Lessons from 20 Years of Presentations

For beginning writers, there's often an uncertainty if you're even going to be successful long enough to bother documenting and tracking your journey. But much like other professional vocations, it absolutely benefits you to maintain some records of key performances and presentations, and those you perform and present with when possible. In the artistic process, this is an ideal more than an absolute, of course.

While my own history of giving poetry readings goes back to 1991 in college, I didn't start keeping track well until approximately 2001, and so there are probably 10 to 20 readings I gave where I remember the vague details of them and why we convened, but not much more beyond that. Looking at the egregiously poor records that have been maintained about any aspect of the Laotian diaspora in America after 1975, that now pains me a great deal as we try to discuss our historical journey nearing 50 years here. But so it goes.

A number of fellowships, grants, scholarships and even job opportunities in the arts will often ask you for your artist resume, which is often initially different from your professional resume, FYI. The details you usually want to include are classroom lectures and performances where you're more than just someone who signed up for the open mic.

Because most events are now publicized online you'd think it's easier to keep track of most of these, but in practical reality, you can't take it for granted that your name will easily show up on a google search connected to a specific date and venue. Especially when you do work with organizations and institutions prone to website overhauls. You'd be surprised how much gets lost.

What follows is an example of how I've formatted mine in various proposals where this counts more than specific publication credits. I typically order it as: Event Title, Institution, City, State, and date. Optionally, I include my role and/or the additional key artist I'm presenting with if it's just two of us. More than three lead artists starts to get unwieldly for the purposes of the entry. Because weblinks to events can get unwieldly, I usually don't include them in the resume, but keep them handy elsewhere if those links ARE requested.

You want to list your presentations in a way that you can easily track your presentations down in a hurry, which leads to my final tip that if you can, propose titles for your presentation that go beyond the generic and connect you easily to a given subject or passion. You don't want your work to get lost in the shuffle, but you also don't want it so arcane that someone can't find you reasonably.

Good luck!

“Home: Finding, Leaving, Re-Imagining,” St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN, November 7, 2021.

“Shelter In Place,” Eat My Words, Minneapolis, MN, September 30, 2021.

BIPOC Writing Party, Washington D.C., September 27, 2021.

Poets and Pints 76, Sisyphus Brewing, Minneapolis, MN, September 15, 2021.

Midstream Poetry Series, Minneapolis, MN, September 9, 2021.

“Jump Scares and Last Girls,” Skepticon, St. Louis, MO, August 14, 2021.

Chattanooga Writers Guild, Chattanooga, TN, August 10, 2021.

Midstream Poetry Series, Minneapolis, MN, July 8, 2021.

“Artists As Connectors: Building Racial Solidarities In The Twin Cities,” Joyce Foundation, Minneapolis, MN, July 7, 2021.

Sakatah Reading Series, Mankato, MN, March 31, 2021.

Speculative Poetry Sundays, New York, NY, December 20, 2020.

Gris Literatura, Minneapolis, MN, December 17, 2020.

“1.5: A Southeast Asian Diaspora Remix,” SEAD and the Minnesota Museum of American Art, St. Paul, MN September 24, 2020.

“Laomagination 45 Exhibit,” Indigenous Roots & Online, St. Paul, MN, April-May, 2020.

“A World Imagined Lao,” i:cat gallery, Vientiane, Laos, February 21, 2020.

“Laomagination 45,” UC Merced, Merced, CA, December 11, 2019.

“Dreams and Diaspora: Exploring Speculative Poetry,” Poets House, New York, NY, October 27, 2019.

Skazat! Open Mic Featured Poet, Sweetwaters Cafe, Ann Arbor, MI, October 22, 2019.

Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI, October 23, 2019.

“Laomagination 45,” Otterbein, Westerville, OH, October 17, 2019.

Rural Arts and Culture Summit, Grand Rapids, MN, October 3-5, 2019.

“Laomagination 45,” Matatu Festival of Stories, Oakland, CA, September 27, 2019.

“Laomagination 45,” Asian American Literature Festival, Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, Washington D.C., August 2-4, 2019.

“Laomagination 45,” Big Car Collaborative and Tube Factory, Indianapolis, IN, June 14, 2019.

“P Words: A celebration of poetry, pun, and Patti Smith,” Turf Club, St. Paul, MN, May 30, 2021.

Southeast Asian Studies Graduate Studies Conference, UC-Riverside, Riverside, CA, May 14, 2021.

“The Artist as Problem Solver II,” Joyce Foundation Creative Placekeeping/Placemaking Summit, Cleveland, OH, March 21-22, 2019.

Nicolas Books, Ann Arbor, MI, March 2, 2019.

Ann Arbor Spoken Word Open Mic with Frances Kai-Hwa Wang, Ann Arbor, MI, February 17, 2019.

Bookbound Bookstore with Frances Kai-Hwa Wang, Ann Arbor, MI, February 14, 2019.

“Laomagination 45,” Ann Arbor Public Library, Ann Arbor, MI, February 13, 2019.

CONvergence, Guest of Honor, Bloomington, MN, July 4-7, 2019.

“Laomagination at 20” Retrospective, New Rules, Minneapolis, MN, April 12, 2019.

“Fresh Off the Starships,” SFPA at the San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco, CA, December 29, 2018.

League of Minnesota Poets Fall Conference Keynote Speaker, Hopkins, MN, October 20-21, 2018.

City of Minneapolis Welcome Week Celebration, Minneapolis, MN, September 21, 2018.

Equity Descendants Summit, Wilder Foundation, St. Paul, MN, September 13, 2018.

“Laomagination: Transitions,” with Kaysone Syonesa, Springboard for the Arts, September-October, 2018.

“River of Dreams,” with Kaysone Syonesa, SEAD Project, Minneapolis, MN, August 4, 2018.

Diversicon Special Guest, St. Paul, MN, July 27-29, 2018.

Bridges Reading Series Featured Reader, Roseville, MN, July 19, 2018.

“Cracked Walnut: Stargazers,” East Side Freedom Library, St. Paul, MN, June 22, 2018.

“Claiming Home: World Refugee Day” Springboard for the Arts, St. Paul, MN, June 20, 2018.

Loft Literary Center Equilibrium Reading Series Featured Reader, Minneapolis, MN, June 16, 2018.

Troubadour Wine Bar Poetry Happy Hour Featured Reader, Minneapolis, MN June 6, 2018.

“One World Many Voices,” Moon Palace Books, Minneapolis, MN, June 5, 2018.

“Fresh Off The Starships,” San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco, May 12, 2018.

“Robots, Rayguns & Rockets,” Marscon Professional Guest, Bloomington, MN, March 2-4, 2018.

Poets & Pints Featured Poet, Sisyphus Brewing, Minneapolis, MN, January 17, 2018.

SFPA 40th Anniversary Celebration, Mojo Coffee, Minneapolis, MN, January 10, 2018.

Arcana 47 Professional Presenter, St. Paul, MN, September 29-October 1, 2017.

Reverend Matt’s Monster Science Theater, Minneapolis, MN, Monthly, October 2017-Present.

Diversicon 26 Professional Presenter, St. Paul, MN, July 28-30, 2017.

G-Fest 26, Professional Presenter, Chicago, IL, July 14-16, 2017.

CONvergence 19 Alumni Guest of Honor, Bloomington, MN, July 8-10, 2017.

National Lao American Writers Summit, Founding Chair, Seattle, WA, June 23-24, 2017.

“Our Shared Futures: Refugee Imagination,” Presenter, Holistic Cultural & Education Wellness Center, April 29, 2017.

“Laomagination,” UC Merced Center for the Humanities Artist in Residence, Merced, CA, April, 2017.

“Water: Ways of Knowing and Being Biennial Conference,” UC Merced Center for the Humanities, April 7-8, 2017.

“Resistance Radio Heart,” Performer, Kearny St. Workshop, San Francisco, CA, December 8, 2016.

“Science Fiction Poetry,” Presenter, LOSCON 43, Los Angeles, CA, November 26, 2016.

“Short Futures: Beyond the Epic,” Presenter, CTRL+ALT, Smithsonian APA Center, New York, November 11-12, 2016.

National Lao American Writers Summit, Keynote Speaker, San Diego, CA, May 27-28, 2016.

“The Last War Poem,” Exhibited at Hmongstory 40 in Merced, CA, May 7-15, 2016.

USEAA (United SEAsian American) End of Year Celebration Keynote, Fresno City College, Fresno, CA, May 4, 2016.

“Crossing Borders” Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets Spring Conference, Featured Poet, Madison, WI, April 29-30, 2016.

“Writing From Your Own Pantheon,” Instructor, Kearny Street Workshop, San Francisco, CA, April 11-May 9, 2016.

“SEAsian Superheroes,” Presenter, Silicon Valley Comic Con, San Jose, CA, March 18-20, 2016.

“Transitions: Refugee Memories and Imagination in Diasporic Expression,” Presenter, UC Davis, CA, March 7, 2016.

SEAsian American Legacies: 40 Years After the Vietnam War, Guest Speaker, UC-Merced, CA, December 4, 2015.

I-SEA Film Festival, Guest Speaker, San Francisco, CA, November 20-22, 2015.

ZAPPCON, Guest Speaker, Fresno, CA, October 17-18, 2015.

CON-Volution, Guest Speaker, San Francisco, CA, October 2-4, 2015.

CONvergence, Guest of Honor, Bloomington, MN, July 2-5, 2015.

“Lao Voices in Diaspora” Guest Speaker, Mendocino College, Ukiah, CA, May 7 , 2015.

“Burning Legacies: Cancer/Covert Wars” Presenter, Rainbow Books Cooperative, Madison, WI, April 27, 2015.

National Lao American Writers Summit, Speaker, University of Minnesota UROC, Minneapolis, MN, April 17-18, 2015.

Aqus Literary Speakeasy, Guest Reader, Petaluma, CA, October 29, 2014.

DEMONSTRA Launch Party, Featured Reader, Lao Cultural Center, Minneapolis, MN, December 30, 2013.

Cracked Walnut series, Guest Reader, Fireside Café, Minneapolis, MN, November 22, 2013.

Accent at Jambo Café, Guest Reader, Jambo Café, Minneapolis, MN, November 17, 2013

Mt. San Jacinto Student Development Program, Guest lecturer, 8 sessions, San Jacinto, CA, Fall 2013.

H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival—Los Angeles, Special Guest, Los Angeles, CA, September 27, 2013.

San Diego Comic-Con, Presenter, San Diego, CA, July 20, 2013.

Legacies of War: Voices from Laos, Presenter, Sacramento, CA, April 11, 2013.

Legacies of War: Voices from Laos, Presenter, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, April 9, 2013.

Marscon 2013, Presenter, Bloomington, Minnesota, March 1-3, 2013.

“Beyond the Other Side of the Eye,” Harrison Neighborhood Center, Presenter, Minneapolis, MN. February 21, 2013.

H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival-Los Angeles, Special Guest, Los Angeles, CA, September 28, 2012.

Common Ground 1 Year Anniversary, Presenter,VAALA Center, Santa Ana, CA, August 4, 2011.

Slice and Spice of Asia Storytelling, Presenter, Brookdale Library, Brooklyn Center, MN, May 14, 2011.

Beyond the Pure: Writers of Color Series, Presenter, Intermedia Arts, Minneapolis, MN, October 26, 2010.

Lao Artists Festival, Presenter, Elgin, IL, August 20-21, 2010.

Lao American Writers Summit, Presenter, Minneapolis, MN, August 15, 2010.

Twin Cities Dragon Festival, Presenter, St. Paul, MN, July 11, 2010.

Family Style Open Mic, Featured Poet, Asian Arts Initiative, Philadelphia, PA, May, 2010.

Otterbein College, Presenter, Westerville, OH, February 25, 2010.

Birchbark Reading Series, Birchbark Books, Presenter, Minneapolis, MN, January 13, 2010.

Kulture Trust Benefit, Loft Literary Center, Presenter, Minneapolis, MN, June 10, 2009.

International Lao New Year, Featured Poet, San Francisco, CA, April 11, 2009.

Verse and Converse, Presenter, Todd Boss Poetry Series, Nina’s Café, October 1, 2008.

UCSB Diversity Lecture Series, UCSB Multicultural Center,?Presenter, Santa Barbara, CA, May 20, 2008.

Association of Asian American Studies Annual Meeting, Presenter, Chicago, IL April 17-18, 2008.

American Intercultural Center, Presenter, UW-Green Bay, April 10, 2008.

Viterbo University, Presenter, April 9, 2008.

Rhymefest, Presenter, University of California, San Diego, CA, February 12, 2008.

Fantasy Matters Conference, Presenter, Minneapolis, MN, November 16-18, 2007.

“On The Other Side Of The Eye” Launch Party, Guest of Honor, Loft Literary Center, August 10, 2007.

Giant Lizard Theater, Presenter, CONvergence, Minneapolis, MN, July 6, 2007.

Tripmasters: Hmong & Lao Writers, Presenter, Normandale Community College, March 28, 2007.

Un-Named Series of Hmong and Lao Writers, Presenter Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis, MN, January 23, 2007.

Special Guest Speaker, Diversicon 14, Minneapolis, MN, August 11-13, 2006.

Giant Lizard Theater, Presenter, CONvergence, Minneapolis, MN, July 6, 2006.

Art & Diaspora Festival, Institute for Advanced Studies, Presenter, U of MN, Minneapolis, MN, April 12, 2006.

Taste of the Mountains Hmong Cultural Night Dinner Keynote,UW-Stevens Point, December 3, 2005.

Re:generations: Lao Arts Exhibition, Institute for Health and Healing, Minneapolis, MN, July-August 2005.

Giant Lizard Theater, Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis, MN, January 22, 2005.

Lao’d and Clear, Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis, MN, July 24, 2004.

5 Senses Show of Lao and Hmong Artists, Babylon Gallery, Minneapolis, April 12-May 2, 2002.

Emerging Voices: Hmong and Lao Writers, Intermedia Arts, Minneapolis, MN, January 23rd, 2002.

Guerrilla Wordfare Voices From The Rim, Intermedia Arts, Minneapolis, MN, September 15, 2001.