Def Poet Big Mike & Love the Poet (of the Punany Poets) + Open Mic May 19, 2011

Mike Geffner Presents The Inspired Word features Big Mike and Love the Poet + a 12-slot open mic (open to ANYTHING and EVERYTHING).

BIOS:

Big Mike has appeared on Russell Simmons presents Def Poetry Season 6, episode 39 and was a member of the 2005 Nuyorican Slam Team. In 2002, he read his first spoken word piece at Serengeti Plains in Montclair, NJ. Since then he has performed at colleges and universities up and down the East Coast, at the National Poetry Slam and the Southern Fried Regional Poetry Slam. In 2008 at the 16th annual Southern Fried Poetry Slam, He placed 1st in the Individual Poetry Slam Competition, and the New Jersey team placed 4th. He has been teaching elementary school for 16 years and is currently a 3rd grade teacher who uses the power of poetry to help his students, not only to write, but express how they feel. He has conducted creative writing and poetry workshops for students from grades 3 to 12 and is the founding father of the NJ Youth Slam Team. He also runs open mics and poetry slams for youth poets all over NJ. Big Mike the Home Movies DVD not only focuses on his poetry, but welcomes you into his home where anything and everything can happen. Bitter Married and Bald, his self-published book, is another journey into his poetry and the stories behind them. His debut CD Reality Bytez was released in 2004.



Michelle Antoinette Nelson, also known as LOVE the poet, is a prominent poet/author on the national performance and literary art scenes, and in the field of creative writing education. She has appeared on CNN as a speaker at the Jena 6 rally in Washington, D.C., co-produced and appeared in 'Passion Fruit Tea' (a short film based on her poem with the same name), released multiple spoken word CDs, and has performed on college campuses nationwide. Michelle is also an active member of the Maryland Speaker’s Bureau, a member of the Punany Poets (as seen on HBO), the creator of Live Lyrics! Creative writing workshops, host of BE FREE Fridays, and an active member of Poetry for the People Baltimore. For booking and more information visit: www.lovethepoet.com



*****



When: Thursday, Feb. May 19, 2011

Where: One and One Bar & Restaurant (downstairs Nexus Lounge)
76 East 1st Street (corner of 1st Avenue)
Manhattan, NYC
Phone: (212) 598-9126

Doors Open: 6:30pm

Cover Charge: $10