Poetry Whores
While poetry readings may not typically conjure up a frisson of sexual excitement, the new generation of poets certainly has a few tricks up its sleeve. Or, in the case of New York’s sexy new Poetry Brothel, those tricks and tips are stuffed into the bosom of their tightly laced corsets.
Suited up in satin, lace and feathers like 19th-century prostitutes, these “whores” are selling their dirty little poems instead of their bodies—although having a nice, tight body certainly helps their sales pitch.
Poetry Brothel Madame, Stephanie Berger, pimps poetry to eager customers (photo courtesy of The Poetry Brothel)
According to the Poetry Brothel’s madam, co-founder Stephanie Berger, the group is made up of a variety of published authors, writing students, professors and ordinary people who enjoy the art of poetry. Rather than boring their audience with the typical buttoned-down affairs that (if you’re lucky!) are accompanied with wine-sipping and cheese-eating, the poetry whores offer private poetry readings for money. After all, why should they give their work away for free?
Poets read under pseudonyms like La Petite Mort and Oola Waistbinder, and seduce the audience with their dirty minds. Berger pimps her girls—and a few guys—like any good madam, and each poet gets to keep his or her earnings at the end of the night. According to Berger, part of the mission of the Poetry Brothel is to “teach poets to value their work enough to believe it’s worth money,” and apparently the public is both willing and eager to lap up the words of these starving artists.
Public flogging
Past events have been held all over New York City, in galleries, clubs, bars, event spaces, theatres and more, and their next event is slated to be held in Central Park. As with any good brothel, Berger says that certain spaces work better than others, and ideally the events are held in spaces with more private areas available for one-on-one readings.
One free private reading is included with the entry fee, plus participants can engage the services of their favourites for a little something extra. Maître d’s circulate throughout the evening, offering the audience a glance at the brothel’s “menu,” where the poets’ photos and biographies are listed.
Private readings are set up in much the same way that diners are served in a restaurant, and the system is finely tuned so that all runs smoothly. While private readings go on in the back of the space, the rest of the audience is kept entertained by a colourful assortment of live music, Gypsy fortune tellers, rowdy poker players, “new girls” reading poetry as their introduction to the scene, and of course plenty of absinthe.
Naturally, there are no refunds for unsatisfied customers, though The Madame claims this rarely happens. “My whores are very good,” she boasts. Indeed, some big names in the world of poetry have read at the Poetry Brothel’s events, including Patricia Smith, Tao Lin, David Lehman, Dorianne Laux, Joseph Millar and Valzhyna Mort.
Worldly women
The concept is already catching on around the world, with Poetry Brothels in far-flung locales like Barcelona, Spain, as well as in U.S. cities like Seattle. There’s even talk of freelancing poetry whores in Toronto. Berger hopes that eventually the term “poetry brothel” will apply to any event where poets provide these types of private readings for money, and it seems as if this idea is well on its way.
Along with their public performances, the Poetry Brothel also runs a kind of “finishing school” for would-be whores. Taught by The Madame and her cohort, Tennessee Pink, the finishing school is a four-week workshop that helps aspiring poets to develop their sultry personas by writing and workshopping pieces.
As in any good creative writing course, students look at technique and the work of past masters alongside the workshopping portions. Erotic poetry is naturally the central study, but themes of intimacy, passion and seduction are also covered. Finished pieces are read by the students at Poetry Brothel events.
Inspired by the Poetry Brothel’s success, I’ve decided to start my own erotic writing group here in Montreal, with an eye towards publication and performance. So, whether you’re interested in learning how to write an erotic story or you’re already an old hand looking for a little full-frontal feedback, I’m interested in meeting you! Hit me up at lroberts@hour.ca with the following info: your name or chosen pseudonym, level of writing experience and publishing credits (if any), and availability.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Poetry Brothel, are in New York City, or would like to join the group as a poet, intern, busker, designer or gambler, check out their website at thepoetrybrothel.com.
(Originally published at Hour.ca)
