Poetry Upon Request
Poetry Upon Request
What is Poetry Upon Request?
I write spontaneous original poetry at an old typewriter upon the request of you, the patron. I offer this service to individuals in public spaces and to groups at private events. Our conversation, and the resulting poem, serve to move and enlighten us both, often functioning as a mini therapy session as well as artistic expression. The poem is then yours to treasure for years to come. Thousands of these poems have been framed or stuck on refrigerators worldwide. I keep carbon copies and make books out of them.
Why should I take this seriously?
Selected press coverage can be found on the right-hand side and you can see some of my past clients below. Many reputable, popular, and well-resourced organizations have hired me and would say nice things about their experiences. High-powered firms where serious intellectual work happens are my bread and butter. I love to work for schools, galleries, law offices, creative designers, number crunchers, and others of discipline and education.
Previous Poetry Upon Request Corporate, Design, and Branding Firm Clients:
Nowth.is
(social media /
news company)
Design Within Reach (designer furniture)
Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
(public interest
law firm)
SoHo House New York
(private club)
NautaDutilh
(international law firm)
Vox Noctem, NYC
(boutique event curator)
Did you study poetry?
Why yes. I went to Marlboro College and Naropa University, studying other people’s ideas about how poems happen. (I mainly learned that nobody has any idea how poems happen.) Take a gander at some of these institutions of culture and higher learning that have hired me to write them poems, including my alma mater. They have nice logos too.
Selected Poetry Upon Request School and Museum Clients:
Will you type for my personal or neighborhood event?
Yes! I write for events of all kinds. I have done many weddings and community events. Below is a list of some of the community groups and festivals I have worked with. I do everything from black tie events to backyard barbecues.
Previous Poetry Upon Request Community Organization and Festival Clients:
Burning Man
Black Rock Desert, NV
London Terrace Tenants Association
New York, NY
Innisfree Poetry Bookstore & Cafe
Boulder, CO
34th Street Partnership
New York, NY
New Orleans Book Fair
New Orleans, LA
Shanachie Pub
Willits, CA
Rates and expectations
During my public appearances, I work on a donation basis. My suggested donation is your hourly wage: give whatever you make in an hour. You can give more if you have the resources, or less if you don’t. I only write individual poems in person, not by correspondence. You may find my upcoming appearances on Twitter @alandramarkman.
For private events, please ask me for a quote. I typically ask for $400-$800 to type for an event for 3-5 hours. I expect personal and charity events to be on the lower end of this scale, while corporate and institutional events fall on the higher end. In this time frame, I can write for 15-30 of your guests.
I will work anywhere in the world. For events outside of Northern California / Southern Oregon, I expect to have my travel and accommodations covered.
I value accessibility, so if you doubt you can afford this, make me a reasonable offer. I am often willing to work something out.
Have questions? Want to make a booking?
Please email me at alandra@riseup.net or text/call me at 504-666-5549. I generally respond within a day.
[Alandra Markman] sits in front of a little black typewriter, his fingers dancing to the rhythm of youth that encapsulates Union Square. People watch in awe as his fingers move rapidly across the keys, inking life onto the blank page before him. Minutes later, a fresh poem is born.
Over the last six years, the 26-year-old street poet has composed more than 5,000 pieces throughout his career in New York City, often between Union Square and Penn Station. Occasionally, he asks people to share what’s on their mind. Other times, he tries to gauge their emotions simply through their presence while he listens for non-verbal cues. His poems are eccentric and cleverly strung together, often surprising his customers with abstract, sometimes personal details.
Visit the Alandra Markman page on Amazon.com, or click on the covers of individual books below:
hashtags:
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