The NJ Poetry Scene
What role has Sensations Magazine played in the New Jersey poetry scene these past
20 years?
We started the first travelling "non-smoking" poetry reading series in 1988, which we called the
Sensations Magazine Creative Events Series. That series continues to this day, making it the
3rd longest continuously operating poetry reading series in New Jersey. Our
20th Anniversary "Spoken Word" Issue (Issue 42, Fall/Winter 2007) will attempt to recapture
our then 20-year history of readings, and will include a count of how many readings we've sponsored. It wouldn't surprise me if the total number tops
300. That's an incredible number of reading opportunities for one person to generate and host - and
unlike some other event coordinators, I've attended every reading I've hosted.
What has changed in the past
20 years?
Before 1990, poets were limited to occasional appearances in libraries, reading in smoky bars, and a handful of series that tended to feature previously published poets. When Borders and Barnes & Noble came in and offered monthly series, there was an explosion of interest which lasted until 1992. Move
forward to 2006 -
Borders has ended most of its poetry readings nationwide. Barnes &
Noble generally does not allow poets to sell books at their store, unless
they are on a pre-approved author list. As for the rest of the
poetry scene, it has been an up-and-down bell curve since then.
Where is the New Jersey poetry scene on that bell curve right now?
I think there would be a lot more attendees at readings
if poetry venues could offer child care. Many parents would like to
attend, but their kids (and/or the difficulty/expense/hassle of getting a
babysitter) limit their options. I also realize that many
individuals are working long hours, and given all the social options
available and limited personal time, a poetry reading is not at the height
of the list for many people's free time.
Nonetheless, the New Jersey scene remains quite active
in 2006. I've seen more activity in the far reaches of Sussex,
Warren, and Hunterdon counties than ever before; continuance of long-time
series in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Passaic counties; and new reading
start-ups at independent cafes and bookstores. I am not seeing too
many series in libraries. As part of our 2007 event offerings, I am
planning several free readings and literary lectures in libraries.
At our events, we have a healthy number of people in
their 30s to 60s (and up), but I would really like to see more people in
their 20s sharing their work at our readings. I recently read a
statistic that fewer than 50% of young adults read for social enjoyment,
and that purchase of poetry books has declined further than ever.
Audiences of 5-20 are common at most events, with some reaching 30 to 40
attendees. Audiences above 50 are exceedingly rare. The slam
events are drawing larger crowds, but the focus is more often on
rapid-fire presentation than on sharing original poetry of high quality.
How much poetry is being read publicly in New Jersey?
I did a count once in 1999, and found 50 monthly poetry reading SERIES in New Jersey, along with all the individual readings set up by poets on their own. That
was an incredible number of opportunities for people to get out there and share their work with an audience.
I think we're closer to 30 series in 2006, with some interesting ones
cropping up in western New Jersey and southern New Jersey for the first
time in years.
What is the best part of today's New Jersey poetry scene?
No one person can control the opportunity for people to share their work in New Jersey. No matter your taste in poetry, there is an available reading series to match it. Also, the willingness of the Dodge Poetry Festival to allow literary magazines to be represented at the festival - an effort we initiated with them in 1998 and which continued in 2000 - is a very positive development for all concerned.
Too bad it didn't continue.
More recently, the development of literary magazine and
poetry festivals outside of Dodge - one in mid-May in West Caldwell
Library,
and the Walt Whitman Poetry Festival held in October in Ocean Grove (now,
regrettably, concluded) - are very exciting new
initiatives. The Long Branch Poetry Festival offered me the opportunity to read my work on stage alongside other New Jersey literary
magazine publishers, for the first time since I started my publication.
It was welcomed and long overdue recognition of the contributions that I
and my publication have made to the New Jersey poetry scene.
What is the worst part of today's New Jersey poetry scene?
Audiences should include more non-poets and non-readers. People should come to a poetry reading to be stimulated, challenged, educated, and entertained - in that order. There should be more of a focus on trying to write a great poem, especially by high school students. And there should be more enthusiasm among New Jersey poets to band together and support the magazines that publish their work or encourage them to submit material - by purchasing these magazines and reading the poetry and fiction they publish.
I understand you
recently had a
monthly
column tracking the southern New Jersey poetry scene.
I did. I partnered with
Night and Day Magazine to offer a biweekly poetry column, which details the
New Jersey poetry scene everywhere in the state south of Route 78. This was
the first time the poetry scene has been tracked in a large circulation magazine
available to the public (audited circulation of 42,000). It's primarily a restaurant and bar entertainment
guide, but it offers sections in its back pages on comedy, theater, books, and
now, poetry. Since their clientele is primarily in their 20s to 30s, its
audience includes those who would attend open mikes, and would attend poetry
readings if they knew where and when they were in a convenient way. It
also gave me another way to get notice of our events out to the public on an
ongoing basis - especially important during 2003 and 2004, as we brought diverse events
such as dance, music, and poetry to Asbury Park and the shore towns from
Sea Bright to Brick. It's just another unique way Sensations
Magazine has found a means to serve the public and bring new audiences to
the often-maligned art form called the poetry reading.
I maintained the column monthly from mid-2003 to December 2004, then ended
it after I moved from the shore. I thank Night and Day
for the opportunity, and would consider resuming the column if I should move
back to the Jersey shore at some future time. But with the purchase of a
private home in Sussex County, it's doubtful that will happen soon.
