Juvenilia in Charlottetown

Every once in a while, I get an email or a telephone call along the lines of “I really like the idea behind Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids. Can I do one in my city?”

My response is almost always, “Of course! Please do! Just call it something else.”

So then, from Sandy Nicholson: a GRTTWaK-inspired night of juvenilia in Charlottetown called The Hilroy Diaries (Facebook event). Note that unlike GRTTWaK, there is a cover charge, but it goes to a not-for-profit called Women’s Network PEI. Here’s the poster:

GRTTWaK update

My little reading series, Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids, got a nice mention in the Toronto Star today.

Also, I’ve cut several more episodes of the GRTTWaK podcast, which will roll out over the next few weeks.

GRTTWaK4 post-mortem

The fourth installment of Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids was, like each of the previous events, a lot of fun.

This time around, we moved to a new venue: The Gladstone Hotel Ballroom. It turned out to be a great room for the event, with (almost) enough seating.

It’s my constant fear that I’ll put one of these events on, and a whole bunch of people will show up to listen, and no one will read. Luckily, that didn’t happen. We had 26 readers, a nice crowd of spectators (150+ said the bartender), and the whole thing was done in just under two hours. Jenna and I took a handful of photos, and some are in this Flickr set.

Also, for the first time, I asked readers’ permission to put their readings on the web. Most said yes. So once I get all the audio sliced up, I plan to start releasing Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids: The Podcast. Stay tuned for that.

A big thanks to everyone who came out to read, everyone who came out to listen, and to the fine folks at the Gladstone who helped make it happen (especially Penny and Connie).

The next event will likely be in late May/early June.

Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids FAQ

A message from Mara in my inbox tonight:

I’m very interested in attending the Grownups Read event on Monday, but the start time isn’t mentioned on the website. It would probably help if I knew when to show up.

I’ve had a couple of very valid questions like this over the past little while, so here’s a little FAQ about the next reading event, which happens at the Gladstone Hotel Ballroom this Monday, March 10, 2008.

1. When should I show up?

Doors open at 8:00. We’ll get started as soon as possible after that.

2. Where do I get tickets?

You don’t. It’s free. Just show up before we run out of space.

3. Can I bring something to read?

Yes, please. This is an open-mic event, and it only works when people actually bring things to read in front of other. Too many spectators makes for a short and boring night. Sign-up is on a first-come, first-served basis, but I’d really appreciate an email if you plan on bringing something, just so I can gauge the numbers.

4. What does “kid” mean?

Kid = whatever you consider kid to mean. One of the best things about GRTTWaK is the wide variety of things people bring to read. We’ve had stuff from early elementary school all the way up to college age writing. Bring whatever you want.

5. How long should my piece be?

Short. See the third rule of GRTTWaK:

1. You have to be the one who wrote it, as a kid
2. You have to be the one who reads it, as an adult
3. It has to be short (<5 minutes-ish)

That should cover most of the frequently asked questions. If you have another one, email me. Hope to see you out on Monday night. Here’s the official blurb:

GROWNUPS READ THINGS THEY WROTE AS KIDS is an open-mic evening of adults reading things they wrote as children — poems, book reports, and diary entries. Monday, March 10 at 8:00pm. Free. The Gladstone Hotel Ballroom. http://read.danmisener.com

Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids #3 was fun, packed

I’m a little late posting this, seeing as the event was almost two weeks ago, but I have to say: the third Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids was an awful lot of fun.

It was also well-attended. Some might say a little too well-attended.

Thanks no doubt to some pimping by Torontoist, BlogTO, and Here and Now, a lot of people showed up.  So many people, in fact, that we spilled into the side of the Victory that lacked sightlines to the stage.

I think perhaps we have outgrown our home at the Victory Cafe, lovely as it is (especially after the new bar installation). I’m afraid the next event will probably have to take place elsewhere, unless we can reconfigure the newly-reconfigured room. Speaking of the next event, it will probably happen in early-ish 2008, probably February or March.  If anyone has suggestions for a slightly larger venue, please leave them here or drop me a line.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the event, either to read or to listen.

It’s a real treat to see this thing start to take off.

New Grownups Read Things… website

In anticipation of Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids 3 on November 19, I started a new blog for the event at read.danmisener.com

Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids #3

Last night, at Future Bakery, I ran into Bryanna, who read at the first Grownups… reading night back in February. Seeing her reminded me that there hasn’t been an event since the spring. Which is a shame, because it’s fun.

So today I called up Blake at the Victory, and I’m pleased to announce:

What: Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids 3

When: Monday, November 19, 2007 at 8:00 pm

Where: The Victory Cafe, 581 Markham Street, Toronto

So start digging through your parents’ basement.

Update: there’s a FaceBook event now.

Less than one week until Reading Series part deux

Well, the second installment of Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids is less than a week away. My pal Tristan was nice enough to create a Facebook event for the night, so if you plan to attend, RSVP, si vous plait.

Also, through an email from Neil at Mortified, I learned that our fledgling reading series was mentioned briefly in the LA Times. Seriously.

And, if all goes well, I’ll be interviewed on CBC Radio One’s new arts/culture/entertainment show Q on Monday, April 30 (the day of the show) about the event.

I’m really looking forward to Monday, and I have my fingers crossed that people will show up and read.

Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids 2

I’m really excited and happy to let you know that we’re doing Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids again.

8:00 PM on Monday, April 30, 2007
Upstairs at The Victory Cafe, 581 Markham Street, Toronto

That means you have about three weeks to clean out your closet, or dust off that shoebox of work from grade school, or call up your mom in Newfoundland and get her to send you that old letter from camp.

The first one was great, and this one should be just as fun, and free.

Hope to see you there.

Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids went really well

Last Monday, upstairs at the Victory Cafe, I hosted the very first Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids — an evening of childhood poems, schoolwork, and diary readings. I was really worried that nobody would show up, and that I’d have to read from my Grade 1 journal all alone, for an hour.

But that didn’t happen. The night was amazingly well-attended (standing room only on a Monday night), and everyone who read did a great job. readings were funny, and sad, and embarrassing, and wonderful.

And, the night caught the attention of some media-types. On Monday morning, Tori Allen talked about it on her What’s Goin’ On column. Then Gadzooks featured GRTTWAK in its latest episode. And today, Leah McLaren wrote about it in her Globe column.

Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids was so much fun the first time, I’ve decided to do it again. I’ve booked the sequel for Monday, April 30, 2007 at 8:00 PM, upstairs at The Victory Cafe.

That means if you couldn’t make it to the first one, you have some time to track down that old diary or get your mom to send you that shoebox full of schoolwork.

I’ll post everything related to the reading series at http://www.danmisener.com/read/