What do you do?
I am a performance poet.
When did you get into it?
I have written armchair poetry sporadically throughout my life, but I began performing verse two years ago when I stumbled across Julian Fleetwood’s monthly Traverse Poetry slam.
Who or what influences you as an artist?
I am strongly influenced by my stage of life, resulting in writing a lot of pining poems about growing up in the ‘70s and ‘80s and why being middle aged sucks. I am inspired by American performers such as Rives, Big Poppa E, Sage Francis, Emily Kagan Trenchard, Robbie Q. Telfer, Andrea Gibson and Anis Mogjani. Tim Minchin is a big name Australian influence, but I also love the work of Luka Haralampou and Emilie Zoe Baker. Ultimately, my writing is heavily tainted by Richard Dawson, Christopher Hitchens, the Bible and the Catechism of the Holy Roman Catholic Church.
What’s your biggest achievement/proudest moment so far?
Performing in the 2010 Australian Poetry Slam final at Sydney Theatre, coincidentally on the set for Uncle Vanya, in front of 400 people who had paid to hear poetry performed for them.
What are your plans for the future?
I am working on the perfect poem to win the 2011 Australian Poetry Slam.
Longer term, I am developing the concept of a 45-60 minute small cast play in performance verse. The best slam poems are complete two to three minute stories. I want to take this concept further into a more developed tale while retaining the rhythm and music of poetry.
To support the performance part of my poetry, I would also like to develop my acting skills further. I have some experience in amateur theatre (Oberon, King of the Fairies, an acclaimed highlight in Katherine, NT) and would love to build upon this.
What makes you laugh?
I laugh easily and at nearly anything. I am giggling now, and these answers are not even a little bit humourous.
What pisses you off?
I am an unjustifiably optimistic person and rarely get pissed off. I am annoyed when people performing at an open mic gig don’t show respect to the other performers by staying after their piece, keeping quiet and listening. Fortunately, I don’t often see that in Canberra.
What’s your opinion of the local scene?
I am amazed with Canberra right now – there is so much going on performance-wise that it is hard to keep up. There is a large group of enthusiastic and supportive artists, listeners and publicans keeping the whole art landscape alive. One recent and very successful example, the You Are Here Festival, set my brain on fire.
In the poetry scene, a very strong and committed group of writers and performers are continually doing new things. It is a very supportive and welcoming group which is keeping the page turning for performance poetry in the ACT. In particular, Traverse Poetry, Bad!Slam!No!Biscuit! and Smiths Alternative Bookshop are havens for verse.
What are your upcoming projects?
I will continue performing at the monthly Bad!Slam! and Traverse Poetry gigs.
Contact info:
cjbowerbird.blogspot.com
