Poetry Brothel Seducing Many New Yorkers
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With dimmed lights, lace, and masks, the Poetry Brothel is anything but a conventional poetry reading, and maybe that's why it seducing so many New Yorkers. NY1's Stephanie Simon filed the following report on a new kind of poetry party that is downright risqué. The Poetry Brothel is a monthly poetry party run by Stephanie Berger, the poetry madam.
"I am the madam of the poetry brothel," said Berger. "It's a place for the poets to give the poetry readings. They make a little bit of money and they dress well."
The madam has hosted the Poetry Brother about once a month for nearly a year at various locations around the city, with one of the most recent taking place at the Zipper Factory in Manhattan.
For $15, people can attend the party, have a drink, and have a poet recite poetry for them – one on one.
"It's really interesting because you are also much more in tune with the audience and just having one person there, you can just really watch their expressions," said poet Christine Hamm. "It's kind of it's given me a new kind of view on my poems."
The "customers" seem pleased.
"Usually, I think I'm someone who doesn't understand poetry, but I think when you get the one-on-one experience, it somehow helps you understand bit more than I would have likely done on my own," said one event attendee. "I actually enjoy the experience a great deal."
"I was brought to this very lovely man, who read me two beautiful poems," said another. "They were very good; the poetry was great."
The night also includes group readings and live music.
In addition to the poetry reading that comes with cost of admission, attendees can also haggle for additional reading.
Poet Matthew Yeager is known at the events as "The Butler."
"It's an attempt to break away from everything people think of when they think of a poetry reading, which is a bunch of people sitting in chairs in silence," said Yeager. "It forces the poetry to stand on its two feet a little bit more."
For more information, go to ThePoetryBrothel.com.