Great Advice at IWOW, Artfully Given and Received to Kick off 2020

In Words Out Words, IWOW, creates a monthly open mic for people to share some words, song or dance (or something along those lines) in an intimate friendly setting in Housatonic MA on the First Tuesday of the Month. Kudos to Deb Koffman who hosts the event at her Art Studio at 137 Front Street in Housatonic MA for 14 years now! .https://youtu.be/4xWFWkH2iUU

Fourteen years ago, in 2006, another person initially had asked Deb Koffman if she would allow her space to be used to run the event  to creat and serve community. She agreed and the person successfully ran it with about two dozen people showing up for six months to a year. Then when that person couldn't continue organizing and hosting it, Deb Koffman and those attending felt 'the show must go on.'

She put out requests to friends to shoulder the responsibilities, for hosting and emceeing, lining up themes and ways for people to sign up (done in advance online now for the most part.) People stepped up the the delightful but important challenge.

Deb Koffman does provide a playful stage area that has some of her bright colorful art on display, currently with boxes of many colors with words of encouragement and exploration on them along with some added zest. I will check with her about sharing some or see what you can find on debkoffman.com or on Facebook Here's a link to the IWOW venue featuring many of the people who have performed, but not all...https://youtu.be/4xWFWkH2iUU

The venue has been featured in local publications and some gathering have been taped. Sometimes there were featured guests doing a 20-30 minute set I think..and then it really became about everybody having their five minutes. Some people tell a story on the theme, or read a poem or offer written reflections. Some lead a song or put on a skit or movement piece, or otherwise share on the theme (or thereabouts.)

For those familiar with Toastmasters which have prepared speakers give 5-7 minute speeches (and then get feedback from someone for a few minutes), it's a bit like a planned Table Topics situation...where a topic is given and in the Toastmasters, people speak to that topic for 1-2 and a half minutes.  People do not have to use the full 5 minutes at IWOW but most do. Maybe a bit more practice (particularly with any kind of intro) would help streamline people's efforts. In Toastmasters, a brief introduction is included on an written agenda and/or shared by the Emcee (or Toastmaster introducing speakers.)

That kind of addition may prove helpful in any open mic setting (which would require people writing things out clearly for an introduction if someone else is reading it and if there isn't a way to post that in advance on a poster or other list people could have handy, maybe even ' in advance with a FB page ,etc.' With the modern world likely many people could get more mileage from what they present and help others feel invited and empowered to do something even more informally with friends or at other meetings as an options 'round robin'.

That may mean sharing insights on a theme or an area of interest, or also sharing more information (maybe on a clip board or poster board, etc where people could post notices and others could take a picture on their phone or have someone summarize for a FB page etc.  I like to see how we can nurture one another and community in basic ways and more advanced ways as well.