Hire a Poet for Your Next Function

Eternally optimistic, I am not surprised that some enterprising folks are bringing poetry to the masses--and finally making money doing it.

In a Fast Company article published today with the irresistible clickbait title referencing "$225 an hour," author Elizabeth Segran describes The Haiku Guys and their "gigs." Weddings, birthdays, corporate events, you name it--they show up and work with the guests to write memorable haikus. Maybe it's a fad. So many activities at weddings and parties come and go, but members Lisa Markuson, Erick Szentmiklosy, and Daniel Zaltsman seem to have a few more tricks up their collective performance sleeves.

Yes, I would say this falls under the category of performance art--it's just not the kind of performance art mocked in popular media. And I love it--especially because it engages the audience (empowers, even?) and celebrates writing as communication tool and memento--not just part of an artifact that only has value when analyzed and dissected.

My only question, where are the Sonnet Dames?

Obviously there's room for growth in this field.