Spoken Word- Word

							The common element is protest and a critical or corrective tone. Nuyorican Poets Cafe
in New York City is one of the earliest venues where poets could protest the ills of
society. Then the noncompetitive slam-like poetry came on board. Almost 4 decades
later poetry comes back as a powerful tool of communication between us, in no need
of an overwhelming production behind it. The boom that we observe right now started
with Russell Simmons’s HBO program (also a Broadway show) “Def Poetry Jam”
first shown in 2002, hosted by Mos Def series presenting performances by established
spoken word poets, as well as up-and-coming ones (well-known actors and musicians
would often surprise the audience by showing up to recite their own original poems).
Even though some spoken word artists don’t necessarily appreciate the effect of
commercialization that the show brought to a poetry world, they cannot not agree with
the fact Def Poetry brought them the audience to their own, live shows featuring
renown artists as well as the new voices, pretty often giving a chance to everyone who
wants to take the audience over for few minutes. It’s a movement and state of mind,
not a competition. Every human being is equal in front of the mic as long as they
don’t go over the time limits! Even though NYC is a place of birth and still a capital
of that phenomenon, almost every town throughout the country has their spoken word
events and LA’s stuff seams to create their own quality. Here they are:

Spoken Funk, an upbeat, uplifting breath of comedic and poetic fresh air. The
brainchild of Juren Smith and Tony Award winning poet, producer, actor, educator -
Poetri, Spoken Funk fuses today’s funniest comedians with the world’s most talented
spoken word poets. This dynamic duo has already teamed up in several avenues, from
designing and sales, to a club full of games, to workshops on television. Poetri is the
muse, the brilliant wordsmith, entertainer, and crowd pleaser; Juren is the big-idea
woman, the one who takes the risks, shapes the brand, and pushes the boundaries.
After years of disappointment from the social circuit’s predictability and hunger for
shock value over moral value, they set out to formulate an environment where one
wouldn’t feel desensitized by the end of the night. Theyve found a way to combine
their individual strengths and compensate for each others weaknesses, to forge mature
entertainment that is both commercially successful and a reflection of their own
values.

Da’ Poetry Lounge (GreenWay Court Theater, 544 N. Fairfax Blvd,Los Angeles, Ca
90036, 9:00PM – Midnight; EARLY ARRIVAL IS A MUST), the largest weekly
poetry venue in the nation with an attendance of over 350 people every Tuesday, also
hosted by Poetri, has not only broadened the appeal of spoken word in Los Angeles,
but has become a haven for young people to come and express their emotions in a
positive atmosphere. It is an open forum designed to allow artists of all fields to
perform or showcase their artform. Birthed in 1998, Da Poetry Lounge has become a
tourist attraction – the longest running weekly venue in Hollywoods history.

Flypoet Entertainment was established in 2000 by John Hensley, a spoken word artist
himself, tired of performing in obscure coffee houses and bookstores for audiences
made up, primarily, of other performers. He was determined to provide exposure by
presenting this form of art to an audience of non–poets in a venue with professional
sound and lighting where they wouldn’t have to compete with chatter and cappuccino
machines. For the audience, the formula is simple: a comfortable venue where patrons
could relax with food and drinks, and enjoy the best spoken word talent available plus
the poetry spaced out by inserting musical acts and novelties, more energy. Simply --
a vehicle to bring “underground talent” into the light.