It has been a long time dream of mine to share my soul with like minded individuals through the art of spoken word, prose, and poetry. It must have been fate that I was invited to attend an Open mic night next up on my event list. This time we explore the downtown area of Brooklyn NY at the classy and cool Blink Lounge. It was my first time gracing the stage not as an actress reciting a script but as myself, sharing my own words and thoughts with real people responding to my energy.
They called it The Session. "A platform that offers vocalists and musicians alike the opportunity to work on their performance and presence in front of a live audience without judgment or negative critique". Spoken word artists and poets were also welcomed and so there I was at 9pm sharp signing up for an open mic for the very first time and nervous as hell! I appreciated the venue sporting a full bar so I could order a little something for the nerves!
I was treated with kindness and support the minute I signed up! I received greetings, smiles, and encouragement from virtually everyone I encountered and it was in my opinion the perfect opportunity for a first time poet to bestow love and creativity upon open ears. In addition to a full size bar the lounge also boasted a stage where the band tuned their instruments and checked their amps and mikes. Soft music played in the background while everyone settled in and awaited the performance. The night officially began around 10:30pm and by than an eager audience filled the lounge.
A lively host introduced the first performance of the night, a wonderfully seasoned musician who rocked the stage and had the entire audience (including myself) feeding off his energy! He pulled another performer right out her seat and signaled a fiery duet, unrehearsed I'm sure! While I applauded loudly for the talented artist...I hoped I wasn't next. How would I compare to that?! They looked so comfortable on stage like they were old friends. And of course as the energetic host looked right in my direction and introduced me proudly as his sister, I knew I had jinxed myself.
The stage seemed to rumble beneath me as I approached it. The band staring idly as I headed for the stage slowly step by step, and turned (attempting graceful prowess) to face the audience. I introduced myself briefly as a first timer and opened my soul with no accompaniment from the band, just my voice. I can't say it went exactly how I had imagined it but what I can say was that I was truly inspired by the amount of positive feedback I was met with and I would not trade the experience for the world!
My words were heard and that's all I could ever ask for. I have the Session to thank for that. I also enjoyed myself immensely for the rest of the night following my performance. I spent the remaining hours of the evening immersed in sultry musical performances, talented instrumentalist solos, and deeply intriguing poetry. I couldn't ask for anything more from a night of cultured entertainment on a Wednesday in New York City.
The cover charge for Open Mic night at Blink Lounge is $10.00 taken at the door plus a one drink minimum. Hardly a fair exchange for the momentous night you will receive! The lounge is located on the busy street of Atlantic Ave, downtown Brooklyn. Not too accessible parking wise but conveniently only a 5 minute walk away from the C train station (Clinton Washington). The exact address is 856 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn NY 11238 and you can find more information on the session by visiting their website: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100003639799332&sk=info.
They called it The Session. "A platform that offers vocalists and musicians alike the opportunity to work on their performance and presence in front of a live audience without judgment or negative critique". Spoken word artists and poets were also welcomed and so there I was at 9pm sharp signing up for an open mic for the very first time and nervous as hell! I appreciated the venue sporting a full bar so I could order a little something for the nerves!
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| Blink Bar and Lounge |
A lively host introduced the first performance of the night, a wonderfully seasoned musician who rocked the stage and had the entire audience (including myself) feeding off his energy! He pulled another performer right out her seat and signaled a fiery duet, unrehearsed I'm sure! While I applauded loudly for the talented artist...I hoped I wasn't next. How would I compare to that?! They looked so comfortable on stage like they were old friends. And of course as the energetic host looked right in my direction and introduced me proudly as his sister, I knew I had jinxed myself.
The stage seemed to rumble beneath me as I approached it. The band staring idly as I headed for the stage slowly step by step, and turned (attempting graceful prowess) to face the audience. I introduced myself briefly as a first timer and opened my soul with no accompaniment from the band, just my voice. I can't say it went exactly how I had imagined it but what I can say was that I was truly inspired by the amount of positive feedback I was met with and I would not trade the experience for the world!
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| Performing original spoken word Poetry |
" LOUD
I like it LOUD
Screaming thunder CLAPS! and rips eardrums to shreds;
Violent lighting erupt like drums from a rippling beat.
We move to the noise, it moves us.
Against our will our bodies gyrate to the rhythm as we glorify the sound.
I love it LOUD
Can't deny the feeling, it's impossible to ignore.
We respond with the noise flowing through every bloody vessel within us.
Every joint, every muscle, every bone falls slave to the music that dwells deep down inside our loins.
I crave it LOUD
Loud like the deafening satisfaction of liberation
Loud like the joyful cries of unity during celebration
TURN IT UP!
Add volume, add bass, add treble
Make it rumble, make them crumble, as we stomp
as we jump, as we tear shit up and make some noise!
In the deathly silence of conformity we need to be heard
Through the uncomfortable stillness that haunts us in after life
The stifling boredom of quiet acceptance that kills us slowly from the inside
I like it LOUD
With our voices we will be heard
Bring the noise, we are ALIVE!"
My words were heard and that's all I could ever ask for. I have the Session to thank for that. I also enjoyed myself immensely for the rest of the night following my performance. I spent the remaining hours of the evening immersed in sultry musical performances, talented instrumentalist solos, and deeply intriguing poetry. I couldn't ask for anything more from a night of cultured entertainment on a Wednesday in New York City.
The cover charge for Open Mic night at Blink Lounge is $10.00 taken at the door plus a one drink minimum. Hardly a fair exchange for the momentous night you will receive! The lounge is located on the busy street of Atlantic Ave, downtown Brooklyn. Not too accessible parking wise but conveniently only a 5 minute walk away from the C train station (Clinton Washington). The exact address is 856 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn NY 11238 and you can find more information on the session by visiting their website: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100003639799332&sk=info.
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