Two Cookie has always been an un-formatted show. I never ask
guests to read to a theme or write something for the night. Instead, I’ve
always tried to create showcases as an underlying way to tie the show together.
Even building showcases around a topic, readers were never asked to have their
performance fit it. In preparation for our sixth year, I wanted to remember the
6 of the different showcases TCM hosted over the years.
1) All
Zinester Reading
This has been one of my favorite readings to hold. I started
the series as a showcase for zinesters. The first TCM was very zinester heavy. When
I began booking readings after that, I made sure there was a least one zinester,
comics artist or self-publisher in the lineup. As the years went on, I tried to
align TCM zinester readings as fundraisers for Chicago Zine Fest. It was always
great to have readers share new work that would be debuting at the fest. And
once even, I was able to encourage a zinester that was in town for the fest to
be part of that month’s reading. The
biggest challenge though with booking zinesters is that eventually you cycle
through those that read in public. That was a challenge that made work hard to keep
an eye out for new faces, finding new zines and contacting the writers, and
making sure the zine community has an outlet at TCM.
2) Spectacular
All Female Showcase
I started thinking about those really lame bar promotions
offered as Ladies Night. I didn’t want the reading to ever have to play to some
cheap ploy to get people to the reading (well, other than that we already give
out cookies). It wasn’t that all TCM readings had no women or self-identifying
as women on stage. I simply used this type of showcase to book readers that
were already part of the community. These readings were always packed and
provided a great show. I remember on our second all female showcase, Megan
McGrath read a story about her love of accordions and then finished the reading
by giving one away to an audience member. I doubt any other reading series in Chicago can say that
happened during a reading.
3) Cookies
and Cake
Much like the all zinester readings, this was our nod to the Chicago
Alternative Comics Expo. These readings showcased only comics artists and
illustrators while doubling as a fundraiser for CAKE. It really opened up the
series to the comics community. Almost immediately after the first Cookies and
Cake reading, I had comics artists interested in reading at the series. I know Dan the bartender at the Hungry Brain
used to get a chuckle out of many comics readers. I think the audience really
enjoyed these readings, if not for the lineup, for the cake on hand to go along
with the free cookies.
4) Industry
Night
This lineup consisted of those who supported Chicago literary, arts and entertainment
through their writing jobs or organizations. The readers worked as journalists,
editors or bloggers for their job. But their job never allowed them to present
their personal/private writing. The balance of writing for someone else and
writing for yourself seems a tough line to tow. This night proved that both can
be done without a lack of quality and creativity.
5) Writers
in Teaching
Much like Industry Night, this reading showcased those writers
that have a dual role, being writers as well as educators. The role of teachers
is vital to society. And as we know here in Chicago, teachers haven’t gotten much respect
from the city government these past few years. Like all of the other specialty TCM
showcases, I simply asked upon writers that were already in the community. It
was pretty easy then to gather teachers to share their talent. I invited a
variety of teachers ranging from higher ed institutions, CPS and private
school. I only did this once because as easy as it was to find readers, the
event was held on a school night.
6) Polish
reading
This one was a little self indulgent (actually all these shows are for
me as host and curator booking readings I love to see). I have a Polish
heritage, one that I didn’t grow up embracing. I took the stage name Johnny Misfit
as a way to make pronouncing my name easier. I started noticing that there were
quite a few writers of Polish decent reading around the city or that were
friends of the series. I contacted about a dozen readers to be part of this
event knowing I wasn’t going to get them all to participate. The end result was
one that went down in TCM history. We had homemade kolache cookies, a song
about the White Sox and the south-side, and some poetry read in Polish. Dziękuję!
Well thanks for reading. If you had been part of any of
these readings, feel free to leave a comment or email us at
twocookieminimumATgmail with your thoughts. Or, if you would want to be part of one of these showcases in the future let me know! We can work on seeing if any should be scheduled this year.
Leading up to the first TCM of
2016, I’ll be posting some more lists, memories, and insights on our past and
what has made the series stand on its own. Until then, stay warm.
Johnny Misfit
