[Newspoetry] Newspoetry Book Release

[Scott Rettberg]

Following up on William -- Kurt Heintz of www.epoets.net, Joe Tabbi of
www.altx.com/ebr and me have been talking for some time of working to make
the kind of electronic literature cum performance (that means with) that
were GiG and GiG 2.0 a regular part of the Chicago Arts landscape. We viewed
Saturday night's extravaganza as a kind of test of the space the event was
held in, Center Portion. After some initial snafus, it worked out real nice.
We did blow a little dough, but worked out pretty close to even, about maybe
$150 down, after the door, which was $10. The space itself was like $200,
nonvolunteer labor was about $200 and booze was about $200, promotion other
incidentals about $175. A ton of equipment and labor and performance was
donated. So, as long as Shelia, who runs the space, would be cool with the
same rate (which she indicated was cut for the nonprofit evening but which I
think she'd do again) -- if we bring our own booze and do allvolunteer
labor, we could probably pull off a Newspoetry event easily w/ a $5
doorcharge and do better than break even, leaving some over for Newspoetry
party favors. 

Hats off to Joe for taking on the Newspoetry book project. Your release
party awaits.