I’ve never been part of the literary “parties,”partly because I get overwhelmed by the sensory stimulation and largely because I’m wary of any group, independent or institutional. I’ve probably attended less than 10 such parties during my 33 years of publishing. But I’ve also got a big name. So I’m either an insider outsider or an outsider inside.
I’m sorry, I need to correct the record here. There were plenty of literary and artistic events and parties in NY in the 2010s. They only stopped in 2020-2021 because of Covid. Dimes Square famously restarted the events/party scene *in spite of* then-current Covid restrictions (there are multiple articles on the rise of Dimes Square which note this fact.) I appreciate what you’re trying to accomplish re: vitalism but your narrative of events doesn’t make sense.
Of course there were. But in terms of scale and vitalism, far more post-2020. The Drift parties attracted hundreds of people, which was unheard of outside of stuff that would sometimes happen at Verso loft. There also were less magazines started up, or if they were started, they left little imprint. The scenes were different too - less accessible, on the balance, and more political. Being a published or "star" writer mattered far more.
I don’t know about that. Book publishers certainly threw large parties (100+ people) that nobodies like me still attended. The magazine/new media scene was maybe smaller but hardly unimportant or apolitical (i.e. the Chapo crowd and its related literary friends.) A good number of big, exciting, accessible parties were happening in the 2010s and it might be possible you just didn’t know about them?
Great piece, but still not clear on why you think the Franklin Park Reading Series in the 2010s was "inaccessible." Back then, we were a grassroots, community-based series in the burgeoning Crown Heights neighborhood with free admission (still to this day), and we hosted many unknown authors who'd only been published online or in small lit jouirnals (many of those have since gone on to publish well-received books). We also hosted numerous indie and small press authors. In order to bring more attention and larger audiences for those emerging writers, we sought lit luminaries as headliners who generously donated their time as they wanted to connect with our young audience of students, reading enthusiasts, and aspiring authors. As far as scale and atmosphere, many of our events in that period drew 150-200 people and definitely had a party vibe.
I'm pretty optimistic about the future of AI overall. The example of chess is perfect, the use of software chess playing engines has made it easier to learn chess and much less intimidating in general. I think the same is true of writing or creating art, the AI assistants can free people to do more creative work if they want to!
I’ve never been part of the literary “parties,”partly because I get overwhelmed by the sensory stimulation and largely because I’m wary of any group, independent or institutional. I’ve probably attended less than 10 such parties during my 33 years of publishing. But I’ve also got a big name. So I’m either an insider outsider or an outsider inside.
Matthew Gasda at the Groucho Club hosted by Tom Willis
https://youtube.com/shorts/0VHBTSLhIug
There's also DC's Secret Ballot!
A motorcycle is not a better bicycle.
this is just the savage detectives but 35 year olds
I’m sorry, I need to correct the record here. There were plenty of literary and artistic events and parties in NY in the 2010s. They only stopped in 2020-2021 because of Covid. Dimes Square famously restarted the events/party scene *in spite of* then-current Covid restrictions (there are multiple articles on the rise of Dimes Square which note this fact.) I appreciate what you’re trying to accomplish re: vitalism but your narrative of events doesn’t make sense.
Of course there were. But in terms of scale and vitalism, far more post-2020. The Drift parties attracted hundreds of people, which was unheard of outside of stuff that would sometimes happen at Verso loft. There also were less magazines started up, or if they were started, they left little imprint. The scenes were different too - less accessible, on the balance, and more political. Being a published or "star" writer mattered far more.
I don’t know about that. Book publishers certainly threw large parties (100+ people) that nobodies like me still attended. The magazine/new media scene was maybe smaller but hardly unimportant or apolitical (i.e. the Chapo crowd and its related literary friends.) A good number of big, exciting, accessible parties were happening in the 2010s and it might be possible you just didn’t know about them?
Great piece, but still not clear on why you think the Franklin Park Reading Series in the 2010s was "inaccessible." Back then, we were a grassroots, community-based series in the burgeoning Crown Heights neighborhood with free admission (still to this day), and we hosted many unknown authors who'd only been published online or in small lit jouirnals (many of those have since gone on to publish well-received books). We also hosted numerous indie and small press authors. In order to bring more attention and larger audiences for those emerging writers, we sought lit luminaries as headliners who generously donated their time as they wanted to connect with our young audience of students, reading enthusiasts, and aspiring authors. As far as scale and atmosphere, many of our events in that period drew 150-200 people and definitely had a party vibe.
Dimes square sinq hole https://youtu.be/G5gFI7fUeQs
Love that. Also the friction aspect. I imagine it to be awkward when highfalutin substackers meet in the flesh ^^
Late to the Party Press in NYC too!
I'm pretty optimistic about the future of AI overall. The example of chess is perfect, the use of software chess playing engines has made it easier to learn chess and much less intimidating in general. I think the same is true of writing or creating art, the AI assistants can free people to do more creative work if they want to!
Was crestfallen with sickness the night of TMR party. :(Please have more parties.
Jan 6, TMR reading and party. Get ready. More details soon.
Yayy 🤠
shoutout hosting readings
Thank you for shining that light.