What is the Poetry Brothel?
The Poetry Brothel is an immersive literary cabaret that fuses poetry, activism, vaudeville, burlesque, live music, visual art, magic, mysticism, and private, one-on-one poetry experiences. Inspired by the turn-of-the-century brothels in New Orleans, Paris, and Buenos Aires, many of which functioned as permissive spaces where marginalized, fringe, and avant-garde artists could experiment and perform their work, The Poetry Brothel strives to promote a culture of radical inclusion and unbridled creative play. At The Poetry Brothel, a “madam” presents a rotating cast of poets and artists who operate within self-constructed characters, “erupting into verse in public and luring guests into back rooms for private readings,” as described in The New Yorker. Central to The Poetry Brothel experience is the creation of character, which for each artist serves as a disguise and freeing device, enabling The Poetry Brothel to be a place of uninhibited creative expression in which artists and audience members alike can communicate more authentically.
How did it start? Where did it come from?
The Poetry Brothel was founded at the Living Theater in NYC by Stephanie Berger and Nicholas Adamski in the year 2007. The event was initially conceived as a performance art event aimed at fostering intimacy, urgency and exaltation within the New York poetry community, and at expanding that community to include a more diverse population of artists. At the time, New York City, the place perceived by thousands of young writers to be the epicenter of the contemporary poetry world, felt boring. Allen Ginsberg, Frank O’Hara and Edna St. Vincent Millay had quit running amok decades earlier, and a clear vitalizing alternative was required. The Poetry Brothel provided one cure: a pastiche of back-alley history and literary revelry, this event series remedied the monotony of the slam poetry reading’s excessive bravado, and charmed patrons of the one-note, one-format academic poetry readings out of their fold-up chairs into back rooms for private readings. In 2009, The Poetry Brothel’s first international chapter, Prostibulo Poetico, was founded by Kiely Sweatt, a member of the original cast in NYC, in Barcelona. From there, chapters of The Poetry Brothel began emerging all over the world.
Where are you currently located?
The Poetry Brothel currently operates in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Barcelona, Madrid, London, Amsterdam, Mexico City, and many more locations throughout the world! All events in the US are produced by The Poetry Society of New York. Events abroad are produced by other organizers but mostly in collaboration with the folks at PSNY. Please contact us for a complete list of currently active chapters in the US and abroad and to be put in touch with the local producers.
How do I join the cast?
The Poetry Brothel is always seeking new poets, artists, musicians, mystics, dancers, vaudevillians, circus performers, sideshow acts, set designers, volunteers of all kinds, and basically any one who feels they have something to contribute to The Poetry Brothel. Artists from underrepresented communities are in particular encouraged to apply.
If you are interested in joining The Poetry Brothel community, please send application materials to your local “madam”—a list of whom can be found here.
In your application, you will need to include:
a headshot
your character name and bio (this need not contain any factual or professional information)
a cover letter that includes your professional name, the city where you reside, and a link to your website, portfolio or social page
5 pages of your poetry, if applicable
an audition video up to 5 minutes long (Feel free to shoot the video on your phone; we don't need anything professionally produced. We simply want to get a sense of your personality, style, and voice while seeing a little bit of what you do. If you are a poet, perform a poem! If you are a dancer, we'd love to see a routine. If you are a singer, sing for us. If you read tarot, show us a sample reading.)
Please apply by August 1st for the Fall season and by December 1st for the Winter/Spring season. However, applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
How do I start a chapter in my city?
If you’re interested in bringing The Poetry Brothel to your city, simply contact us to inquire about starting a chapter!
Can I touch the performers at The Poetry Brothel?
The short answer is “NO, we’re not that kind of brothel!”
At The Poetry Brothel, we strive to create a welcoming and safe environment for everyone. While our performers bring their art close to you, please respect that we are largely a no-contact event. Our performers should feel comfortable and unimpeded while sharing their craft.
If someone seems emotional and you wish to offer support, feel free to ask if they would like a hug, but remember that consent is crucial.
We uphold a zero-tolerance policy for harassment, unwanted touch, and any homophobic, transphobic, racist, sexist, ableist, or ageist behavior. Our goal is to ensure a respectful and inclusive space where every participant and performer can thrive.
If someone is making you uncomfortable or harassing you, please speak to the Madam or event manager. They will believe you, and they will help.
What is The Poetry Brothel doing to support sex workers?
Since its beginning, The Poetry Brothel has been inspired by the sacred origins of sex work, the history of art in brothels, and the subversion of language and structures which have historically been oppressive but can now be used to empower marginalized groups. We have always strongly believed that as poets and artists, placing sex work at the center of The Poetry Brothel’s framework—and sparking conversations about it— is one of the best ways we can de-stigmatize the profession—and expressive intimacy more generally. The Poetry Brothel also strives to support sex workers by casting and hiring current and former sex workers and thereby uplifting sex workers’ voices in the arts; by raising money and providing a platform for sex worker service and activist organizations; and by educating audiences about consent and the issues at play in the sex industry. If you aren’t already familiar with our sex worker advocacy partner GLITS, please consider familiarizing yourself and making a contribution to support trans sex workers’ rights and safety.