So our 30th birthday party went swimmingly.  Christian decked the place out with sparkling eighties fare from First Scene (thank you, First Scene!) and DJ Andy Flyboy rocked it out with his eighties vinyl collection.  We gave spot prizes to people who could answer Poetry Live trivia questions - which saw Michael Morrissey winning the beautiful pair of over-sized pink sunglasses - the person with the winning line from our collaborative poem (posted on the message board) and other things we liked during the night.  Mike Hamblin dug out some of his original teen poems from the eighties, and took home the sparkley bowler hat for his efforts.  It was a good night.  


Michael Morrissey jumped up and told us how after people read, David Mitchel (who started Poetry Live) used to say "welcome back, anytime" if he liked your poem and "thank you for those whimsical words" if he didn't.  I was thinking about that, at first it made me smile, but then I think it's not that much different now. There's always been a mixture of poetry at Poetry Live, and we still give everyone a thank you for reading.  


I've been putting together the next Poetry Live fundraiser event, which will be on June 29th, one of the rare nights I still MC.  On June 29th it's going to be Live Improvised Music Open Mic - haven't been able to come up with a snappier title.  What that means is that the first section of open mic (and possibly beyond) will give poets an opportunity to have Otis Mace and Matt Reece, two fabulous musicians, improvising music to their work.  As usual, there's a 5-minute limit per person, but you can still fit two decent poems into that time frame.  We had great fun when Christian got Mark McGill-Smith the flautist to improvise with open mic.  Doug Poole is going to be our guest poet and Stuart Allan will be our guest musician - some people may remember Stuart from a previous guest performance back in the Classic days.   

We have also been organising our National Poetry Day event - which as usual will take the form of a Poetry Day Prelude, this year on July 27th.  The last three years we have run Resurrection Night, where poets come along and perform as their favourite dead poet, thus 'resurrecting' them for the night.  People would dress up and there were prizes for best resurrection performance and best costume.  

This year is going to be different.  This year we are doing Living Poets Night.  This year you can participate in a number of different ways.  We invite you to come along and perform a poem by your favourite living poet OR to read an original composition that was inspired by your favourite living poet.  You can sign up on the night by putting your name in the open mic book.  The open mic book is usually on the end of the bar.  

The guest poets on the night will be Albert Wendt and Kevin Ireland, two living New Zealand poet legends, and one other TBC.  Our guests will both be presenting some of their own work as well as reading a poem by one of of their favourite living poets.  

Don't forget that submissions for Live Lines volume IV are open and will close on September 30th.  Send your best 5, UNPUBLISHED poems to Poetry Live, 770A Mount Eden Road, Auckland.  

And if you haven't yet got your copy of Live Lines volume III, they are available at Parson's Bookshop, Poetry Live @ Thirsty Dog on Tuesday nights or by emailing poetrylive@gmail.com to request copies by mail.  


Over and Out 
- Miriam 

Poetry Live is turning 30 on the 30th May 2010.  We're planning to celebrate this on tuesday 25th May.  Hope to see you all there for a special night.  More information of our plans soon to be anounced

And will be hot off the press within the week.  


The volume looks fantastic and reads just the same.  We are really stoked with it and are looking forward to the launch on March 30th at our toasty home, The Thirsty Dog.   Rupert Laffey of Interconnector and the Inhibition Exhibition will be playing some music and we've organised a selection of ten poets from the issue to perform.  Other contributors are invited to read from the book during open mic and we hope everyone else will come out to celebrate the launch and pick up a copy.  

Summer has been somewhat eventful for the Poetry Live crew.


Our MC Murray Lee decided it was time for him to leave the team and we hope that you join us in wishing him all the best for the next steps in his crazy journey.  Murray MCed at Poetry Live last year, but was a regular face for many years and he will be sorely missed.  


But with every door that closes, a window opens and all that jazz...


So, it is with a very happy heart that we welcome Kiri Piahana-Wong to the Poetry Live team. Kiri will be MCing the fourth Tuesdays of each month and is really excited to be more involved behind the scenes.  Many of you will be familiar with Kiri as she has been attending Poetry Live for the past two years at least.  


I will be filling in for both Murray and Christian, with some help with the MCing from our newbies, until Christian returns from the UK in mid-March.  So the women have the reigns for now!  The four of us will MC our opening night for the year together, so it should be fun.  


As you can see we already have a pretty killer line-up taking shape for the year. And it's only going to get better - I know what's waiting in the wings.  Keep checking in for updates and use the form on our 'Coming Up' page to join the mailing list.  


Live Lines III is well on track for its March 30th release, with the volume now being in the hands of our proofreader.  We sent out proofs to everyone in early December and still await responses from half of the contributors - if that's you, please get onto it.  Last year we printed David Ingram's poem twice, end-on-end, and we are hoping to avoid any such errors this year, so please make sure that you have passed your eye over what we have.  


And we return to Thirsty Dog tomorrow night.  I'm looking forward to it.  


Cheers everyone.


Miriam

Poetry Live wrapped up on the 8th of December with the Superhero Poetry Slam and guest poet Peter Larsen.  We farewelled Renee Liang, who has been part of the Poetry Live team since 2006 by making her dress up in leathers and threaten slam competitors with a whip.  


Next year, we welcome Rachael Heimann and Penny Somervaille to the Poetry Live team.  Rachael will be organising and MCing the second Tuesday of each month and Penny will be doing the third Tuesday of each month.  I am stepping back my involvement slightly and will be MCing only the fifth Tuesdays of the month and filling in for the other MCs when they need it.  


If you would like to put yourself forward for a guest performer spot in 2010, you can contact all of the MCs via the Poetry Live email: poetrylive@gmail.com.  


I have almost finished the first draft of Live Lines III and we sent out proofs to most of the contributors yesterday.  Our planned launch date of March 30th is looking more and more feasible.  


We will be back on February the 2nd, same time, same place - as Murray Lee would say "be there or be an oblong"


Happy new year to you all - may it bring much new inspiration.  


Miriam 

You can now post messages and reply to them on the message board.


To use the message board you will need to register by following the link in the top right corner of the dialogue box on the Message Board page.  


That will give you a username and password.  Then you can log in and message away.  


Stoked to have this feature back up again.  We've really missed it.  


Miriam

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