Kristin WolgemuthThe Spinning Room
September 11th 2006 07:06
The Spinning Room is a mainstay of the Melbourne Poetry Calendar. Each Tuesday night, a little after 8pm, poets from all around the city converge for a few hours to share in the poetics on offer. This is a listening crowd, which might sound a little strange to those unfamiliar with poetry performance. The difference is that people come to listen, engage in & enjoy the poetry of others, rather than impatiently waiting their turn to have their own 3 to 5 minutes on the microphone. The quality of performers over the years is testament to this, with a large number of the very best Australian poets gracing the stage.
From 1999 until 2004 the gig was held at the seminal Duke of Windsor Hotel, where the early years saw poets mixing with barflies in the main bar. In 2003 the upstairs room, formerly a rehearsal space for bands (most notably Jet), became a cosy little performance area for a more intimate poetry reading. Shortly before the pub was sold to the same people who bought the Punters Club in Fitzroy (turning it into Bimbo Deluxe – beware, the pizza kitchen is situated where the Men’s toilets used to be) the Spinning Room moved up the road to the more salubrious ET’s Hotel.
But the gig has foundations that go far deeper than this brief history. Convenor Jon Garrett, a West London Poet & British ex-patriot, previously ran the Spinning Room from 1995 on native soil at the Hollybush in Hampstead (founded in the 11th century) before migrating to live with us convicts. That gig is still going over there run by Jennifer Johnson.
Perhaps the most poignant reminder of the Spinning Room’s longevity in the face of adversity is the fact that it holds forth in trendy Prahran. Chapel St is far better known for its fashion & shopping strip by day, while by night it is the scene of restaurants & nightclubs. Yet this enduring poetry reading has become as much a part of Prahran’s identity as girls wearing skirts over their pants.
Memorable highlights for yours truly were the Your Lips on My Words nights & the 2003 State of Origin Poetry Slam. Y.L.o.M.W. is a concept whereby a number of poets are invited to submit 3 poems in an envelope, which are then anonymously & randomly distributed back to the poets. A week later each poet performs the work of another, leaving the crowd to try to guess the authors. Lots of fun & an interesting concept. The State of Origin saw a hybrid of poetry & rugby league (never before attempted – or since) with exponents from Queensland & New South Wales battling it out with words as sharp as blades. The contest included a scrum (not a good idea if you’re wearing spectacles), a boatrace (this is where a lot of beer gets drunk) & a points system as follows:
6 points Converted Try Poem of the highest quality
4 points Try Poem of high quality
2 points Conversion Poem of average quality
1 point Field Goal Poem of below average quality
0 points Disallowed Try Poem of pathetic quality
Of course, Queensland carried the day. Go you Canetoads! (Yours truly was the Captain)
The Spinning Room @ ET's Hotel, 211 High St Prahran, 8pm weekly each Tuesday Upcoming Features
SEPTEMBER 12th KRISTIN HENRY
SEPT 19th IAN McBRYDE
SEPT 26th GEOFF FOX & ANGELA COSTI
OCTOBER 3rd TBA
OCT 10th DOROTHY PORTER
OCT 17th TBA
OCT 24th TBA
OCT 31st GEOFF PAGE
plus OPEN SECTION - door prize - excellent raffle
Convener - Jon Garrett 9527 4502
MC Anthony O’Sullivan “An MC without compere.” Jen Jewel Brown
This is a smoke-free room
click here for the Spinning Room blog
From 1999 until 2004 the gig was held at the seminal Duke of Windsor Hotel, where the early years saw poets mixing with barflies in the main bar. In 2003 the upstairs room, formerly a rehearsal space for bands (most notably Jet), became a cosy little performance area for a more intimate poetry reading. Shortly before the pub was sold to the same people who bought the Punters Club in Fitzroy (turning it into Bimbo Deluxe – beware, the pizza kitchen is situated where the Men’s toilets used to be) the Spinning Room moved up the road to the more salubrious ET’s Hotel.
But the gig has foundations that go far deeper than this brief history. Convenor Jon Garrett, a West London Poet & British ex-patriot, previously ran the Spinning Room from 1995 on native soil at the Hollybush in Hampstead (founded in the 11th century) before migrating to live with us convicts. That gig is still going over there run by Jennifer Johnson.
Perhaps the most poignant reminder of the Spinning Room’s longevity in the face of adversity is the fact that it holds forth in trendy Prahran. Chapel St is far better known for its fashion & shopping strip by day, while by night it is the scene of restaurants & nightclubs. Yet this enduring poetry reading has become as much a part of Prahran’s identity as girls wearing skirts over their pants.
Memorable highlights for yours truly were the Your Lips on My Words nights & the 2003 State of Origin Poetry Slam. Y.L.o.M.W. is a concept whereby a number of poets are invited to submit 3 poems in an envelope, which are then anonymously & randomly distributed back to the poets. A week later each poet performs the work of another, leaving the crowd to try to guess the authors. Lots of fun & an interesting concept. The State of Origin saw a hybrid of poetry & rugby league (never before attempted – or since) with exponents from Queensland & New South Wales battling it out with words as sharp as blades. The contest included a scrum (not a good idea if you’re wearing spectacles), a boatrace (this is where a lot of beer gets drunk) & a points system as follows:
6 points Converted Try Poem of the highest quality
4 points Try Poem of high quality
2 points Conversion Poem of average quality
1 point Field Goal Poem of below average quality
0 points Disallowed Try Poem of pathetic quality
Of course, Queensland carried the day. Go you Canetoads! (Yours truly was the Captain)
The Spinning Room @ ET's Hotel, 211 High St Prahran, 8pm weekly each Tuesday Upcoming Features
SEPTEMBER 12th KRISTIN HENRY
SEPT 19th IAN McBRYDE
SEPT 26th GEOFF FOX & ANGELA COSTI
OCTOBER 3rd TBA
OCT 10th DOROTHY PORTER
OCT 17th TBA
OCT 24th TBA
OCT 31st GEOFF PAGE
plus OPEN SECTION - door prize - excellent raffle
Convener - Jon Garrett 9527 4502
MC Anthony O’Sullivan “An MC without compere.” Jen Jewel Brown
This is a smoke-free room
click here for the Spinning Room blog
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