Viva Voce - The story

About a year or so ago a few friends and I went to a poetry mic night and saw the success of it and it was there when we first  thought of an idea of an open mic night specifically for writers like this to give them an opportunity to read their work to an audience in Wrexham.
But after approaching a number of pubs and community based centres within the Wrexham area who already have successful open mic nights but not a specific one for writers the idea was becoming short lived.

After knowing this and discussing the overall reaction we received from those places that an event like itself wouldn't survive unless we charge the audience or ask for a grant the idea is already dead and buried. The group of friends knew I was still determined to make this idea work to bring it alive and suggested, which I agreed to, that I went on this adventure without them.  


I began to research open mic nights and found many successful events within Wales. 
Many of the sites offered advice and tips for hosting such an event that became very useful. Once I completed my research I then began initially finding a venue that was free or at a low cost budget which could be covered by a possible grant. 
The problem was (again) finding a place that would hold an event like it because places love to have open mic nights as it brings in the punters for entertainment, which is sometimes free and most importantly money behind the bar.
But when you mention a specific event then you are looking at a particular audience and after that initial thought these places then think will it work and can we make money on this and if the answer is no then the discussion is basically over, so it was looking grim again.

One evening  Aled Lewis Evans and I were having general conversation about literature, and the newly refurbished Seven Stars/Saith Seren (the Welsh cultural center) in the heart of Wrexham.
He mentioned that this place was wanting a  literature mic of somewhat and knowing of my determination a literature mic night  I jumped at the chance of co-organizing and hosting the event with Aled.

 Immediately I started to think of a catchy name but after many attempts over  number of weeks  I could't think of one until I asked my partner Rachel to help whom thought of the name Viva Voce!
"THAT'S IT" I shouted. A perfect title, which is  a latin phrase meaning ( "with living voice") but is most often translated as "by word of mouth".
Aled and I agreed that Viva Voce would be the name and established that the event will be held every two months ( the first was on march 15th 2012) at Saith Seren with a break between August - September & during Christmas.

Work began on flyers, which then Aled and i placed them in various local business within the Wrexham community, as well as handing them out to people we know. 
We  also contacted the local newspaper and I went on the local Wrexham radio station 'Calon FM' as community media is one of the best forms to gain wide audiences within the local villages.  

On that March evening earlier this year Viva Voce received positive feedbacks from audiences and the list readers alike and since that first event all the Viva Voce events have proven popular with the number of readers and audiences growing. 

This I believe may not of have happened perhaps the way it has without my determination, Aled's idea of Saith Seren with them agreeing  and both of us working together to make this idea give flight.