What You Missed at Open Mic

This past Saturday we had our first Open Mic and More! of 2012.  There were about 15 people who attended.  But it wasn't the quantity of people that made the night special, it was the diversity. 

People were gathered together to appreciate and showcase the Arts from many different backgrounds, cultures and skin colors.  The mic was shared by African Americans, Asian Americans, and Caucasian Americans alike.  Feedback was given to those who shared from various perspectives.  It was awesome to see people who might never interact otherwise having dialogue around the Arts.

This Open Mic and More! featured poetry, spoken word, comedy and novel-excerpt reading.  We're hoping to add some more different types of art for the next Open Mic.  Already a couple people are working on some music to share. 

Speaking of the next Open Mic and More!, it'll be on March 3, 2012.  It's going to be even more special this next time.  The Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference will be in town and a few from the group are joining with us.  Here are the details:

Brain Trust: A Reading of New Work on Dementia and other brain-straining subjects 

Saturday, March 3, 2012

4-5pm gather and network

5-6pm Reading

6pm on: Overflow Coffee Bar’s Monthly Open Mic Night

Poets and prose writers in all genres are invited to read at this gathering of writers who are addressing Alzheimer’s disease and other assaults on the brain.  Maximum length: five minutes. To sign up, contact Ann Hedreen at ann[at]whitenoiseproductions.com.  Please include: title of your poem or prose piece, genre, and a few lines of introductory copy about you and your work. 

For those of you planning on attending from the South Loop, come at 5 to hear the Brain Trust readings and to sign up for sharing your art.  Be sure to keep tabs (pun intented) on the event tab at  facebook.com/overflowcoffeebar  for more information and to invite others to attend.

Music and More!

We are very excited about these two events coming up this month.  Both are being hosted in partnership with the Daystar Center.

First, Show and Tell on Saturday, September 17.

6:00-6:45 - Sign up for slot in the Show and Tell.
7:00 - Show and Tell starts.
Show and Tell is kind of like an open-mic night but with opportunities for more artists than just musicians. Here are the simple ground rules:

• Each person makes a presentation, five minutes or less.
• Each presentation is followed by an opportunity to receive encouraging feedback, and constructive feedback if you so desire.
• Original music, poetry, paintings, photography, comedy, theatre (very short plays or excerpts, please), dance, video - or whatever else you do!

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Then, our first ever Ethos: Concert with a Cause on Saturday, September 24

Supporting...
Traffick Free
Featuring...
Mathien (playing at 8pm)
Fine Tuning (playing at 7pm)

Tickets: $15 in advance, $20 at the door - $5 goes to Traffick Free, $5 goes to the musicians.  Childcare available!

"Ethos" is a series of monthly benefit concerts entitled “Ethos” from the Greek word meaning the underlying sentiment that informs the beliefs, customs, or practices of a group or society. The purpose of “Ethos” is to help develop an underlying sentiment of global citizenship in the South Loop and beyond. Each month:

• Attendees will be entertained by local artists and their musical, theatrical and visual art. 
• Attendees will be educated about a cause.
• Part of the money raised from ticket purchases will be (a) given to a particular nonprofit connected with the cause highlighted that month and (b) given to the artists showing that evening to support their world-changing work. 

During Ethos and Show and Tell, Overflow will be open for business for those who attend the concert.