Leavitt's Malady

Leavitt's Malady from Erik Leavitt on Vimeo.


On July 3rd, one day before I dug deep into my pockets and bought America a birthday cake, I performed at Bodega Wine Bar.  This officially marks my first performance in a space that doesn't prominently feature either a couch or a plasma screen.  I'm moving up in the world.

Somehow I'd forgotten about the events within the story told here until a few weeks ago, presumably because my brain treated it the same way a child's does sexual abuse.  I don't exactly know what that says about the shame I should feel about the actions described herein, other then that there should be a lot of it. so, you know, mission accomplished there.

You can hear more stories like this at the Bodega wine Bar's monthly storytelling series, which you can find out more about here.

BBQ Stands for Better Banter Quality

So this is happening.  Another super-secret performance, which means another super-public recording to be posted here.  If things go as planned (and by planned I mean I've thought about this and put in very little work) this may be the craziest combination of story and gimmick yet.  Stay tuned, true believers.

Coming Soon: Audio from the Bodega Monthly

"Live storytelling returns….Whether they are true or fictitious, funny or sad, these tales will grab your interest and won’t let go. Coming to you live from the main stage to you our captive audience uncut and uncensored. This month, guest host, Allen Norvick welcomes to the stage Gerry Seidman, Sean Alday, Ryan Paulson, Michael Lala and Erik Leavitt to entertain and enlighten. Come join us for Brooklyn’s fastest growing storytelling event!"

That's right. I "enlightened and entertained" at The Bodega Monthly just a few short hours ago, all while shirtless men threw M-80s at passing cars (presumably they demonstrated their patriotism by only throwing them at foreign cars). And soon we will have the audio from said event posted here, so prepare your ears to start vomiting onto your brains when I mistake a teratoma for a regular old tumor. Cram that in your birthday hole and smoke it, America.

Ding Dong Lounge Reading

Erik's Reading at Ding Dong from Erik Fakerson on Vimeo.

Most of my twenties was a series of decisions made both poorly and publicly. I would like to say that they fit the adage “bad for life, good for writing,” but seeing as thus far they’ve only proven mediocre for my writing at best I might need to find something more pithy to repeat about them. Probably something more apologetic when I run into old friends.

The two versions of this wedding poem read at the Ding Dong Lounge Reading Series are a prime example of that, something where I look like a jackass both reading them and explaining them. When this all blows up in my face someone, will probably try to comfort me by saying that this will be good for my writing. If I’m lucky they’ll be right. For a change.


Link

Sir Galasad and other Valentine's Day Stories

Storytelling: Sir Galasad from Erik Leavitt on Vimeo.


On February 14th lovers around the nation declared their boundless affection for one another.  Four days later, on February 18^th, I told a series of stories about stalking, unrequited love, and the legal ramifications that come into play when the two meet.  Have a listen to find out exactly what happens when romance meets amateur espionage. 

Reading this February

Coming this February 19th.

A super secret, Illuminati storygasim.

Live recording of the event to come soon.

Photo Shoot from Summer Story Slam

Nathaniel Shannon, who manages to make the most homely of us look sexirrific, demonstrated his magical powers on me during my last storytelling recording out in Greenpoint.  You can have a look at more of Nathaniel's work here: http://www.nathanielshannon.com/

Kickoff of the 2010-2011 Gallery Reading Series

September Gallery from Alex Cunningham on Vimeo.


At the end of September I read at Columbia's Gallery reading series, which is to say I conned the Gallery folks into letting me read a second time.  Seeing as this will probably never happen again, I pleased as punch to present a recording of the reading.  Presumably more of these will be posted monthly, and while they won't feature me (and thus I won't be listening) they will feather other fine, young, talented folks.

Also, just for the record, neither the hecklers shouting during my piece nor my responses were planned ahead of time.  If I'm going to put a plant in the audience of a reading to disrupt things it's either going to be a streaker or a self-immolater.   

Storytelling: Roommates, Gay Chicken, and the Secret Service.

Erik Leavitt makes a house call from MonkeyFish Productions on Vimeo.


The folks at Monkey Fish Productions were kind enough to film me telling stories to a room full of strangers--meaning both people with whom I'm not acquainted and people I know who qualify as strange.  While I suspect that the real purpose of this video might have been to create footage for a youtube mashup of "KKK Took My Baby Away," I'm happy to use them for my own promotional purposes.

You can watch the video through the player above or at the following link: http://vimeo.com/15484571

Storytelling: Roaches, Killer Bees, and Other Creepy Crawlies

  Latest tracks by Eleavitt

This is a rough cut of a recording from a storytelling session that I did in Brooklyn in July 2010.  In an ideal world this file would have an equal amount of polish to go with its spit, but for the time being it sure beats nothing.  

The actual audio starts at the 1:00 mark.

If you prefer to listen to this in another format, you can follow the link here for yet another faulty imagining of an audio version of youtube: http://blip.tv/file/4164945

Mouth and Thistle Reading, Circa 2008

Mouth and Thistle Reading, Circa 2008 from Erik Leavitt on Vimeo.

I stumbled across this video of a reading that I did of my poetry thesis back in Idaho. Frankly, I dread watching myself too much to actually review the video myself, but I figure it might be an artifact of interest. Also, it's probably the only reading I'll ever get to do while using a flip chart of astrological woodcuts. Let's hope for that much, at least.

"Hive" up at Alice Blue

I recently pulled one over on the publishers of Alice Blue and hoodwinked them into publishing a short essay of mine. Presumably when they come to their sense like someone awakening from a chloroform rag they'll do the reasonable thing and remove the piece, but until then you can read it here: http://www.alicebluereview.org/main.html

UPDATE

Fiction Daily just reposted "Hive" for all their readers to fawn over like a coffee pot at an AA meeting. You can have a look at it here if you're too good for Alice Blue: http://fictiondaily.org/2010/05/24/short-121/#comments

Brooklyn Storytelling: Duluth

Duluth, Platey, and the best Thanksgiving ever. from Erik Leavitt on Vimeo.

A few months ago I took my first crack a public storytelling where a crowd was involved and a case of beer wasn’t. I called it a practice run for getting on stage at the Moth. Fortunately, my buddy Sean took a fine toothed comb to the recording and made me sound funnier and more professional than I was within the performance. You have to listen really hard to hear the audience booing me off stage.

This is just a segment of that little event. You can have a listen on the originating site here.

Mayor of Iggy's Lounge

Mayor of Iggy's Lounge from Erik Leavitt on Vimeo.


After spending a year blousing about Iggy's Karaoke Lounge in New York, I finally decided to put my "research" to good use and write a profile on one of the regulars. What follows is a recording of a reading I did for the Columbia Gallery Reading series in December of 2009.

Intro for Your Skull My Closet

The band Your Skull My Closet has consistently given me a chance to make an ass out of myself at the beginning of their shows, so it was only a matter of time before someone made a video of it.

They say that ending up naked on the internet is a bad thing. After this I'm not so sure they're wrong. Fortunately the band is good enough to wash away the bad taste of all that pasty, screaming meat.

Also, seeing as this performance is an homage Mister Charles Bernstein, here's one of CB's countings:

http://media.sas.upenn.edu/pennsound/authors/Bernstein/Class/Bernstein-Charles_02_1-100_1969-remastered.mp3