CapicuPoetry.com

First things first.. what does it mean?

In the game of Dominos, el Capicu is a very special winning piece that covers both ends, it is the ultimate finishing move.

Any piece can become the Capicu, with the right mixture of skill and fate. The Fichas (as dominos are sometimes called) are slammed down on the table for emphasis, in celebration!

We are a grassroots cultural house of poetry and performing arts in New York City, formed in Brooklyn.

Founded in March 2007, Capicu made it's presence known in NYC by featuring both veteran as well as up and coming performers of spoken word, comedy, prominent visual artists, up and coming entrepreneurs, comedians and various musical artists. We are supported by some of NYC's most powerful artists & musicians including some of the elders from Nuyorican Movement.

We welcome all styles and poets, though our showcase is themed around our Nuyorican origins. For the open mic and cultural show in Brooklyn, we use the space at Notice Lounge, one of the neighborhoods premiere mid sized bars, located securely across the street from the 90th Police Precinct in Williamsburg. We also develop open mic and featured artists events all across NYC and Long Island.


Contact us via Email at CapicuPoetry@gmail.com

Or connect with us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2321473731
or Twitter @capicupoetry

PaPos 5 Steps To The Stage! An Intro For Open Mic Newbies

As a host and performer at both poetry and comedy events, I get asked all the time how a new person breaks into the open mic scene. At first, I only had one answer..
"Hello! Just get up on the stage and the rest will happen if you're nice with yours!"...
but I realize that some of us need some more convincing than that. LOL so I thought I'd throw together a few points on the subject.. let me know if it helps you and feel free to show it to your friends that are (or want to be) hittin' up open mics.

Elevacion,
PaPo Swiggity
http://www.CapicuPoetry.com

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Step 1. We're all Scaredy cats. Especially you!

Yes, you are going to be nervous, and guess what? That is perfectly okay. I know entertainers that perform for years and still each time right before they get called up, they feel like they want to vomit.

This goes for all kind of performers. Poets, comedians, musical artists, even visual artists presenting their work. for many of us, it isn't easy to share these creative outbursts of ourselves to the world. We subject our life's work to the risk of rejection and embarrassment, open to unfiltered public scrutiny. I'm surprised more people don't straight-out faint! So to be bold enough to share yourself openly deserves credit.. and your well executed piece will get the props it deserves.

This anxiety itself is a form of fear, our primal survival instinct that's meant to energize us for fight or flight in the face of doom and danger. In the case of the stage, your "fighting" is you taking the mic! That's the hard part, working through the emotion. If you "flight" and leave the venue to avoid performing, you might never get called up again. So grow a pair.

Step 2: Dont get stranded cuz ya ran out of Paper!

It's okay to take your poem on paper (or by phone text-or whatever you young bucks are doin' nowadays) to the stage! Yes, even if (better yet- ESPECIALLY if) you're going on after some super feature-level performer.

Why? Because you'd look worse trying to go up there and do what that very experienced person just did, then you can't remember past the first few lines and you choke on stage. It would have saved your performance if you had the poem to sneak a peek at right in your hands at that brain-fart moment, huh?

For me personally, I do not feel a piece is embedded in my memory until I perform it at least once in front of an audience. What alot of performers do is they have a place- a kind of "home base" where they practice their new material, then once they feel they've worked out the kinks, the piece makes polished appearances at other venues around the city!

Step 3: Teddy Beer or Grizzly Beer?

It's okay to calm your nerves with a beer or two before you hit the stage. It really does help for some of us to get our bravery from the bottle. But remember- moderation is key! Let me say that again because it warrants repeating- MODERATION IS KEY! It's all too common that a performer hits the stage and has had too much to drink (or smoke) and everybody knows it. Then it actually may become painful to watch them slur and stumble their way through their piece, and afterwards nobody was paying attention to the words anyway.

Step 4: Respect the Clock or U'll Be Its Cuckoo

When you're on stage- take a moment to soak it all in and prepare to let it all out. Don't rush your piece.

Take your time and don't let your nerves make you sound like a telemarketer squeezing out a sales pitch before you hang up on 'em. Might be a good time to just say hello to the crowd, thank the venue or the host.. if the person performing before you was really good you might ask the crowd to clap for them again as you prepare yourself to read/perform.
Then respect the time limit.. it's not going to be your last time up, like, EVER.. right?

Step 5: U Need Eyes On the Back Of Yo' Head!

If you're serious about performing for the long run.. bring someone with you that can support and be really (and i mean brutally) honest about how they see you on stage and how you sound. You need to be able to measure your performance quality. If the venue allows it, you can have someone record you on video so that you can see yourself and become aware of how you are delivering your piece. alot of times, we have habits and mannerisms that we're not consciously aware of, and only seeing ourselves can correct the behaviors.

Have a conversation with your friends about your strength and weakness on stage. This will help you come up with a solid style by allowing you to analyze and control your stage presence. Ultimately, it's up to you to keep working toward being the best performer you can be. That's why it's a Lifes work.

Feel free to share this with your friends, I'll be writing more tips as they come to me.

Elevacion,
PaPo

See YOU at our Capicu Poetry 2nd Anniversary jam! This Fri 3/27

Jut a reminder, Familia!

You helped us build Capicu...it is only right you come celebrate with us on Friday March 27th at our spot "Notice Lounge & Cafe" in Brooklyn.
We've been blessed to offer you an All Star line-up.. so check out who's going to be in the buildin'!

Just confirmed! Flaco Navaja- multitalented performer that has graced the stages as a feature of Nuyorican Poets Cafe, HBO's Def Poetry Jam, and is also the lead vocalist for Boricua Roots music group YERBABUENA

Americo Casiano- Award-winning and Founding Poet

c/o PRSUN Radio:
Americo Casiano Jr. is one of the original Nuyorican poets and a key founding activist for the Nuyorican arts movement.


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Maegan "La Mamita Mala" Ortiz- Managing Editor of VivirLatino.com

Her words and opinions have been featured in the Washington Post, Latina Magazine, The New York Daily News, and National Public Radio.



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George Diaz- Comedian- Creator- Producer- Director

As founder of Latino Laughter, Llegamos Live and Llegamos Radio, George has worked with many of today Latin luminaries in the entertainment industry

and music by Hip Hop Supergroup Dr. Loco!


Here are the quick details:
Friday, March 27, 2009 at 7:00pm
@ Notice Lounge and Cafe
198 Union Ave (Between Broadway and Montrose)
Williamsburg Brooklyn, NY
J train to Lorimer, G train to Broadway
$10 Cover, 18 & Over

PaPo Swiggity Santiago
Cofounder; Capicu Poetry & Cultural Showcase
(718) 954-1066

An All Star LineUp For YOU at The Capicu Poetry 2nd Anniversary! Fri 3/27

Familia!

You helped us build Capicu...it is only right you come celebrate with us on Friday March 27th at our spot "Notice Lounge & Cafe" in Brooklyn.
We've been blessed to offer you an All Star line-up.. so check out who's going to be in the buildin'!

Just confirmed! Flaco Navaja- multitalented performer that has graced the stages as a feature of Nuyorican Poets Cafe, HBO's Def Poetry Jam, and is also the lead vocalist for Boricua Roots music group YERBABUENA

Americo Casiano- Award-winning and Founding Poet

c/o PRSUN Radio:
Americo Casiano Jr. is one of the original Nuyorican poets and a key founding activist for the Nuyorican arts movement.


--------------------------

-----------------------------------------

Maegan "La Mamita Mala" Ortiz- Managing Editor of VivirLatino.com

Her words and opinions have been featured in the Washington Post, Latina Magazine, The New York Daily News, and National Public Radio.



----------------------------------------------------------------------

George Diaz- Comedian- Creator- Producer- Director

As founder of Latino Laughter, Llegamos Live and Llegamos Radio, George has worked with many of today Latin luminaries in the entertainment industry

and music by Hip Hop Supergroup Dr. Loco!


Here are the quick details:
Friday, March 27, 2009 at 7:00pm
@ Notice Lounge and Cafe
198 Union Ave (Between Broadway and Montrose)
Williamsburg Brooklyn, NY
J train to Lorimer, G train to Broadway
$10 Cover, 18 & Over

PaPo Swiggity Santiago
Cofounder; Capicu Poetry & Cultural Showcase
(718) 954-1066

The ShadowCount Project. Help the Homeless And Make 75 Bucks

Hey friends and family,

Some of you may know that I'm employed at the Hunter College School of Social Work.  This project from Department of Homeless Services came to me, and I thought about what a good paid opportunity this may be for some of you.

The positions are to dress up and stay in the subway system for 4 hours as what we call "decoys".
We want to see how accurate our volunteers are at counting the homeless.

Why would this be good for you? Creative souls, we've had former participants come to us and say that after this experience, they have a whole new understanding of how the average New Yorker interacts with the homeless and/or temporarily experience the feelings they are subject to. This has changed worldviews.

 Midnight, Monday January 26th may be a rare opportunity. Plus, we are offering you  $75 straight up, tax free.

CONTACT ME if this sounds like something you'd want to get in on.

Elevacion,
Juan PaPo Santiago
Cofounder; Capicu Poetry & Cultural Showcase
Editorial Assistant & Recruitment; Hunter College School of Social Work

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SHADOWCOUNT 2009
Is seeking "decoys" for the NYC homeless count.

On the night of January 26, the NYC Department of Homeless Services (DHS) will send hundreds of volunteers all across the city to count the homeless. On that same night, decoys will be sent to designated locations throughout the city to see how many of them get counted. Information on the number of decoys that are counted will be used to adjust the official NYC homeless count figures.

ShadowCount is funded by DHS but conducted independently by Hunter College School of Social Work researchers.

Date: Night of January 26 - 27, 12:00 midnight to 4:00 am
(Check-in time 2 hours earlier)

To sign up to participate as a paid decoy, request a registration packet by emailing me! paposwiggity@capicupoetry.com

 If you do not have access to the internet you can call me at (212) 452-7096 to request a packet.

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Orphans Int'l Dominican Republic Says: Education is A Right, Not A Privilege. Wed 11/12

**Please forward! :)

 

Hello friends,

As artists and activists, we are excited about how fast the response was for this important event. There are also more ways of helping, even if you are unable to make the event this Wed. November 12th, 7 PM (but we hope you are!) at La Pregunta Arts Cafe.
We want to thank you for spreading the word, and helping us create an opportunity for committed community workers to develop a house of healing & learning in the Dominican Republic for orphan children.

We ask you to continue sharing this event with your friends and family that would have a heart for these kids, these beautiful souls that need the chance some people take for granted here in the States.

 

Our event:
E= MC2, Earth is Mi Comunidad,
A Charity Event to Benefit Orphans International's new project in formation in the Dominican Republic.

Hosted By: PaPo Swiggity & Divine

Special Invited Performers:

Room 28 Comedy, Homeboy Sandman, Oveous Maximus, Yubelky Rodriguez, B.L.A.C.K.A.N.G.E.L.

RSVP! Accessible through our Facebook event link here:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=47001431180

Wed Nov. 12th @ 7 PM
La Pregunta Arts Cafe;
1528 Amsterdam Avenue

Conveniently located in front of City College, 2 blocks from the #1 train
( to 137th)

Cover: $10.00

100% of the proceeds will go to the children in the project.

Regards,
PaPo Swiggity
Capicu Poetry & Cultural Showcase

Capicupoetry.com