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Painting
Oil stick and acrylic on a machine-made rug
all 41 works →
Typewriter poet, Los Angeles: live poems, typed to order
A guest sits down across from me and offers a name, a worry, a joke, or nothing at all. A few minutes later they stand up holding the only copy of a poem that did not exist before they sat down. Live typewriter poetry for holiday parties, brand activations, weddings, and conferences in Los Angeles; eleven years at the typewriter.
Book a date · Rates and details (PDF) · The deck (PDF)
The night, in order
- Setup. I arrive early with a manual typewriter and a stack of card stock, and take the seat you have set for me.
- A guest sits down. I ask what the poem should be about. Most people say a person. Some say the open bar. Either works.
- Three to six minutes of typing. People gather and read over shoulders. A line forms, and the line is part of the evening.
- They leave with the only copy. No carbon, no photo unless they take one. The usual reaction is happy tears.
Four from the stack
Typed on a Smith-Corona Silent for guests who gave me a name and a minute. First names only.
going through the tightwind of ancient glowsnaking through the streets packed withshirins and farhads left and right meetingfor tea and inspiration and news and ideasnew to the world new to tehran new to us and what an us, the last left on the dancefloorknowing not knowing knowing of seeing you againa glorious confidence or faith in what could be and now the future uncertain and bombed outgrows like wildflowers that have found theirway into the warmth of a city full of our love a city made of stardust and our memories
japan beckons like a sibling from across the sea 25 26 27 years add up like the fabric of timebunching up around the curves of our loveample with warmth and a glow of decades ofknowing and the path forward sometimes unknowablebut usually among the designs of stars we can seeourselves be it selvedge denim or nigiri or simplythe world coalesced into a single atom of knowingthat you are and have been the perfect choice we stumble into meaning sometimes and whenlost in translation we welcome the light
where are you, i ask as you sit right next to me even when i am with you, i miss youtransatlantic transcontinental, no mattertrue love flowers where it is watered andyou make the sun break through like god talkingthrough the petals unfurling i would look for you if you were right in front of methe sky and stars and moon unravel for us only us
the green unfolds in front of us likea blank page waiting to be written and todayour story, our song, is one of focus and grace each shot a challenge and still a blessing oursto perfect or flaw but eternally the end endsright where we began and for me for you that isand always will be next to you in the cart oron foot at the range or seated at the club o how soft and green our days are followingthe chores of a little white ball ours untilit isn't
Where I write
- Holiday parties
- Brand activations
- Corporate conferences
- Weddings
- Hotel residencies
- Birthdays
- Feasts
- Sweet 16s
- Bar mitzvahs
Who I have written for
- Tiffany & Co.
- SpaceX
- National Geographic
- Target
- Bloomingdale’s
- Blizzard Entertainment
- Dell
- Kimpton Hotels
- Arlo Hotels
Also on offer
A second poet. For large rooms I bring another typewriter poet I trust, with their own machine, so nobody waits long.
A custom stamp. Your event name, date, or logo stamped on every card. One week's notice.
What I need from you
- A table with a linen on it.
- Two chairs, one for me and one for the guest.
- A light above the typewriter if the event is at night or outdoors. The guest needs to read, and I need to see the keys.
- No power. The typewriter is manual, so outdoor events are no trouble as long as there is enough ambient light.
Questions, answered
How much does a typewriter poet cost?
$500 an hour with a two-hour minimum. That covers the typewriter, the card stock, and every poem; each guest leaves with the only copy. Extra hours are billed in half-hour increments. Within greater Los Angeles there is no travel charge inside 25 miles of Koreatown.
Do you travel outside Los Angeles?
Yes. Los Angeles is home. San Diego County is a flat $500 travel fee, Las Vegas is $800 plus lodging, and anywhere else is quoted on request.
How many guests can you write for?
Ten to twenty poems an hour, depending on how long we talk. For a big room I bring a second typewriter poet with their own machine, so nobody waits long.
What kinds of events book this?
Holiday parties, brand activations, corporate conferences, weddings, hotel residencies, birthdays, feasts, sweet sixteens, and bar mitzvahs. I have written for Tiffany & Co., SpaceX, National Geographic, Instagram, Target, and Dell, among others.
What do you need from the venue?
A table with a linen on it, two chairs (one for me, one for the guest), and a light over the typewriter if the event is at night or outdoors. No power: the typewriter is manual.
Can the poems carry our event name or logo?
Yes. A custom stamp with your event name, date, or logo goes on every card. It needs one week’s notice.
How do I book a date?
Email or call with the date, the city, and a rough head count. I reply within a day with availability and the rate sheet. A 50% deposit holds the date and the balance is due on the day; cancellations within seven days forfeit the deposit.
Book a date
Send the date, the city, and a rough head count. I reply within a day with availability and the rate sheet. Two-hour minimum; travel outside Los Angeles quoted up front.
