Tag Archives: open mic

Flash Fiction Festival UK, 2018

Posted
Filed under festival

 

Trinity sunny

Booking is now open for the 2018  Flash Fiction Festival UK funded by Bath Flash FictionAward, taking place at Trinity College, Stoke Hill, Bristol, Friday evening 20th July – Sunday late afternoon, 22nd July this year, 2018.

We’ve a great line of up workshops, talks, readings and book launches, by leading flash fiction writers and tutors from the UK, the US, Ireland and Germany as well as open-mic sessions for all participants.

TFlash-Fiction-Festivalhere’s an informal picnic and open-mic on Friday night in the extensive grounds where you can  meet and mingle with fellow flash fiction fans. We’ve a raffle with great prizes including a week’s writing retreat in Italy, a festival long mini competition with prizes, a bar, a book shop and the opportunity to submit fictions you begin at the festival  workshops to Flash Fiction Festival Anthology Two which will be published in 2018. All contributors receive a free copy.

We’d love you to come to learn about, write and read flash fiction and have fun with other enthusiasts. Beginners and experienced writers from all backgrounds welcome.  Places going fast. More details  and to book at flashfictionfestival.com  £200. (£230 includes all meals). Tea, coffee and biscuits free through out the workshop. Help with finding value accommodation. Six places for caravans.

Flashers’ Club VI – February 8th 2018

Posted
Filed under live lit

Magic. Suicide. Mining towns. Plastic squid. Vampires. Levitation. School reports. Repulsive heartthrobs. Murder. Aliens. Zebras. Dry-stone walling. Zombies. Giant women. Fourteen fresh and alarming flash: it can only be Flashers’ Club.

Our blog of February’s event is now up on the website, where you can find photos and details of our readers. Flashers’ Club is now on hiatus (no May event), but we will be returning full force in early August. Keep an eye on our Twitter account @flashers_club or on our Facebook page /flashersclubcheltenham for details closer to the time.

Call for Readers: February Flashers’ Club

Posted
Filed under live lit

Cheltenham’s Flashers’ Club seeks flash fiction fans for the first event of 2018!

On Thursday February 8th we’ll be hosting our usual open mic (bring your 100-1000 word story and sign up on the night), plus guest reading by multi-talented flash fic author Tania Hershman.

We’ll be at Smokey Joe’s Coffee Bar from 7:30pm. Tickets are available on the door: £3 for readers, £4 for audience only. As always, all profits go to the charity First Story. Find full details at the Flashers’ Club site, and don’t miss it!

Smut Slam: September

Posted
Filed under live lit

In September Cameryn Moore brings even more Smut Slam to the UK

smut slam

where sex and storytelling collide

You know what a poetry slam is, and maybe you know about story slams, too. Now it’s time for SMUT SLAM, a fast-paced storytelling open mic based on real life, real lust, real sex. The Smut Slam features real-life, first-person sex stories, guest stories from our panel of celebrity judges, and also THE FUCKBUCKET, a convenient and funnily named receptacle for all your anonymous questions and confessions!

Things are changing a bit for Smut Slam UK. Cameryn is leaving us for a little while due to visa complications, but there will be amazing guest hosts filling her shoes till she gets back.

Tuesday 12 September: SMUT SLAM Bristol: “Sex Education” at The Brunswick Club (15-16 Brunswick Square, Bristol, BS2 8NX). This night will be hosted by guest host Sam Scott.

Wednesday 13 September:  Stand Up Tragedy Presents SMUT SLAM London: “Sex Education” at the Dogstar (389 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LQ ) This night will be hosted by guest host Miranda Kane who will be filling in for Cameryn in London for Autumn 2017.

For the next SMUT SLAM Edinburgh and SMUT SLAM Glasgow keep an eye on the Smut Slam Scotland facebook page.

For the next SMUT SLAM Brighton keep an eye on the Smut Slam Brighton facebook page.

SMUT SLAMMERS sign up on the night to tell a 5-minute dirty story, based on their real lives, and a lucky eight to ten names will be drawn at random.

NOT A SMUT SLAMMER? Don’t worry. The audience is in for a good time at SMUT SLAM! Sit back and enjoy. All we ask is: – No interrupting. – No heckling. – No necking in the front row. Doors open at 8pm, and the smut starts slamming at 8:30. Admission is only £10 at the door, 18 and over please!

SMUT SLAM is CREATED by Cameryn Moore, an award-winning playwright/performer, sex activist and educator, and, oh yeah: a phone sex operator. She is super excited to introduce London and Smut Slam to each other! When not performing, taking calls, or actually having sex herself, Cameryn writes Sidewalk Smut: custom type-written pornography as street performance and literary art.

The Smut Slam originated in Boston in 2011, became thoroughly established in Montreal that same year, and has since traveled all over the world, with standing-room-only shows in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, a whopping 100+ crowd in Atlanta last November, and a sold-out show in Boston in 2016.


15267707_1394686103877237_3607658877848990122_n

Flashers’ Club IV: August 3, 2017

Posted
Filed under live lit

Flash fans, get your glow-sticks out and you furry boots on – it’s time for Flashers’ Club 4! We’ve got the usual open mic session, no need to submit in advance. Flashers don’t book. Sign up on the night and we’ll pull names out of a hat if there are too many people. Fiction 100-1000 words welcome, anything goes*.

Our special guest will be local novelist Jane Bailey, historical and young adult fiction writer. Jane will be sharing some of her writing. She’s also launching her new book ‘What Was Rescued’ just the day before, so you’ll be able to snag a copy fresh off the press.

There’ll be free litmags for all who brave the mic – we’re not mentioning title yet, it’s secret. It’s not that we haven’t got a mag confirmed yet. Don’t go thinking that.

We’re at Smokey Joe’s Coffee Bar, Cheltenham, on Aug 3rd, 7:30pm onwards. £3 in on the door, all profits to the very worthy charity First Story. Full details, disabled access info, FAQs etc on the website: www.flashersclub.wordpress.com. Follow us on Twitter @flashers_club or find us on Facebook /flashersclubcheltenham.

 

*except porn, polemics and Quentin Tarantino rip-offs

Summer Smut Slams (July and August)

Posted
Filed under live lit

In July Cameryn Moore brings even more Smut Slam to the UK

smut slam

where sex and storytelling collide

You know what a poetry slam is, and maybe you know about story slams, too. Now it’s time for SMUT SLAM, a fast-paced storytelling open mic based on real life, real lust, real sex. The Smut Slam features real-life, first-person sex stories, guest stories from our panel of celebrity judges, and also THE FUCKBUCKET, a convenient and funnily named receptacle for all your anonymous questions and confessions!

Things are changing a bit for Smut Slam UK. Cameryn is leaving us for a little while due to visa complications, and when she does there will be amazing guest hosts filling her shoes till she gets back. But before she goes she is stepping up the Smut Slam action and cramming in as many as possible, including the first ever Cardiff Smut Slam and a run of Smut Slam Cabernet at the Edinburgh Fringe!

Wednesday 12th July:  Stand Up Tragedy Presents SMUT SLAM London: “Sex Olympics” at the Dogstar (389 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LQ ) This night will be hosted by guest host Miranda Kane who will be filling in for Cameryn in London for Autumn 2017. After this one Smut Slam London is taking a break, but only for a month, we’ll be back at The Dogstar on the 11th of September.

Wednesday 19th July:  SMUT SLAM Cardiff “Firsts” at the Castle Emporium (Womanby Street, Cardiff, CF10 1BS)

Sunday 23rd July:  SMUT SLAM Brighton: “Pride” at the Caroline of Brunswick ( 39 Ditchling Road, Brighton, BN1 4SB ) With guest host Mathilda Gregory!

Smut Slam Cabaret at the Edinburgh Fringe (Aug 8-24) at the Apex Grassmarket Hotel (31-35 Grassmarket, EH1 2HS Edinburgh) at 11pm. Smut Slam Cabaret is a little different to a general Smut Slam mostly because it isn’t an open mic. Expect finest filth at the Edinburgh Fringe, told by the people who lived it. Hosted by professional touring perv Cameryn Moore, this storytelling cabaret–which is based on the smash circuit of ‘Smut Slam’ open mics–boasts a rotating programme of real-life sex stories from real-life Fringe artists, plus sexy clowns, dirty music, burlesque babes, and sex toy prizes!

Monday 17th August: SMUT SLAM Glasgow: Pride at the Stereo Cafe Bar (20 – 28 Renfield Lane, Glasgow, G2 5 )

SMUT SLAMMERS sign up on the night to tell a 5-minute dirty story, based on their real lives, and a lucky eight to ten names will be drawn at random.

NOT A SMUT SLAMMER? Don’t worry. The audience is in for a good time at SMUT SLAM! Sit back and enjoy. All we ask is: – No interrupting. – No heckling. – No necking in the front row. Doors open at 8pm, and the smut starts slamming at 8:30. Admission is only £10 at the door, 18 and over please!

SMUT SLAM is CREATED by Cameryn Moore, an award-winning playwright/performer, sex activist and educator, and, oh yeah: a phone sex operator. She is super excited to introduce London and Smut Slam to each other! When not performing, taking calls, or actually having sex herself, Cameryn writes Sidewalk Smut: custom type-written pornography as street performance and literary art.

The Smut Slam originated in Boston in 2011, became thoroughly established in Montreal that same year, and has since traveled all over the world, with standing-room-only shows in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, a whopping 100+ crowd in Atlanta last November, and a sold-out show in Boston in 2016.


15267707_1394686103877237_3607658877848990122_n

Smut Slam June

Posted
Filed under live lit

In June Cameryn Moore brings even more Smut Slam nights to the UK

smut slam

where sex and storytelling collide

You know what a poetry slam is, and maybe you know about story slams, too. Now it’s time for London’s first-ever SMUT SLAM, a fast-paced storytelling open mic based on real life, real lust, real sex. The Smut Slam features real-life, first-person sex stories, guest stories from our panel of celebrity judges, and also THE FUCKBUCKET, a convenient and funnily named receptacle for all your anonymous questions and confessions!

Tuesday 13th June: SMUT SLAM Bristol: Spring Fever! at The Brunswick Club (16 Brunswick Square, Bristol, BS2 8NX )

Wednesday 14th June: Stand Up Tragedy Presents SMUT SLAM London: BACK at the Dogstar (389 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LQ )

Sunday 18th June:  SMUT SLAM Brighton: “It’s All Relative” Caroline of Brunswick ( 39 Ditchling Road, Brighton, BN1 4SB )

Monday 19th June: SMUT SLAM Glasgow: Sex Olympics at The Rum Shack (657 – 659 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow, G41 2AB)

Tuesday 20th: SMUT SLAM Edinburgh: “Let’s Play!” at Woodland Creatures (260-262 Leith Walk, Edinburgh EH6 5EL)

SMUT SLAMMERS sign up on the night to tell a 5-minute dirty story, based on their real lives, and a lucky eight to ten names will be drawn at random.

NOT A SMUT SLAMMER? Don’t worry. The audience is in for a good time at SMUT SLAM! Sit back and enjoy. All we ask is: – No interrupting. – No heckling. – No necking in the front row. Doors open at 8pm, and the smut starts slamming at 8:30. Admission is only £10 at the door, 18 and over please!

SMUT SLAM is CREATED by Cameryn Moore, an award-winning playwright/performer, sex activist and educator, and, oh yeah: a phone sex operator. She is super excited to introduce London and Smut Slam to each other! When not performing, taking calls, or actually having sex herself, Cameryn writes Sidewalk Smut: custom type-written pornography as street performance and literary art.

The Smut Slam originated in Boston in 2011, became thoroughly established in Montreal that same year, and has since traveled all over the world, with standing-room-only shows in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, a whopping 100+ crowd in Atlanta last November, and a sold-out show in Boston in 2016.


15267707_1394686103877237_3607658877848990122_n

Flashers’ Club May, and news about August

Posted
Filed under live lit

The third meeting of Cheltenham’s Flashers’ Club took place on the 2nd of May, and showcased some seriously good writing. Ten readers signed up on the night and surprised us with ten new stories featuring everything from amiable jocks to black holes. Take a look at our blog to read more about the night!

Free lit was provided by Open Pen, who generously donated us enough copies to reward each of our bold readers.

Ticket sales, plus a kind donation from the University of Gloucestershire, meant we were able to donate £69 to First Story.

There was no guest reader for this session, but we have some very exciting names lined up for the future. The next Flashers’ Club, on Thursday 3rd August, will host Jane Bailey. Jane is the author of five novels and a book of comic verse, and is also writer-in-residence for Cheltenham Festivals First Story, which promotes creative writing in schools serving low-income communities. There’ll be the usual open mic session with ten slots up for grabs, some fab free lit, and a chance to hear Jane read some of her short fiction. Tickets are just £3! Find full details on our website, or follow us on Twitter @flashers_club.

Smut Slam: May

Posted
Filed under live lit

In May Cameryn Moore brings even more Smut Slam nights to the UK

smut slam

where sex and storytelling collide

You know what a poetry slam is, and maybe you know about story slams, too. Now it’s time for London’s first-ever SMUT SLAM, a fast-paced storytelling open mic based on real life, real lust, real sex. The Smut Slam features real-life, first-person sex stories, guest stories from our panel of celebrity judges, and also THE FUCKBUCKET, a convenient and funnily named receptacle for all your anonymous questions and confessions!

In April Cameryn was stuck in Berlin (long story) and so some of the nights had exciting replacement guest hosts, but for May Cameryn is BACK and she’s also bringing her SMUT SLAM Cabaret to the Brighton Fringe!

Tuesday 9th May: SMUT SLAM Bristol: Spring Fever! at The Brunswick Club (16 Brunswick Square, Bristol, BS2 8NX )

Wednesday 10th May: Stand Up Tragedy Presents SMUT SLAM London: BACK at the Dogstar (389 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LQ )

Sunday 11th May 11th, 17th-18th, 24th-25th, 31st May, and 1st June: 9pm (1hr): SMUT SLAM Cabaret at Brighton Fringe: at Sweet Venues (Sweet Waterfront, Jury’s Inn Brighton Waterfront, Kings Road)

Monday 15th May: SMUT SLAM Glasgow: Let’s Play! at The Rum Shack (657 – 659 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow, G41 2AB)

Tuesday 18th: SMUT SLAM Edinburgh: The Great Outdoors at Woodland Creatures (260-262 Leith Walk, Edinburgh EH6 5EL)

SMUT SLAM Manchester: Date, venue and theme tbc – Search for Smut Slam Manchester on FB

SMUT SLAMMERS sign up on the night to tell a 5-minute dirty story, based on their real lives, and a lucky eight to ten names will be drawn at random.

NOT A SMUT SLAMMER? Don’t worry. The audience is in for a good time at SMUT SLAM! Sit back and enjoy. All we ask is: – No interrupting. – No heckling. – No necking in the front row. Doors open at 8pm, and the smut starts slamming at 8:30. Admission is only £10 at the door, 18 and over please!

SMUT SLAM is CREATED by Cameryn Moore, an award-winning playwright/performer, sex activist and educator, and, oh yeah: a phone sex operator. She is super excited to introduce London and Smut Slam to each other! When not performing, taking calls, or actually having sex herself, Cameryn writes Sidewalk Smut: custom type-written pornography as street performance and literary art.

The Smut Slam originated in Boston in 2011, became thoroughly established in Montreal that same year, and has since traveled all over the world, with standing-room-only shows in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, a whopping 100+ crowd in Atlanta last November, and a sold-out show in Boston in 2016.


15267707_1394686103877237_3607658877848990122_n

Smut Slam: April

Posted
Filed under live lit

In April Cameryn Moore brings even more Smut Slam nights to the UK

smut slam

where sex and storytelling collide

You know what a poetry slam is, and maybe you know about story slams, too. Now it’s time for London’s first-ever SMUT SLAM, a fast-paced storytelling open mic based on real life, real lust, real sex. The Smut Slam features real-life, first-person sex stories, guest stories from our panel of celebrity judges, and also THE FUCKBUCKET, a convenient and funnily named receptacle for all your anonymous questions and confessions!

Tuesday 11th April: SMUT SLAM Bristol: Epic Fail! at The Brunswick Club (16 Brunswick Square, Bristol, BS2 8NX )

Wednesday 12th April: Stand Up Tragedy Presents SMUT SLAM London: Feeling the Fool at the Dogstar (389 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LQ )

Sunday 16th April: SMUT SLAM Brighton: at Caroline of Brunswick (39 Ditchling Road, BN1 4SB Brighton)

Monday 17th April: SMUT SLAM Glasgow: Theme tbc at The Rum Shack (657 – 659 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow, G41 2AB)

Tuesday 18th: SMUT SLAM Edinburgh: Theme tbc at Woodland Creatures (260-262 Leith Walk, Edinburgh EH6 5EL)

SMUT SLAM Manchester: Date, venue and theme tbc – Search for Smut Slam Manchester on FB

SMUT SLAMMERS sign up on the night to tell a 5-minute dirty story, based on their real lives, and a lucky eight to ten names will be drawn at random.

NOT A SMUT SLAMMER? Don’t worry. The audience is in for a good time at SMUT SLAM! Sit back and enjoy. All we ask is: – No interrupting. – No heckling. – No necking in the front row. Doors open at 8pm, and the smut starts slamming at 8:30. Admission is only £10 at the door, 18 and over please!

SMUT SLAM is CREATED by Cameryn Moore, an award-winning playwright/performer, sex activist and educator, and, oh yeah: a phone sex operator. She is super excited to introduce London and Smut Slam to each other! When not performing, taking calls, or actually having sex herself, Cameryn writes Sidewalk Smut: custom type-written pornography as street performance and literary art.

The Smut Slam originated in Boston in 2011, became thoroughly established in Montreal that same year, and has since traveled all over the world, with standing-room-only shows in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, a whopping 100+ crowd in Atlanta last November, and a sold-out show in Boston in 2016.


15267707_1394686103877237_3607658877848990122_n

Smut Slam: March

Posted
Filed under live lit

In March Cameryn Moore brings even more Smut Slam nights to the UK

smut slam

where sex and storytelling collide

You know what a poetry slam is, and maybe you know about story slams, too. Now it’s time for London’s first-ever SMUT SLAM, a fast-paced storytelling open mic based on real life, real lust, real sex. The Smut Slam features real-life, first-person sex stories, guest stories from our panel of celebrity judges, and also THE FUCKBUCKET, a convenient and funnily named receptacle for all your anonymous questions and confessions!

This month Edinburgh and Windsor have been added to the Smut Slam tour list:

Wednesday 8th March: Stand Up Tragedy Presents SMUT SLAM London: Planes, Trains and Automobiles at the Dogstar (389 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LQ )

Thursday 9th March: SMUT SLAM Brighton: Planes, Trains and Automobiles at Moksha Caffe (4-5 York Place, Brighton, BN1 4GU)

Tuesday 14th March: SMUT SLAM Bristol: The Great Outdoors at the The Brunswick Club (16 Brunswick Square, BS2 8NX)

Saturday 18th March: SMUT SLAM Windsor: Firsts at The Firestation (The Old Court, St. Leonards Road Windsor, SL4 3BL)

Tuesday 21st March: SMUT SLAM Edinburgh: Firsts at Woodland Creatures (260 – 262 Leith Walk, Edinburgh, EH6 8)

Wednesday 20th March: SMUT SLAM Glasgow: Epic Fail! at The Rum Shack (657 – 659 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow, G41 2AB)

Tuesday 28th March: SMUT SLAM Manchester – Venue and theme tbc

SMUT SLAMMERS sign up on the night to tell a 5-minute dirty story, based on their real lives, and a lucky eight to ten names will be drawn at random.

NOT A SMUT SLAMMER? Don’t worry. The audience is in for a good time at SMUT SLAM! Sit back and enjoy. All we ask is: – No interrupting. – No heckling. – No necking in the front row. Admission is only £10 at the door, 18 and over please!

SMUT SLAM is CREATED by Cameryn Moore, an award-winning playwright/performer, sex activist and educator, and, oh yeah: a phone sex operator. She is super excited to introduce London and Smut Slam to each other! When not performing, taking calls, or actually having sex herself, Cameryn writes Sidewalk Smut: custom type-written pornography as street performance and literary art.

The Smut Slam originated in Boston in 2011, became thoroughly established in Montreal that same year, and has since traveled all over the world, with standing-room-only shows in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, a whopping 100+ crowd in Atlanta last November, and a sold-out show in Boston in 2016.


15267707_1394686103877237_3607658877848990122_n

Smut Slam: February

Posted
Filed under live lit

In February Cameryn Moore brings even more Smut Slam nights to the UK

smut slam

where sex and storytelling collide

You know what a poetry slam is, and maybe you know about story slams, too. Now it’s time for London’s first-ever SMUT SLAM, a fast-paced storytelling open mic based on real life, real lust, real sex. The Smut Slam features real-life, first-person sex stories, guest stories from our panel of celebrity judges, and also THE FUCKBUCKET, a convenient and funnily named receptacle for all your anonymous questions and confessions!

In January both Bristol and London had sell out nights. In London we’ve moved to a bigger venue for February! And this month Smut Slam comes to Glasgow for the first time.

Wednesday 8thth January: Stand Up Tragedy Presents SMUT SLAM London: Best Laid Plans at the Dogstar (389 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LQ )

Thursday 19th Feb: SMUT SLAM Brighton: at Moksha Caffe (4-5 York Place, Brighton, BN1 4GU)

Tuesday 14th Feb: SMUT SLAM Bristol: True Lust at the Milkbar (46 Old Market Street, Bristol, BS2 0EX)

Wednesday 15th Feb: SMUT SLAM Glasgow: Firsts at The Rum Shack (657 – 659 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow, G41 2AB)

Tuesday 28th Feb: SMUT SLAM Manchester at Kings Arms Pub Salford (11 Bloom St, Salford M3 6AN)

SMUT SLAMMERS sign up on the night to tell a 5-minute dirty story, based on their real lives, and a lucky eight to ten names will be drawn at random.

NOT A SMUT SLAMMER? Don’t worry. The audience is in for a good time at SMUT SLAM! Sit back and enjoy. All we ask is: – No interrupting. – No heckling. – No necking in the front row. Doors open at 8pm, and the smut starts slamming at 8:30. Admission is only £10 at the door, 18 and over please!

SMUT SLAM is CREATED by Cameryn Moore, an award-winning playwright/performer, sex activist and educator, and, oh yeah: a phone sex operator. She is super excited to introduce London and Smut Slam to each other! When not performing, taking calls, or actually having sex herself, Cameryn writes Sidewalk Smut: custom type-written pornography as street performance and literary art.

The Smut Slam originated in Boston in 2011, became thoroughly established in Montreal that same year, and has since traveled all over the world, with standing-room-only shows in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, a whopping 100+ crowd in Atlanta last November, and a sold-out show in Boston in 2016.


15267707_1394686103877237_3607658877848990122_n

Calling All Flashers – February Flashers’ Club

Posted
Filed under live lit

Flashers Assemble! The second meeting of Cheltenham’s Flashers’ Club is on Thursday 9th February at Smokey Joe’s Coffee Bar, and we’ve got good things in store.

There’s an open mic session for ten writers to read stories of 100-1000 words: no genre restriction, no submissions, no CV required. Just sign up on the night. Need encouragement?  Our freebies this month are provided by Prole Books, so each of our readers will receive a copy of the litmag Prole.

This time we’re also featuring a brilliant guest writer, award-winning author Tyler Keevil. Tyler will be capping off our open mic by reading some of his work, and we’re very excited about it.

Tickets are £3 on the door, £2.50 (inc. booking fee) in advance. Click here to book. As always, all proceeds go to the charity First Story.

For lots more information, contact details etc, see our website.

See you there!

 

Smut Slam launching across the UK

Posted
Filed under live lit

Starting next week Cameryn Moore brings her Smut Slam nights to the UK

smut slam

where sex and storytelling collide

You know what a poetry slam is, and maybe you know about story slams, too. Now it’s time for London’s first-ever SMUT SLAM, a fast-paced storytelling open mic based on real life, real lust, real sex. The Smut Slam features real-life, first-person sex stories, guest stories from our panel of celebrity judges, and also THE FUCKBUCKET, a convenient and funnily named receptacle for all your anonymous questions and confessions!

Tuesday 10th January: SMUT SLAM Bristol at the Milk Bar (46 Old Market Street, Bristol, BS2 0EX)

Wednesday 11th January: Stand Up Tragedy Presents SMUT SLAM London at the Rose & Crown in Kentish Town (71-73 Torriano Ave, London NW5 2SG)

Thursday 12th January: SMUT SLAM Brighton at Blue Man Resturant (8 Queens Road Brighton, BN1 1)

Tuesday 31st January: SMUT SLAM Manchester at Kings Arms Pub Salford (11 Bloom St, Salford M3 6AN)

SMUT SLAMMERS sign up on the night to tell a 5-minute dirty story, based on their real lives, and a lucky eight to ten names will be drawn at random.

NOT A SMUT SLAMMER? Don’t worry. The audience is in for a good time at SMUT SLAM! Sit back and enjoy. All we ask is: – No interrupting. – No heckling. – No necking in the front row. Doors open at 8pm, and the smut starts slamming at 8:30. Admission is only £10 at the door, 18 and over please!

SMUT SLAM is CREATED by Cameryn Moore, an award-winning playwright/performer, sex activist and educator, and, oh yeah: a phone sex operator. She is super excited to introduce London and Smut Slam to each other! When not performing, taking calls, or actually having sex herself, Cameryn writes Sidewalk Smut: custom type-written pornography as street performance and literary art.

The Smut Slam originated in Boston in 2011, became thoroughly established in Montreal that same year, and has since traveled all over the world, with standing-room-only shows in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, a whopping 100+ crowd in Atlanta last November, and a sold-out show in Boston in 2016.


15267707_1394686103877237_3607658877848990122_n

 

 

Flashers’ Club I

Posted
Filed under live lit

The inaugural meeting of Flashers’ Club  was on Thursday 10th November, and we’re happy to say it was a great success. Thirteen writers read fifteen stories, taking us from the Old West to Afghanistan, from married bliss to the trials of being a modern Nosferatu. Head over to our blog to see lots more details and pictures.

With over thirty tickets sold, we raised nearly £80 for the charity First Story. As part of their thanks they’ve sent us a very special poem composed by one of their students, which you can also find on our blog.

Flashers’ Club will now be a quarterly event. Our next meet will be on Thursday 9th February 2017, 7:30pm onwards, Smokey Joe’s Coffee Bar, Cheltenham. There’ll be advance booking available online nearer to the date, and door tickets available on the night. We’ve already got our next lot of free literature sorted (we like to bribe our readers with free books and litmags), and we’re working on a rather exciting guest writer slot. Watch this space.

 

 

 

Flashers’ Club open mic flash fiction night, 10th November, Cheltenham

Posted
Filed under live lit

Flashers Club will be holding its inaugural open mic night on Thursday 10th November, 7:30-11:00pm, at Smokey Joe’s Coffee Bar, Cheltenham. The mic is open to all writers of short fiction between 300 and 1,000 words. It’s open genre. Published or unpublished, old hand or debut, everyone’s welcome. We aim to be friendly and inclusive, and have a good time! Come along to read, or to hear exciting original writing.

There’ll be around 8 slots for readers, maybe more if time and story length allow. Names will be drawn from a hat if there are more readers than time. After each story we’ll have a short time for Q and A – not a critique, just a chat.

You can book tickets in advance or come along on the night. There’s a small entry fee (£2 + booking fee online, £3 on the door), all of which goes to the charity First Story. First Story places professional writers into schools in deprived areas to encourage children to write.

For lots more details, booking link and FAQs, see our website: www.flashersclub.wordpress.com. You can also find us on Twitter @flashers_club, or on Facebook /flashersclubcheltenham . We’d love to hear from you!

 

Speak Easy 2016… and Tips for Spoken Word First-Timers

Posted
Filed under live lit

SE_PNGA new year, a fresh new look for Speak Easy at The Sip Club in Stretford, Manchester. After a successful first three events in Autumn last year, we’ve gathered our gorged selves and turned to the giddy horizon of 2016 with a bold new poster and a fresh outlook. We’re excited to see how Speak Easy will develop over the next twelve months and we’re starting to formulate some rather thrilling plans behind the scenes.

But first we need readers. We ain’t gonna survive if no-one turns up to read. So pick up, buck up, and sign up: send an email to events@thesipclub.co.uk to bag yourself a slot at one (or indeed more) of our first three 2016 events. Here be the dates:

  • Thursday 14th January
  • Thursday 4th February
  • Thursday 3rd March

As ever, we are especially keen to encourage first timers to the Speak Easy stage. We’re lucky to have a particularly stress-free environment and a delightfully welcoming audience, perfect to calm even the nerviest of nerves. No pressure, no heckling – not even a microphone to make your voice sound all big and scary. Just a quiet room with some warm people and a little nudge of gentle encouragement.

And in the spirit of encouragement, here are my top 5 tips for Spoken Word first-timers:

  1. Slow Down – relax, take your time, tell the story. Read slower than you think you should. Allow time to let people laugh at the funny bits and reflect on the sad bits. Don’t worry about going over time because…
  2. Practice Beforehand – …you will have already practiced. In most cases you’ll know how long you have on stage (usually around 5 minutes), so time yourself so you know you’re hitting the mark. Also, its good to let your mouth get around the words as well as your eyes – so practice out loud!
  3. Look at the Audience – this is often a big fear but looking at the audience can genuinely help you to calm down and it will draw them in. You will get them on-side. You will dominate them, command them, make them tremble at your 5 minutes of glory. So don’t hide behind your paper, don’t look over their heads. Look at them. Into. Their. Eyes
  4. Print your Words Big – do your future self a favour and make the text big. You never know how dimly lit a stage will be and not being able to see the words can derail your momentum at any given moment.
  5. Perform it – Spoken Word is just another form of theatre. Don’t be afraid to get your whole body into the act. Get your hands moving, gesticulate, use props, dress up in costume – everything and anything goes, generally speaking. As long as it entertains the audience, its fair game. So don’t hold back!

For more tips on performing literature, do have a look at my longer blog post on the matter. And if you’ve made a new year’s resolution to read your writing to an audience, do come and join us at Speak Easy.

David Hartley

SE_CO_PNG