Here are a couple of pics of poet Raymond Vettese that appeared in the local press (the Courier, below, and the Montrose Review, above) the week after our National Poetry Day event (held 9.10.09). Click on them to read more clearly. Photos by Andy Thompson.
Now I just have to decide what to organise next...and when...and who I want to see and hear...
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These events are very interesting. I read some of your archived stuff. I connected to you through another blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tom. I'm starting to plan the next one just now...
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Looks like you sponsored a wonderful event. This is important work that you are doing. Are there many young people that attend these events?
ReplyDeleteI'm sure your work will help keep the love of poetry alive. Vital.
Hi Bonnie
ReplyDeleteOf the two events I've organised so far the Edinburgh one attracted a fairly young audience and the Montrose one attracted a fairly 35+ audience (with one or two exceptions). I suppose a lot of that is to do with location and venue - Edinburgh has thousands of students and we were not far from the uni and Montrose is a small town by the sea.
My plan is not to aim for any kind of audience (in terms of age and so on) but just to put on good poets and see who comes. It's interesting that Hugh McMillan (who performed/read at both events) was a huge success for both audiences (engaging with young and old, hip-big-city and small-town, serious poetry fans and people who wouldn't describe themselves as such). To me the really good poets can be of interest to almost anyone and certainly that's the kind of poetry and performance that interests me. There are others who are not as interested in this part of the game, if you like, but that's their prerogative. There's room for us all.
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