:10 PM
Break
Info: grab a drink, go for a wee, etc.
🕑: 08:10 PM - 08:30 PM
Communal Writing
Info: A guided writing prompt - an inclusive and engaging opportunity to write together. Maybe it's your first time dabbling with poetry or you need a hand breaking the writer's block.. 15 minutes, instrumental music and inspiration abound
🕑: 08:30 PM - 09:00 PM
Open Mic
Info: More gorgeous readings and comment
Event venue & nearby stays
Waterstones, 82 Gower Street, London, United Kingdom
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