In Character 101:

Post 2

CHAM’s WORD

“The bigger your head is, the easier it is for your balance to be lost.” –CHAM’s Word

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?  RON(ITA) O’NEAL?

By CHAMSIL

The year was 2009.  January 2009 to be exact.  SOUNDNOFF Poetical Showcases, a spoken word show that I host with Author, Samara King, had premiered a mere two months prior and we were well on our way to making some noise with the new show.  As we always have done with every show, we conferenced to discuss show format, sequencing, themes, and most importantly, featured guests.  It was at that moment that bells and whistles sounded in my brain with so much force that I swore it left my ears ringing, temporarily.  I had a fantastic idea, however, I must rewind the clock in order to put this topic into its proper perspective.

About five years prior, I was fully submerged in the Spoken Word scene in my hometown of Kalamazoo, Michigan.  So, on a special evening at a place that I will call, “The Slam Spot,” a guest was scheduled to come in from out of town to bless the crowd with some hot spoken word.  I was excited that a “powerhouse” was going to be gracing the stage with their presence, and I looked forward to seeing and flexing some skills in the presence of who I will call, “Ronita O’Neal.”  Well, since Ronita was a special guest, no slam competition was scheduled, so all was left was open mic.  So, that was what I did.  Ronita was gazing upon me from the front row.  I fared well during the open mic, then patiently waited for Ronita to hit the stage.  Man, she hit the stage with such a fervor that the vicinity was incinerated.  I was thoroughly impressed and amazed by the pieces that she performed.  Real talk.  I even supported her by buying one of her spoken word CD’s.  She even autographed it with the following words, “Never Stop Writing.”  I did exactly that.  Great words to live by, indeed.

So, fast-forward the clock to early 2009.  I informed Samara that I had someone in mind that would be great to feature and let her know that I would reach out in order to see if she was interested in participating.  This was THREE WHOLE MONTHS in advance!  I crafted a nice, professional email message via MySpace to Ronita, refreshing her memory on how/when we met, how she had been influential in my spoken word pursuits and strenghtening my writing, and how our show would love to feature her and for her to let me know her thoughts on my proposition as soon as her schedule would permit.

One week goes by.  No response.  Two weeks go by.  Still no response.  I check the status of my message.  It relayed “Read.”  BUNK!  Many months go by, including the “imfamous” show in question.  STILL no word.  I mean, if she didn’t want to do it.  Say it!  If we were little peons beneath the ground that her big feet pounced upon…say it!  Hell…SAY ANYTHING!  At the end of the day, it’s all about professionalism.  I would’ve expected her to demonstrate that.  Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.  Maybe my expectations were too high.  Nah…I doubt it.   Undaunted, we kept if moving and had great shows, regardless of involvement, or lack thereof, from “Ronita.”

So, Ronita…in closing…you’re lame is f@ck!

That’s my word.

–CHAMSIL

Post 1

CHAM’s WORD

“A poet/spoken word artist without a voice is just a mime.”  –CHAM’s Word

WHY DOES SPOKEN WORD/POETRY NOT GET THE LOVE AND RESPECT IT DESERVES?

By CHAMSIL

Let’s go waaaaaaaay back.  Poetry has been around for as long as I can remember.  Well before I even decided to venture into this artform, and ultimately speaking it in front of lots of people on stage.  Maya Angelou.  Langston Hughes.  The list goes on and on and on.  These people are poetic legends who have paved the way for poets to do their thing these days.  Poetry talks to the soul.  It’s rhythmic.  It’s floetic.  It has you clinging on to every…single…word, so you can truly “feel” it.  This is why I love it so much and why this particular artform holds such a special place in my heart.  I can think back to the year two thousand and four.  This was the very first time that I conjured up the nerve to get my behind on a stage in my hometown of Kalamazoo, Michigan.  It was in front of a crowd of predominately white people and a sprinkle of black folks.  I come from a moderately-sized college town (lol).  I had my piece memorized.  I had been practicing it for like three or four days prior, so I felt that I was as prepared as I possibly could be for the pending moment.  The night came.  I hopped up on stage.  All eyes were definitely on me…2Pac-style.  My throat was dry.  I took a swallow, accompanied by a few deep breaths.  Then I just let it…goooooooooooooooo.  I did well that night, for a newbie.  That was when I KNEW, I had a genuine love and respect for poetry and this spoken word game.  A flame that continues to burn deep inside me to this day.

However, I noticed one thing that stood out to me with this whole spoken word thing.  No matter where I slammed or did open mic, the environment primarily consisted of minorities or grunged-out caucasians who looked like they just came fresh from a Nirvana concert, equipped with piercings, baggy ass cargo pants, belt chains, etc.  R.I.P. Kurt Cobain.  I’m not hating by any means.  Hell, it was those same crowds that gave me mad love when I got on stage under the bright lights and wide eyes gazing upon me.  However, it did put things into perspective for me.  That perspective was that spoken word, no matter how soulful and personal it is, is still not widely accepted and maintains and “underground” and “archaic” presence.  Why is that?  I remember trying to get some of my friends to come check me out on stage and they wouldn’t give me the time of day.  Were they too cool to listen to spoken word?  I bet if some rapper dude came into town, they’d be quick to go see him!  Hey, I got something to say, too…friend!

But, anyway.  I want to thank venues like Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam for providing an outlet for the masses to see what spoken word is all about.  It had it’s run.  But, then that too…ended.  Publishing houses, including the black and independent ones, steadily turn their noses up at poetry and flat-out refuse to publish it.  I’d expect it from a major who just might not be aware of how powerful this artform is, but I shake my damn head when I see our own folks perpetrate this foolishness with “We do not publish poetry.” diatribes.  Has poetry been officially labeled the plague or literary HIV?  If anything, our people should be able to relate to it even more than your standard form of writing.  But, until people re-think their thought processes, poetry will be looked at as the kid in the attic being fed arsenic-laced cookies in hopes that it will eventually die off.

Trust me…it won’t.

To all my poets and spoken word artists out there, keep pushing your product!  Your voices WILL be heard.  It is your duty to never stop doing what you’re doing.  Because once you do…you’ve lost.  Kill the naysayers and doubters with kindness.  Forgive them because they know not, fully, what they do.  They only do what higher publishing powers dictate or what a generic literary business model tells them to.

That’s my word.

–CHAMSIL

ABOUT

CHAMSIL (pronounced “shahm-sill”) is a Kalamazoo, Michigan-bred/Orlando, Florida-based writer, poet and radio show host who is the author of four books/stories that have been released via the web which include, “Of This Analverse” (An Erotiq Comedy), “The Exploitation of Innocence” (A Story), “The Khaos of Kai” and “eThugs R Us.”  For more information regarding CHAMSIL and his works, please visit www.myspace.com/chamsil