Vince Robinson is one of Cleveland's most seasoned performer-poets, and he's a member of the Nia Arts Alliance, a not-for-profit entity that provides mentoring for Cleveland-area students involved in arts and media related activities. Vince was recognized by Cleveland City Council for promoting literacy and history, and he's widely recognized for his performances with his group Vince Robinson and the JazzPoets in their coffeehouse poetry and art events at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Vince is also a former Cleveland news reporter and produced and co-hosted Down To Business, a television show that aired on WOIO Channel 19 in Cleveland. A member of the American Federation of Radio and Television Artists, he's been involved with the production of documentaries and films, and he's also a voiceover announcer. This is not the first time Vince has landed on Cleveland's slam team to represent our city at the National Poetry Slam, he won a coveted spot on the team last year as well. Hear Vince's smooth delivery at the Rustbelt Regional Slam on Fri 6/25 and Sat 6/26, and head out to witness The JazzPoets for jazz and a serious spoken word throwdown in the Cleveland Museum of Art Fri 6/18 at 6PM.

What is it about poetry that speaks to you and drives you to produce it, instead of utilizing another creative outlet for expression?
The immediacy of poetry is one of the most appealing aspects of it as an outlet for creative expression. As a musician, I can create moods and feelings with music. As a poet, I can create images with words. The written medium of poetry allows me to present my words as I speak them and share them with others who may not be in a position to hear them.

How do you prepare mentally and emotionally for the demands of performance art in slamming?
I try to find a quiet place within myself and focus on the task ahead. Listening to Coltrane or Miles Davis takes me where I need to be.

How did you find out about the Cleve poetry community & what about it keeps you involved?
My first real foray into the poetry scene was the Black Poetic Society's open mic at the Humidor. Subsequently, I found out about the Cleveland Poetry Slam and became familiar with [Cleveland's Slam Master] Michael Salinger. I've been fortunate to learn of the Poets and Writer's League of Greater Cleveland and other entities, such as Mac's Backs on Coventry. What keeps me involved is providing a stage for other poets to express themselves. Working with Cavana Faithwalker [Assistant Director of Community Outreach] at the Cleveland Museum of Art has been instrumental in achieving this goal.

Who are your creative mentors, and who in Cleveland inspires you and drives you to surpass your ways of poetic creation and delivery?
I can't really say that I currently have any creative mentors at the moment. There have been times that I've had the feeling that I could be affected in a way that would involve copying someone else's style. I have re-thought that issue however. As poets and musicians, we may subsconsciously incorporate nuances of others, but ultimately, all creation comes from one source: the Creator

Does writing and performing come immediately and naturally, or is it more of a creative discipline?
Writing and performing really comes naturally to me. I have always seen it as a gift from God. The discipline comes in honing one's craft and doing the necessary rewriting and refinement that polishes one's work.

What's involved in your creative process?
First comes the idea, then inspiration takes over. A poem may come at any time. I go where my thoughts lead me. Sometimes, I take a step back and return to it at a later time. Other times, it all comes at once.

What are you looking forward to during the Rustbelt competition? How do you think it will be different from the National Poetry Slam happening in St. Louis this year?
Primarily, I'm looking forward to hearing the other poets and seeing how we stack up in relation to them. It will give us an indication of the caliber of poets we'll face at Nationals. There may be some strategies involved in approaching this Rust Belt Competition, so I would rather keep them under wraps. Ultimately, it will be up to Coach Harris.

Do you absorb your competition's delivery, style, etc.? What have you learnd from other poets?
I observe, but ultimately I have to be who I am. Many poets have the same rhythms and rhyme patterns. I like to be different. The one consistent thing that I learn from other poets is E-N-E-R-G-Y! It's pretty much a given that one matures over the years, but I would say that in some ways the subject matter is different. My evolution as a poet is directly tied to my knowledge base expanding. Knowing more about life and the world around me has enabled me to utilize my experiences in a way that affects my writing.

Read Vince Robinson's poem Got Words? (I Heard What You Said, But What Did You Say?) by clicking here.

Interview by Tisha Nemeth (:divend:)