Studio8 - Uniting the Arts

Link to Jam:
http://www.arcanumcafe.com/community/sh ... hp?t=51072

If you don't mind throwing out your opinions of the poetry jam, could you do it here?

My general feeling was that it was great to be amongst confessed action poet types. The words filled pages.

Yet, since arcanum doesn't allow spacial linking - it's all one linear dimension over there, it was hard to link who was jamming to what, and also made jamming off the jam a matter of careful listening.

That special format needs re-thinking the action technique.

Those delicious graphic splendours we built at litkicks had so much charm - who was doing what with whom was all so tangible.

Anyway, i loved it. Think it should be done weekly, if possible.

Joe seems to think people would get burnt out.
i'm into doing it whenever we can.

What do you all think?

judih

judih.....I'm with ya it's great to jam with other poets ....the way AC is set up made it real hard and every post I made in response to the previous post was over run ....in essence it all becomes a big free for all this way.....which is kinda surrealistically...accidentally....far out for sure...but I think it would be a little less frustrating if the jam was on a litkicks style board.....judih ya know I love to jam and anything we can network with other action poets ....well let me know...please....Action Poetry Show in baltimore's only 3 weeks away.....mark

hi judih...

i thought it was absolutely fantastic! the creative energy in one spot like that was so cool it's still blowing me away.... it was awesome! I was so inspired.

i disagree about the software and the closed thread... That was really the coolest part about it, I thought. It didn't matter which words you were jamming off of. The words were all posted on a flat playing field and every time you refreshed your page, there were more of them to spin off of. It was exciting and powerful.

That's the one thing about this type of closed thread software that i love. Everyone is in one place at one time, not spread all over the place ... it's harder to follow the tangents... to me anyway...

I think once a week is too much... i wouldn't be able to fit that in, myself. But once a month would be cool. I posted over there on the OD thread about this if you want to take a look at my ideas.

For more often, there's always the GO! forum here which is always open.

Getting people together all at the same time like that was just way cool and i have a long file of words from yesterday which i can now work with to turn into poems to keep.

I really wanted to have the event here but i didn't, for obvious reasons, and i hesitated to announce the location of this event on here for obvious reasons, too... *sigh*.... I'd hate to see such a beautiful time get ruined...

right mark! i remember about Baltimore....

whatever pops outa me is yours - i'll send it

doreen - i saw your ideas over there. Theme based stuff is one kind of jam

i've asked for it at litkicks a few times - erotica/ colour poetry, etc.
But action is action for me. Fast spontaneous jamming.

Theme talk is what levi had us do on the Quest and the poetry party. It's okay, but it's a closed genre.

Perhaps for arcanum, theme talk would be good.
But for me, that's the side of arcanum i least like.
The linear software is okay for leisurely thoughtful responses, but for action - it's less than perfect. The page fills up too fast making a response to a post on page two show up on page four, etc.

However, if Joe agrees to your method: the theme, the separate forum, etc, you'll probably find some interesting parties happening.

O.K. there was something confusing happening at the jam for me and judih hit the nail on the head in this post.....in a jam jazz for instance musicians play and riff off their compadres and create a magnificent "whole".......the theme thing just does not click with freedom & spontaneity for me......I really feel it would work if somehow the poets could read what's come before their post....there has to be that chance given......otherwise it all becomes typing.....yes beautiful accidents do happen....but that's not jammin'......that's surrealistic accident which is awesome yet....entirly a different form of expression ......can't you see what I'm saying?.....mark

there are plusses and minuses about both software formats

I agree with judih and WIRED about the open-thread software lending itself more easily to a fast action experience

maybe next time we should hold it over at Freedom Hall where the threads are open. That would also give us a chance to run the barbarians out. ha

I enjoyed the Jam. It was intense. I was only good for about 2 1/2 hours. whew! Whassa mattah wif me? I used to be able to jam all night.

yes Lrod .......freedom hall is the place if we could keep it real somehow......is it possible to keep the idiots out? cause the flow on the board is like a rhthym that you can even see as the words flow up the screen......why not......I'm willing participant cause I love to jam ..........wired

Freedom Hall offers the option! but yes, the trolls would definitely change the mood.

2 1/2 hours was a long stretch...i made it for 2.
If we had started earlier my time, i would have been ready for more.

When it starts, it starts and when it ends, it ends. The best timing of all.

As long as we all admit we like to jam, let's do it. Let's do it in the Freedom Hall.
Let's do it at MOOLs
Let's do it at the 8STudio
Let's do it on the road


judih

well, judih....it was just an idea, the theme thing

i didn't particularly like the Quest to be honest, because i couldn't see what others were posting in all the groups and because it was way too structured for my taste.... i felt like it was a school assignment

i like the open software, too, and that's what i would have preferred for this site, but we didn't have it available

both types of software have their merits

this closed type lends itself to putting people on an even surface... by this, i mean, that the tangents that people go off on, are all together in one place, not scattered around the page and happening all at the same time... plus it takes less time for the page to load

the open software is really wonderful for interacting because you SEE who's talking to who and i wish we had that here.... i'm still looking for some open source software which will work for us

For the Poetry Jam, though, either can work quite nicely, I think... they both create a different atmosphere

i'm not stuck on the theme idea.... as I said, it was just an idea... i'm definitely one that wants to take off with my writing going in different directions writing whatever i want that comes to mind

i thought the people at AC might find the theme idea interesting because it seems like a place that would like that for some reason

i'd really like to do some of these Poetry Jams here, but i'm definitely not interested in the party being crashed by the asshole who keeps hitting this board and fucking up my days and nights with his antics

Another idea is there's the first forum I ever went to which Thom has opened up again.... I might ask him if he would be open for us to play over there.... it used to be a terrific spot... with some fabulous writers... i loved it there.... it's the open thread software... check it out- http://scroll.org - i was elated to find they opened up again... it was a great place for quite a few years until some idiots came in and started screwing it up but now they have a log-in so maybe there will be more control over that... hope so...

Anyway, there's lots of places to go, obviously, to do this type of thing and I'm in full agreement with you that the less structure, the better..... i just want to write... i need to write every day and i love spontaneous writing when a lot of people are online at the same time at the same place

let's keep talking and let the ideas come and roll with one of them for a next time, ok?

one more thing... i'm not interested in having it at Freedom Hall...

you guys go ahead but i'm not going there

i hate that place

it's been taken over by vermin

.......somehow some way were gonna do it judih....I've been at it since the funk's action poetry readings here in b-more 3 years ago and I ain't gonna stop.......all it takes is 3 and we got it......like the CREAM......like a dream.....like a place we all feel we should be as poetic dynamos......a few years back when me and rus were reading you guys I can't explain the "feeling' that came over me reading other action poets work.....respect for.....delicacy in the delivering of the works and taking that other poet into me.....12 in one show at funk's bam bam bam.....I was drained for days (thanx cecil) ..... rusalke he felt it too! .......back at the same time ....when I had my wireman gallery here i had this idea to take web cams and do exactly as we talk now....it could work ...I actually had a show set up upon this back in march of '02 ........there are no limits where we are going........the main thing judih and -D and lrod is to jam for sure my special friends...I LUV YA....peace ....wired mark

doreen ....you grabbed my attention ...an awesome piece of expression.....hey! beautiful spirit "WE" know yer a POET .....nuff said.....nah wait....I don't want any world without a doreen peri in it....woooosh.....listen i put a lotta stock in your comment bout freedom hall, ....a jam needs to be tight any any b.s would really ruin it.......we'll find a secure way we have to.....if ya have to be selective about the who's ...let's face it.....circle the wagons and be ready.......we can do this with a secure sight and the right minds for the task......it's our nitch and probably what we are all getin out of this internet cyberspace journey...love ya ....mark

well, since I didn't participate in the poetry jam at Arcanum, I probably should keep my opinions to myself...NAW!, I am never good at keeping my trap shut, so here's a bit of what I think (hey, quit yawning!)

I feel lost at Arcanum Cafe, it's like Woodstock only bigger, with this mass of humanity digging on writing, poetry, pictures and dancing, 'cept there are no 'nekid' people or blue acid, just a blue background. It's a big tribe of content, opinions, riffs and all that is good BUT *there's that word!* for me, I am small time tribe. I like the essence of 'all the world' but I get lost easily and wander hither and yon with no place to land, to feel at home. I truly did try, I posted haiku, a story, I responded to posts, I put up some pics, and yet, there is something missing for me... Maybe because it is just a planet I landed on and still feel alien or the atmosphere will not sustain me. I am just guessing here, I donno, I just know I feel a lack of freedom there, everything is walled, there is no pasture to graze without a fence. No offense to Joe or his world, it is after all his world but so far, not for me.

I feel downright at home here, where Dor has put out the welcome mat, let me speak my peace (sweet peace) with all the 'fucks' and 'shits' I can have, as often as I want or need.

Now, all who know me from Litkicks, know that Dor and I can disagree but we always respect each other even in the midst of infuriation. Hah! Respect, what a great thing that is.

I agree with Dor, the Quest was like school and nothing is wrong with school but *there's that BUT again!* I feel I learn more in a spontaneous and less structured mode. If Litkicks is going that direction, I am all for what Levi feels he needs to do. Now, whether that 'thing' will foster something in me remains to be seen. My mind is open and I am very patient (Nate teaches patience well.)

I disagree with Dor and agree with Mark about using Freedom Hall for a poetry jam. I happen to think it would be a perfect place, with its open format and hell, nothing the troll or trolls could do bothers me. I am over that. My skin is as tough as an old boot left out in the rain. Besides, we could use their (his) riffs as inspiration. When he says 'bounce me', we could bounce him like a ball. Hah! I am an old hand at the Flames Board, I loved flames, I still love flames, old flames, new flames, the ability to dump a load is most satisfying. And if LRod is adverse to moderation (we all need moderation) because folks refuse to be responsible for what they say or do, I say, "fuck 'em!" They will not stop me from expressing myself, now or ever... Saying this, I will not stop being compassionate, a healer, a muse, a creator, and the Queen of the Bead. I have let my emotions lead me around by the nose for far too long...and they may still but (again!) I am watching them. (snort!)

I say, let's have a jam at Freedom Hall, a date in infamy, a formal invite to any and all. It may get messy, some may not be 'nice', some may be downright rude...wouldn't that be fun?

SooZen

WIRED and sooz

yes, sometime in the future I will book us a gig at Freedom Hall. We'll re-invent the term Poetry Slam. We might have to play behind a chainlink fence, but I've done that before. It helps you avoid flying bottles and barstools.

I think we could handle any possible trolls with some extreme peer pressure. Maybe even some respect would work.

If things get nasty, I know that WIRED is capable of bending steel. I always have my baseball bat (big Louis) and my sneak attack.

I might have to leave doreen at home that night, though. She claims to hate the place. But I agree with sooz,I think the trolls would be fun. What is a good party without some crashers? And as a performer I say, "give me an audience with hecklers." It's much better than a dead room.

the reason why i hate freedom hall is not because of the concept or the software.

i love the software and also the concept but unfortunately, "the lord of the flies" prooves to hold valid truths and it is the idiot(s) over there which could easily spoil a party. That's what I hate about it. I've lived too many years to want to spend my time with assholes. No matter how much fun people think party crashers are and how clever they want to be with their battle of wits, i frankly find it boring, tedious and exhausting with only minor bits of humor thrown in.

The software is set up to push up entire threads with a post. If we had a Poetry Jam over there, all someone would need to do is come into the place and push up a long thread and push the party down the page.... do this a few times, and we're all lost not knowing where the thread went to.

Anyway, I'd love to have a Poetry Jam at a place with the open thread software and have asked about another board http://scroll.org, though I'm not sure they'd be interested in this or not. But I asked and we'll see if I get a reply.

We could always start another Voy forum and set it up for the Jam....

I'd really like to have a jam thing here but this is the closed software and I guess that's not what people want.....

all i really want to do is write

i don't do much of that any more, unfortunately