Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvPL5pomDg0&list=PLOQvdw7d0cd9RZZkd2lZy2hmrnJv-cfLI&index=78
Host: So we are back here on the Choose 954 podcast with Broward native Quick the Poet. If you didn't know about Choose 954, we started a social movement to cultivate culture and community here in Broward County where we're from in an effort to keep people together over our shared passions, keep people in the know with all the great things that are going on within the arts, culture, music, film, poetry scene, and an effort to make Broward County a better place to live, not just a better place to vacation. We all know it's a great place to vacation.
Quick the Poet: Absolutely.
Host: So for them that don't know about Quick the Poet, tell them who is Quick the Poet?
Quick the Poet: Quick the Poet is Jerus Alexander Evans, born and raised in Broward County. I came up in the Royal Palm, Westwood Park, Lauderdale Lakes, Deepside, Shallowside, Lauderdale Hill, Camp Square, L.D. Lakes areas. Basically, the city—and some people say it's the hood, but all of it is the city to us. I went to all the Novas: Nova Elementary School, Nova Middle School, and Nova High School. I ended up lettering in football, going to Missouri Western State College University, lucked up, lived a dream, broke a whole lot of records there (not all), as a wide receiver, thanks to Coach Partridge and his staff. I ended up getting a shot in the NFL with the Chicago Bears and the New York Jets. After being released in 2002, I ended up back here in South Florida. And while being here in South Florida during 2002, working my way up in the community as, just, you know, working a regular 9-to-5 like anybody else, I ended up on the poetry and spoken word scene some odd three or four years after that. Or actually, even more, I think I ended up on the poetry and spoken word scene—be more accurate—in 2007. And thanks to my mentor, Asia Samson, HBO Def Poetry Asia Samson, I received a shot, and four years from 2007 going—it’s kind of like the 2010ish, 11 time—I grew as a poet, spoken word artist, and got a chance to start a show called Flo’etry Sundays. And that started January 8th, 2012, and it ended up becoming one of the most popular and historic poetry and spoken word shows down here in South Florida. And I can't thank everybody enough for their support because that ended up moving 10 different venues, ended up at the Hard Rock at the Piano Bar, and I lucked up and got an opportunity with the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Thank Pablo, thank Terry, you know, John, the whole staff over on that end because as we speak, one of the biggest poetry and spoken word shows in the Southeast region of the U.S., and it’s beautiful. It’s a dream come true. I can't even make it up.
Host: How about that, man? So how did you get into poetry in the first place?
Quick the Poet: In third grade, Miss Mallory. I was really into English and learning, and just the detailing of not just poetry and spoken word, but the interactivity, that’s what pulled me into it. And thanks to her, that transitioned into my growth and my education as a whole at Nova. And Miss Hagen in fifth grade, it carried on from Miss Hagen to going through middle school. And when I got into high school, I ended up really, really taking in from one of my best teachers ever, and that was Miss Calloway. Oh, Miss Calloway, respectfully stated. And that was 10th grade, 11th grade, and 12th grade. And I wrote my first, like, public poem, and the guys really, you know, they really dig it, and the girls, they loved it 'cause it was real sincere. It was about my grandmother. But I put it on the back burner, though. I want to be honest—I did—because of football and sports. And ironically, after being released in 2002, that’s what I ended up coming back to. So you're talking about arguably, let’s say, a 15-to-20-year journey of getting to where I am when it comes to poetry and spoken word.
Host: Amen. So you've been at it for a good amount of time now.
Quick the Poet: Yeah, yeah, almost two decades. What, two decades basically, two decades plus.
Host: So I always like to ask, what is the "why" behind why you, you know, either pursue your craft and your passion as a poet, why you continue to grow and pursue the scene and produce events? What's the "why" behind all this?
Quick the Poet: Because at one period of time, I was a kid that really needed somewhere to put all of my energy when nobody else would listen. You know, a lot of people thought a lot was wrong with me at that time. You know, I was really, really energetic, no different than really what I am now. And you know, running joke is, "Well, you got ADD or ADHD," you know. And I'll be honest, maybe I do. I don’t know. I’ve just never been diagnosed with it. But my educational history and my communicative history speaks for itself, and that's what ended up pouring into the poetry and spoken word. And when I saw the effect it did for other people, what it really made me kind of swallow was the fact that, you know, sometimes your story is going to save a lot more people than just yourself.
Host: Amen.
Quick the Poet: You know, sometimes it may not even save you per se, but respectfully stated, you know, your John F. Kennedy, your Tupac Shakur, your Biggies, you know, like, the historical figures on opposite sides of the spectrum. But it’s their stories alone, though their lives are taken early, and I hate to see it in a situation like that, they’ve saved a lot of other people. Like, a lot of other people. And I’m big on that. So that's really my "why" for doing so. And with doing the bigger events or any event that I have because I’m connected with a whole lot of them, it’s really about connecting as many people as possible. I’m a true believer in global peace. And whether anybody else believes it or not, I’m really big on the fact that if everybody truthfully, truthfully put that energy into each other, like in a positive form, not worry so much about yourself, everybody will be taken care of. Wouldn’t be all this homelessness, wouldn’t be all of this nonsense going on—people would be killing and hurting each other and having to rob and steal. All of that stuff is, like, seriously unnecessary. It’s a running quote that I have: "No, it’s nothing wrong with being a good guy or a good girl. The people in the world, that’s the truth."
Host: And I always like to think communication is key. Communication can solve all things. When we don’t communicate, that’s when falling outs and things happen. But communicating either in conversation or in your form as a creative outlet and expression is crucial. Your words resonated with me when I discovered you at SoFar Sounds. As a hopeless romantic, even though you're married, happily, the passion that you had in your words and giving praise to your wife and to your woman and the love that you showed, it was so moving, and it really spoke to me in a way that I hadn’t been spoken to in a long time in those few minutes that you shared. So I’m forever grateful for Jennifer and SoFar Sounds for bringing you into my life.
Quick the Poet: Thank you. Thank you, Jen and SoFar.
Host: So that was beautiful to discover you there. But why don’t you tell us a little bit about the poetry scene, spoken word scene, and landscape in Broward County right now?
Quick the Poet: Sure. I can probably name you names for days, but I’ll at least give you a few examples. Will "Da Real One," who was killed years ago, opened the doors for so many people, you know, and I truly thank him. God rest his soul. Pillars that you need to look for opportunities from and/or amazing shows: you have Ingrid B. of Miami, you have Centric of Pompano, absolutely, Corey of Miami, absolutely, you have CuesCole and Siris of Miami, you have Analogy of Miami, you have—Lord, I can go on for days on that. But to kind of summarize it for you, if you get an opportunity, you can actually end up going to, let's say for instance, my website, www.flowforme.com, and that’s F-L-O the number 4 M-E dot com, and I make sure that I keep a summary and/or a box for folks. If you're reaching out for any—it doesn’t have to be just my events. I’m really big on that. I’m really big on supporting everyone in the scene.
Host: Yep, absolutely.
Quick the Poet: And if you want to know what's going on on any night in particular, feel free to let me know or just hit me here and there or any other social network. You can simply look up Quick the Poet, and that’s Q-U-I-C-K T-H-E P-O-E-T, and I’ll put you on to anybody that has anything going on. I have love for everybody on the poetry and spoken word scene. Whether we see eye to eye or not, I’m a realist, you know. I don’t feel that everybody really loves me. I mean, I learned that as a kid. That came with the territory, that, you know, some people just don’t agree with my format, or they may love it, dislike it. But I’m really truthful to my balance. I’m about trying to support everybody—that’s whether you love me or hate me. You gotta get used to loving me.
Host: And I do want to now make a point, now that we're better connected, to include your events and events that you feel are worthy and should be highlighted and showcased on the Choose 954 platform. We'll put them in the newsletter, we’ll put them on the event calendar because it is another vital element of arts and culture as we work to elevate the arts and culture landscape here in Broward County in the 954. And I know—and we spoke about it briefly—there’s people that are moving here from other places that are expecting to find these types of events that they're used to in the places they came from—New York, LA, Chicago, wherever it may be. And I’m glad that, you know, folks like yourself are passionately and genuinely working diligently to support the craft, support the scene, support the movement and efforts. I mean, I did poetry when I was a kid. I didn’t know that there was life behind writing notes and poems to girls that I was chasing and anyways. But we will bring you some more upcoming events on Choose 954. But before we do that, I would be remiss not to ask you if you could drop a little something for us here.
Quick the Poet: Okay. I don’t know if I want to do inspiration or love. Well, let’s just get right to it. Let’s see what pours out then.
(Quick the Poet performs a piece)
Host: Woo! I love it! I love it! Oh man, oh man, that is some powerful stuff right there!
Quick the Poet: I appreciate it, man. Like, story, like in a nutshell, three minutes and 10, 20 seconds. There we go, man, come with it!
Host: Another just another boy from Broward County!
Quick the Poet: That’s right, man.
Host: Just what they say, hashtag just a kid from Fort Lauderdale!
Quick the Poet: There you go, look that up, man.
Host: So where could folks find you next? What’s next on the circle, what do you got?
Quick the Poet: Oh man, Lord have mercy. At least that I can remember based on today: the very next thing I have is the Melton Mustafa Jazz and Poetry Show that’ll be taking place in Miami. It’s on my webpage www.flowforme.com. Make sure F-L-O the number 4 M-E. After that, I will be at the Jazz Lounge, NYSW, downtown Fort Lauderdale. After that, the day after that, I will be at my sixth annual show with Nova Southeastern University for "Let’s Speak Truth." Before all of that, I’ll be in the Bahamas for a private show that nobody can come to. You know, a dope mansion setup, so that’s pretty amazing. But anything else I got going on in the future—I will say this: the Mega Flo’s, I always try to make sure that that is always in the loop. The next Mega Flo is this summer, Flo'apocalypse, July 20th, 2019, world-famous Broward Center for the Performing Arts at the Amaturo Theater. It’s going to be historic. Tickets on Ticketmaster will be available in the spring, late April, early May. Make sure you get yours early. It has potential to sell out now they got us in the big house on the way to the biggest house, so appreciate y'all, man.
Host: And I know we're two weeks removed from the big one, but I guess we're 50 weeks away. Why don’t you tell them, I guess you'll be going on your 10th annual iteration?
Quick the Poet: Yeah, man. Actually, this will be my ninth Mega Flo, the 10th one, absolutely. Yep. It'll be—it is literally, if I’m not mistaken, the last Saturday in January. And that’s where we connect at, man. It’s going to be so on, man. I hope y’all are ready. I got something special for all of them. But bottom line, man, y’all make sure that y’all support everything. Listen, support everything Fort Lauderdale, support all of the arts that are on the scene because culminated and put together, man, that’s what really makes the world go 'round. We stick with each other.
Host: But for those that aren’t familiar like I was not with the event, you've been doing this for 10 years—it’ll be the 10th year in 2020—why don’t you tell them a little bit about the big one?
Quick the Poet: Man, I...so I don't want to give anything away. It almost—it literally makes me emotional on the spot. I’ve worked my life for this opportunity for everybody, you know. This was never just about me, and I want to make that clear. And I’m always big on expressing that because any project that you really, really love, you may be the root and the seed that started it, but at day's end, you got to remember any oak tree that grew to whatever it was, it took the elements to avoid knocking it over and also supporting it so it could get to the point of where it is. And that means everybody. That means everything in the surrounding area. And, Fort Lauderdale, I appreciate your support. I will support you. I will be supporting them and their events. And as long as we all continue to do that, I can assure you this: we all will evolve, the art scene will also evolve, and life will be so much better.
Host: Correct.
Quick the Poet: And it’s a beautiful thing. And then the next upcoming Quick the Poet and the next upcoming, right, culture curator and art fair producers, they will have a platform where they can pursue their craft and pursue their passion and do the work that they want to do without having to go to Miami, without having to go to Palm Beach. You could do it right here in Broward County.
Host: Without a doubt.
Quick the Poet: Without a doubt, man. I got workshops and all that.
Host: So with that—thank you for mentioning that—what else? So, you know, you mentioned private event in the Bahamas, man. What other things could they reach out to you for?
Quick the Poet: I literally host...I really want to say everything, but I’m sure it’s going to be something I’ll probably end up turning down. There've been some events I have from before, but primarily for me, I'm booked to host at colleges, corporate events, weddings, receptions, birthday parties, church gatherings, church gatherings, restaurants, lounges, venues of course, major venues like the Broward Center for the Performing Arts—man, be at the top 10 venue in the world, man, I’m humbled by that. Anything you name, you can reach out to me for. And if not, of course, obviously, if you can't find it on my website, the email you can reach me at is floetryentllc@gmail.com. That is spelled F-L-O-E-T-R-Y-E-N-T-L-L-C@gmail.com.
Host: Amazing. Welcome to the rest of my life.
Quick the Poet: Amazing.
Host: And I think I'll be the first to announce here that we just confirmed June 2019 AAF Creative Zen. I'm very excited. If you do a whole poem, if you do a part poem, if you just share your story, I know it's going to be moving, I know it's going to be inspiring.
Quick the Poet: Absolutely.
Host: So that’s going to be...
Quick the Poet: Absolutely, man.
Host: ...absolutely, man. If you weren’t familiar with Creative Zen, we host a monthly breakfast lecture series. It’s a mini TED Talk every second Friday morning of the month, for free. Doors open at 8:30, talks start at 9, you're out of there by 10. It’s a great way to start your morning with inspiration and engagement, connecting with our local creative community, hearing a local creative entrepreneur, thought leader, whoever share their story. Last month we had Amanda Perna, a former classmate of mine from Forest Glen Middle School, Broward native from Project Runway fame. She shared her story at Regina's Farm, it was amazing, we'll be posting that soon. Next month we have Ines Martinez, Ines Martinez at the Design Center of the Americas at DCOTA. She’s a world-renowned designer sharing her story, but you can find this young gentleman here, June 2019 for Creative Zen. Really looking forward to that one.
Quick the Poet: Yes sir.
Host: A few other things we like to keep on the radar, platform where we discovered each other, SoFar Sounds.
Quick the Poet: Without a doubt, absolutely.
Host: Absolutely one of my favorite events ever, my favorite music event of the month. It’s a true experience unlike anything other, songs from a room. You have to request access or get invited. They don’t publish the address. It’s to reward true music fans with a listening experience with musicians that are pouring their heart and soul into their craft and are engaging and connecting. And not just musicians—poets as well and other creatives. The next one is February 23rd, there are still a few tickets left. If you go to SoFarSounds, S-O-F-A-R-S-O-N-G-S dot com, you sign up for the newsletter—it’s not spammy, I promise—they'll keep you in the know when the next event is so you can request access to get a chance to get a ticket because not everybody is allowed in. February 23rd is the next one. We have a very special raw storytelling, another event I think you might find interesting. So our dear friend Enid Atwater of Witchcraft Branding started Raw Storytelling. It’s true stories untold, it’s our version of The Moth essentially, in Fort Lauderdale. That generally happens the second Thursday of the month, the night before SoFar Sounds. But Enid this month decided to do a special Valentine’s Day show, so that’s going to take place Thursday, February 14th, coming up here this week. You can find out more at RawStorytelling.com, Raw Storytelling on social medias.
If you didn’t know, we host—this might be one you find interesting—a local artist discovery series, live art pop-up every Wednesday at YOLO for the last two years. We are celebrating our 104th consecutive week bringing a different local artist to live paint at YOLO, downtown Fort Lauderdale, the heart of Las Olas. We give the artist the canvas, easel, table, paint, we don't charge them, we don't take a cut of the work, we market it, we make a flyer, we promote it on social. I’m there doing the stories.
Quick the Poet: Dope.
Host: Give them a food tab, I don't take anything. It's to connect local artists with the downtown crowd that might not discover local artists otherwise. So we're going to be celebrating our 104th or 2nd anniversary, not this Wednesday, next Wednesday, believe the 20th, with one of my oldest friends and Broward natives, Omar Seder. So that takes place every Wednesday at YOLO from 7:00 to 10:00, it’s ladies' night, ladies drink free. There's always live music, there's always live art, and it's a really great experience just to unwind, connect with the creative that’s live painting that night, watch what they create, be part of the creative process. I encourage you to check that out if you haven’t already.
Quick the Poet: Absolutely.
Host: Did the Centric event already happen?
Quick the Poet: I forgot her latest one.
Host: No, not yet?
Quick the Poet: No, no, not yet. It’s coming. Her big one happened, I think, last year.
Host: Last year.
Quick the Poet: Last year, but it’s coming.
Host: She, yeah.
Quick the Poet: Hit me up on it, I’ll make—
Host: Yeah, yeah. She does a big poetry event in Pompano.
Quick the Poet: Definitely.
Host: That happened.
Quick the Poet: That happened.
Host: That was dope.
Quick the Poet: Exit 36.
Host: Yes.
Quick the Poet: Annually, Poetry Festival.
Host: Damn right.
Quick the Poet: That’s right. It was dope.
Host: So there is a poetry scene growing here. If you want to find out more, you can reach out. What’s the website?
Quick the Poet: www.flowforme.com, that is F-L-O the number 4 M-E dot com.
Host: And what’s the social media?
Quick the Poet: Look up Quick the Poet on anything, Q-U-I-C-K T-H-E P-O-E-T, spelled how it’s supposed to be spelled, and you'll find it.
Host: A beautiful thing. I really encourage you, if you haven’t been to Creative Zen yet, save the date for June 2019, it’s going to be one you’re not going to want to miss. If you have any questions, find me on social media, I’m Evan Snow, at Evan Snow 13, I’m an open book. At Choose 954, Art Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale Design Week, Thousand Mermaids Project, Creative Zen, a few other things we’re a part of, Action Club. Appreciate you guys tuning in. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. You’ll never know what happens when you connect.
Quick the Poet: For sure.
Host: Beautiful thing. Hands up.
Quick the Poet: How about that? Put the hands up.
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