I came here for the poetry reading on a Tuesday night. Fellow Yelper Tina Chan was headlining, and I came by to show support. My intention was to spectate; I didn’t know there was an open mic. Tina signed me up as an open mic reader, and I figured, okay, I’m game. Long story short, I didn’t get to read because the poets before me took up all the time. Some readers tend to go over their allotted time, similar to what you encounter in karaoke. This was fine with me as I wasn’t mentally prepared to read.
Overall, this place didn’t impress me too much. What left a really bad impression was that towards the end, we were asked to leave by the person in charge at the bar (not the host). He was on the mic saying we needed to go. I understand that they have a schedule to keep, but it seemed abrupt to ask patrons to leave while they were still around, especially since many of us may have wanted to stay to eat, drink, and watch the upcoming band, which would have meant more business for them. We were mingling and then were told by the staff to leave, which didn’t feel very welcoming.
I can’t comment on their food or overall service because we left before experiencing much. That was disappointing. I’ll try to be fair though.
I arrived a bit late; there was a chair by Tina. I greeted her and said hello to her friends, then sat down. I got a ginger ale. I don’t remember much about it, so I assume it was okay. The space is small and has an older tavern feel, similar to places like Keybar or Neir’s. While it wasn’t particularly warm and welcoming, I think that feeling was more about my own nerves and the crowd than the space itself.
During the event, I noticed that some more experienced poets seemed a bit exclusive toward newcomers. Though I’m new to the scene, I’ve been writing poetry my whole life and felt that my work was sometimes stronger than that of some more seasoned readers. In other scenes where I’ve been involved, I try to welcome newcomers, help teach them the ropes, and be supportive. I try to do the same even here on Yelp, explaining things like talk threads and the humor that often shows up.
The host of the event, Bob Quatrone, was pretty cool. He wrote a note to Tina apologizing about me being bumped from the reading, which I appreciated. He seemed like an upstanding person.
I’ll give the venue another shot to see if they improve my experience. Worst case, I just won’t return and will look for other places. I didn’t have much trouble finding other spots. In fact, I already lost my poetry reading virginity at Tongue Threat in Queens at the famous Neir’s Tavern a few days later, where I got to read three times. So when I become famous, maybe people will say he got his start at Neir’s. Could have been this place, could have been this place.
Seriously though, I suggest they reconsider how they handle closing time. It may be better to announce any cover charges clearly and invite patrons who want to stay to pay and remain for the band, or at least allow everyone to settle while the band sets up, rather than asking people to leave abruptly. I hope this feedback is received in a constructive spirit.
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