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How to Sell Out a Reading Series
Back in October, a co-worker came in one morning and said he'd been to this crazy reading at the Rendezvous. Not crazy as in wacky, but crazy as in standing room only. The event, it turns out, was part of the Off Hours Reading Series, founded just last winter by UW MFA grad and fiction writer Lacey Henson. Despite minimal promotion, the series' readings have all filled up, building a reputation in the local writing community for being consistently good.
Tonight's show at the Rendezvous Jewelbox Theater—hosted by poet Johnny Horton (who, like many of the readers in the series is also a UW MFA grad), and featuring: Kevin Craft (the new editor of the longstanding Poetry Northwest); Sierra Nelson (Typing Explosion/Vis-à-Vis Society); Marie-Caroline Moir; Megan Snyder-Camp; and novelist Ann Pancake—is already sold out.
BookNerd: What's the history of the series? How and when did it start?
Lacey Henson: It’s a baby! 2010 is its second year. The first one was last January, and because it went well I decided to make it into a series. It’s now held four times a year. It started as an idea at a writer friend’s birthday party—a way for us to celebrate and share each other’s work—and has blossomed into its current form.
BN: What's unique about the series?
LH: I think there’s a lot that unique about it. For one thing, there hasn’t historically been an organized series for graduates of the UW MFA program. While the reading certainly isn’t limited to MFA grads, it gives a large pool to draw on for readers. Also, each reading is hosted (emceed) by a different writer, who helps curate. The promotional fliers & posters are created by local artists, or with artwork from local artists. I think the readings have a unique vibe, in that they seem more celebratory than other readings. There’s an air of excitement about them.
And there’s always an after-party at the Rendezvous, which both the readers and audience attend. In this way, it becomes a community-building event, rather than simply a reading. It’s a chance for writers to connect in a fun environment. It’s also a way for non-writers to connect to the writing community.
BN: What's the significance of the name?
LH: Here’s a short blurb I wrote describing the series & name:
BN: It seems like you've done a good job of targeting local writers that people are excited about, but that you also mix it with people who aren't necessarily as well known. How do you choose your readers? What are your guidelines?
LH: The reading always has both fiction and poetry readers, and sometimes non-fiction or essay. I choose a different writer to host each reading, and I usually rely on them to help choose the readers. I think this is why we’ve gotten such a great variety of people. There’s no restrictions for writers, although I usually ask that they read something new.
BN: What drew you to the Rendezvous space? How is it working out?
LH: I love the Rendezvous space. I went to see a Bhutto performance there with a friend and really liked the cozy intimacy of it. Also, I like that it’s not necessarily thought of as a literary space, which I feel opens up the audience. They serve booze too, which is good. The only problem is that the series is outgrowing the space (60 seats max).
If you don't have tickets for tonight, you can catch the next Off Hours reading the first weekend in April. Sean Clemmons will host and co-curate. To sign up for the mailing list, email [email protected], or join the group on Facebook.
(Flier designed by Ryan Molenkamp.)
Tonight's show at the Rendezvous Jewelbox Theater—hosted by poet Johnny Horton (who, like many of the readers in the series is also a UW MFA grad), and featuring: Kevin Craft (the new editor of the longstanding Poetry Northwest); Sierra Nelson (Typing Explosion/Vis-à-Vis Society); Marie-Caroline Moir; Megan Snyder-Camp; and novelist Ann Pancake—is already sold out.
BookNerd: What's the history of the series? How and when did it start?
Lacey Henson: It’s a baby! 2010 is its second year. The first one was last January, and because it went well I decided to make it into a series. It’s now held four times a year. It started as an idea at a writer friend’s birthday party—a way for us to celebrate and share each other’s work—and has blossomed into its current form.
BN: What's unique about the series?
LH: I think there’s a lot that unique about it. For one thing, there hasn’t historically been an organized series for graduates of the UW MFA program. While the reading certainly isn’t limited to MFA grads, it gives a large pool to draw on for readers. Also, each reading is hosted (emceed) by a different writer, who helps curate. The promotional fliers & posters are created by local artists, or with artwork from local artists. I think the readings have a unique vibe, in that they seem more celebratory than other readings. There’s an air of excitement about them.
And there’s always an after-party at the Rendezvous, which both the readers and audience attend. In this way, it becomes a community-building event, rather than simply a reading. It’s a chance for writers to connect in a fun environment. It’s also a way for non-writers to connect to the writing community.
BN: What's the significance of the name?
LH: Here’s a short blurb I wrote describing the series & name:
The Off Hours Reading Series provides a space for writers with ties to the Seattle area to share new work. As its title suggests, the series is meant to embody the spirit of writers in the off hours, after a creative project has been fully realized, and the party ensues. Held quarterly at the intimate Jewel Box Theater, the readings are boozy (with cocktail service provided during the show), lively, and have a celebratory feel. Come and raise a glass to the "unexpectedness" found by these writers. It'll be a really great time.
"...what we are engaged in when we do poetry is error,
the willful creation of error,
the deliberate break and complication of mistakes
out of which may arise
unexpectedness."
--Anne Carson, from Men in the Off Hours
BN: It seems like you've done a good job of targeting local writers that people are excited about, but that you also mix it with people who aren't necessarily as well known. How do you choose your readers? What are your guidelines?
LH: The reading always has both fiction and poetry readers, and sometimes non-fiction or essay. I choose a different writer to host each reading, and I usually rely on them to help choose the readers. I think this is why we’ve gotten such a great variety of people. There’s no restrictions for writers, although I usually ask that they read something new.
BN: What drew you to the Rendezvous space? How is it working out?
LH: I love the Rendezvous space. I went to see a Bhutto performance there with a friend and really liked the cozy intimacy of it. Also, I like that it’s not necessarily thought of as a literary space, which I feel opens up the audience. They serve booze too, which is good. The only problem is that the series is outgrowing the space (60 seats max).
If you don't have tickets for tonight, you can catch the next Off Hours reading the first weekend in April. Sean Clemmons will host and co-curate. To sign up for the mailing list, email [email protected], or join the group on Facebook.
(Flier designed by Ryan Molenkamp.)
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