The 24-Hour Poetry Feature
Rules
1) Make it 24-hours.
A true, hardcore 24HPF (24-Hour Poetry Feature) is done by one person over a 24-hour period. But the goal of 24HPFs isn't to show-off your insomnia; it's to raise awareness and appreciation for the art of poetry. If you need a few friends to get up and read to help you reach the 24 hours, that's okay. If you want to turn it into a 24-hour open mic, that's fine too. Whatever interests your local community in poetry is what you should be looking for. My community happens to think one guy doing it for 24 hours is kind of cool (or kind of insane) so that's the gold, original standard.
Yes, you can take breaks each hour, but not more than 15 minutes in length...just like your job.
2) Register.
You must register your reading to be listed as an official 24HPF on this site. Just fill out this form and paste the questions and info in an email to us here at:
the24hourpoetryfeature@yahoo.com
Once you send that in, give me some time to sign off on it, email you back and get you posted on the list of registered poets!
Also, you'll receive an electronic badge that you can post on your website, stating you as an official reading!
3) No repeats.
No poem can be repeated during the course of the 24-hours. You can do multiple poems by the same poet. I have done hours of Bukowski and Alexie at this point, but I have never repeated one of their poems, even from year to year. If you want to be REAL hardcore, try reading only your own work for 24 hours without repeats. Or the complete version of some significant text, like Leaves of Grass (bearing in mind that the point of this event is to interest your audience in poetry, not send them running for the door).
4) Don't sue.
By signing the registration form you agree to not hold responsible in any way Scott Woods for any harm or damage that may befall you, a participant, audience member or venue during the course of attempting a 24HPF. If you die on stage, that's your problem.