09/01/2026
Interesting! I reckon York Spoken Word was mentioned on Radio York.
Q: "How do I read at your event?"
Just show up! "Show up, sign up, and stand up when we call your name", which i said in an old TEDx on open mics and performance versus page poetry. I reckon the Radio York slot is why someone else reached out earlier this week! Here's what i have said to them.
Q: "Can anyone get up and deliver a poem at the open mic events?"
My Reply:
Gosh yes! That's why they're considered "open". Also, we, alone of most open mics in York, and open mics in general, very rarely have "features", eg well-known or up-and-coming poets who are spotlit for up to 20 mins. We treat all attendees as equal.
Having said that, we're planning on a 10 min feature slot in March. I think Bob Beagrie will be the 5th featured poet in 20 years, for an event that meets 12 times a year for a current total of 240 sessions.
You can also sign up to read and change your mind when we call your name, OR, decide to read in the 2nd half, which runs for roughly an hour from about 9ish to 10ish. People who have been there all night get a short second slot; and shyer folks have a smaller crowd to stand in front of.
We meet in person every 1st Tuesday at 7pm(ish) for a 7.30pm start, in the conservatory of the Exhibition Pub, on Gillygate. Next few are: 3 Feb, 3 March (Int'l Womens Week), 1 April, 6 May.
