New Chichester poetry Zoom night enjoys successful debut

The first night drew 19 people to his Poetry Zoom: “I think it can be called successful! I plan to run these on alternate weeks now and see if we can build a bigger group, so the next one will be on February 10 at 6.30pm.

“The weblink is the same: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6417849483?pwd=SzlsWUVmMnBYa3pjeFI5OFBkNTZHdz09

And the meeting id and passcode are the same: Meeting ID: 641 784 9483 Passcode: 596228

“For the past ten years I’ve lived in California, and in Ventura, where I lived, there is a very active poetry scene.

“I worked with public libraries and with the poet laureate of Ventura County, Phil Taggart, to establish open mic poetry readings in two locations in 2016. These complemented the events that Phil was running in the city of Ventura. We gained quite a large following and when the pandemic hit, we moved out of the libraries and onto Zoom.

“Interestingly our audience grew since physical location was not a factor and we had poets from much further afield join in the readings. These readings continue still but obviously with a different host!

“Now, back in Chichester since July, I am keen to establish the same virtual open mic events here and people I have contacted seem to like the idea.

“The format is quite simple. I send out a link, people connect and we can all see each other on the Zoom platform.

“I’ll call on people to read a poem and in the one-to-two-hour slot.

“Everyone will get to read at least one poem.

“Everyone is welcome, regardless of the stage they are at with their writing, and we have found in the past that the audience is tremendously supportive, especially of new writers and of younger authors who may be reading for the first time.”