And then there's the subtopic of What to Wear When Reading at a Bar. The answer, as seen in La Honda at our most recent reading at Sullivan's Pub, is: It depends.
You could go East Coast Bohemian, like Norman from Maine:
You could go Steve Jobs style, like Tom Lichtenberg:
which is a modification of basic beatnik coffeehouse style:
There's the T shirt and gloves approach, as with Thomas Krempetz:
There's the slovenly blue jeans style, as modeled by Joe Cottonwood.And then there's my favorite, the Whatever Style, and I bless these young women for displaying such plumage:
Reading at a bar tends to deflate pretensions and bring literature down to earth. The feedback is immediate and very honest. It's a great way to shape your writing skills, just as playing in a bar band has been the starting point for many a fine musician. The readings at Sullivan's have been as varied as the plumage. Several of the readers are too young to order a drink (and too wise to try), but their talents are striking, and it's fun to mix them with old hacks like myself. We've got a good thing going here.
We have a similar hangout here that hosts an open mic night. It consists of musicians—either solo or in a group of two or three— who are given a certain amount of time to perform. What I love most is the age range in the audience and performers—from Gen Y to Silent Generation.
ReplyDeleteYes - mixing ages is a great way to combine enthusiasm and experience. And everybody learns from it.
ReplyDeleteMy son is a musician who used to play at open mics in San Francisco, where there is an over-abundance of musical talent. He watched as well as played and learned who he liked and who was available - and formed his present band that way.