Voices Merging

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:31:39 -0600

"The main goal for Voices Merging is to create a community of tolerant artists,
art lovers, and leaders so that we as a student organization can be an
agent for social change in America. We want to create a place that includes
diverse thoughts, cultures, talents and opinions so that people can learn
from eachother and grow individually."
President LeNora Magee

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:30:27 -0600

The members of Voices Merging do not simply just run an open mic. They all reach out to the community. Every meeting one of the main subjects of conversation is which charity events they will perform at, or which school they will go and help out at. Many of the events they are asked to perform at are for awareness. Awareness of AIDS, Culture, Religion, etc. Everyone is glad to perform for free because they love to do it, and it is for a good cause. This group is also approached weekly to interact with kids. Members go to various high schools, middles schools, and elementary schools to get them interested in their art. They let them know that it is a great way to express oneself, and it is highly accepted. They also are asked a multiple time a year to run a workshop for the YMCA to help their kids develop the children’s talent. They do all of this to make people aware and more involved with the art they love. By teaching it to children it guarantees the continuation of spoken word.

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 10:32:57 -0600

Under the “Spoken Word” category, I showed a clip from Russell Simmons’ show “Def Poetry.” This was the main way in which spoken word was introduced to the masses from 2002 until 2007. The show would be considered more for the “professional artists” and they were not held as high in artists minds as the live, lesser paid performers. Russell Simmons is coming out with another show called “Brave New Voices” that started in April 2009 featuring young artists in the spoken word community. The spoken word world is split on this show. Many do not like it saying that it is the “American Idol” of poetry slams, and others are just happy that the art they love is accessible to the masses.

As demonstrated in this trailer, the show is very dramatized. it has become just another reality TV show subject and does not focus on the performances and the art of it all, but rather on the individuals and drama. Although Spoken word is in itself a very stressful performance art, this show is taking it to the next level and making the smallest issues the center of an entire episode. The show is playing off of what the viewers wants and not what the art world needs.

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:37:38 -0600

Mature content.

This video is from a voices merging performance. It shows the three topics that are constantly covered in the spoken word community: Race, class, and sex. Coming out of the hip hop world in the 80’s, it adopted many of its attributes. These topics are horribly overused. They are the safe resort and guaranteed to be accepted. As in every art community, it is hard to find the Mavericks who are willing to take risks and push the borders. This has been an ongoing problem from the beginning of the art. Since it had only been around for twenty years, it has not had much time for change.

This art is also difficult to make a living in. The majority of the artists perform at open mics and are not paid at all, thus most of them have regular day jobs, and perform as a hobby or passion. Very few artists are able to get paid for their work. Some can win prizes from tournaments, and even fewer can get a paid gig. As shown in the “scene” section, the means of exposure to the masses and the highest paid form of spoken word is the very rare television show. Spoken word is not an art form that is easily integrated into Pop culture. It is in limbo of sorts. Spoken word is poetry that is meant to be performed, therefor it cannot simply be written down and published in a book because it does not have the desired effect. It is also something that is not like music and people would want to listen to on a CD. The only way in which people can enjoy spoken word in their own home is through the rare TV show that is highly commercialized

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 22:57:55 -0600

Spoken word is an easy scene to get into, but a hard one to survive in. Around the country there are thousands of open mics. To get on stage one does not have to achieve a high cultural standing, in order to perform one must simply sign up. From these open mics, performers are able to make more and more connections with the art world, this forms stronger bonds and a close knit community. Artists do not make any money for open mics, so many choose to perform in tournaments. Local tournaments such as the one that voices merging hosted have a cash prize of around one hundred dollars. If one does well in local tournaments, they are then able to move up the ladder to larger and larger tournaments with larger prizes. This year’s International Spoken Word Competition is being held in Chicago. Two members from Voices Merging will be competing in it this summer.

As mentioned above this art world is not too large so they are relatively close. Voices merging held a poetry slam and was able to get three very prominent artists in the Minneapolis spoken word community to be the judges. Many of the artists go from one open mic to the next, thus creating more and more bonds which raises their social status in the community.

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 21:45:20 -0600

Spoken Word is a performance art that takes stories, poetry, or lyrics that are spoken rather than sung. When put on, it is a very theatrical performance that includes large over the top gestures, rhythm, fluctuation of the voice, and emotions. Sprouting out of the popularity of the hip-hop movement, spoken word became popular in the late 80’s early 90’s. During this time people had access to spoken word through the radio and live performances.
In 2002 the demand for spoken word became so high that Russell Simmons created the HBO television show “Def Poetry.” This show lasted until 2007 and was the highest one could get in thespoken word community in terms of pop culture.

Mature content

Notice how at some points he talks about how his art does not make him money and his need to survive, thus he is willing to "sell out" and accept lesser more diminutive forms of performance. Although this performance is meant to be funny, he is also going along with one of the main subjects of spoken word: Race.
This performance is somewhat ironic, seeing that he is on a nation wide television show viewed by thousands that many of his fellow artists could consider "selling out."

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 21:41:25 -0600

Voices Merging is a student run open mic that is held twice a month for anyone who wants to perform. This group first came to be in 2004 when a group of enthusiastic students wanted a place where people could perform and appreciate spoken word. The audience was a meager twenty people a performance. It has since blossomed to about 200 people a performance. A variety of performances are given, the majority of them being Spoken word.

Every other Monday, Voices Merging holds an open mic from 8-10 in the basement of Moos Tower. A variety of people show up every week and everyone is welcome. I have approximated that 40 percent of the audience, and 30 percent of the performers are white. It is such a welcoming environment that no one has ever been booed or not clapped for. Upon entering the pre-performance meetings the president greets everyone by name, then everyone goes through how their day was before the meeting actually begins. The twenty memebers of the group are very close and supportive of each other. If one has any hesitations about joining the group or performing, they are quickly crushed by the kindness of all of the members.

The Majority of the performers are amateurs. For many, it is their first time performing in front of a crowd. For others they are regulars and perform every week. The majority of them talk about race, class, or sex. The even less creative of the group will simply print off a poem they found on Google and read it. But do not let this discourage you. If you come to the open mics you will not be disappointed. These students who perform radiate passion for their subject and are good at what they do.

This year Voices Merging has been nominated for two “Best Open Mic in the Twin Cities” awards. This is due to their high turnout, variety and quality of performances. Each event is highly organized my the members of the group. each performance has a theme or topic that the performances are to be formed around. Two of the members each week host the event and keep things moving. the rest of the members all have jobs such as working the front desk before people come in, helping the DJ, filming the event, or working the lighting. Each member is essential to the smooth running of the shows.