Poetry slam a home for diverse voices

COMMENTARY not unusual in Orlando’s literary community.

“I grew up on the Space Coast but I’ve always felt Orlando was home,” says slam organizer Joe Snyder.

I can relate. Like Snyder, I also moved from Brevard County to attend college at University of Central Florida. With my girlfriend (now wife) and I having no contacts in the city, I turned to my old method of showing off: poetry readings. We wound up at the old Speakeasy open mic at Will’s Pub, run at the time by the future Sentinel Wingman Tod Caviness.

Within a couple visits, I had people to talk to and invites to parties. Through Caviness, I met former Sentinel nightlife writer Kelly Fitzpatrick, who paved the way for my current position and to whom I owe my career.

This month, I am using this space to be thankful for the great parts of the City Beautiful. It’s hard for me to think of anything more impactful in my life than what Orlando’s literary scene has given me.

The first slam in town was run by Jesse Bradley, who went on to found the curated reading series There Will Be Words. The current incarnation of slam is in its fifth year of putting together teams to send to national and regional competitions. “I think slam gives a voice to people who want to be competitive but who also don’t fit into small groups in Orlando,” says Snyder.

The winner gets $50 and runners up can walk away with books from featured poets or shirts from other shows. Snyder mostly wants to continue encouraging diversity in a community that isn’t demographically homogeneous. “It’s a cool competitive way to give money to people who have challenged themselves to speak out in their own voice in front of people who may not agree with them.”

The Orlando Poetry Slam happens every Thursday at Milk Bar, with signups starting at 8 p.m. Check Facebook for details.