the third reading night happened and it was good

Tuesday's reading night was the first upstairs in the big live music hall.

We were nervous. I was especially nervous because I was reading, and because the new room has a great big stage. It’s very grand. There’s a gigantic mirrorball in the ceiling. I think every reading night should have a mirrorball. We set up tables and cables and computers and candles and OHPs and things. People started to come in.

People kept coming in. The seats on the floor, the tiered seating at the back, and the mezzanine all filled up, incredibly. There was a good atmosphere. I felt better because everyone looked about a hundred times more comfortable than they did in the little basement bar.

The readers were fantastic. Sadly, Jenn Ashworth couldn’t make it because she was poorly (hope you’re feeling better, Jenn) but everyone else was present and correct. Thank you Thomas Fletcher, Sam Garrett, Nicholas Murgatroyd, Socrates Adams-Florou, Luke Yates, John McAuliffe, Joe Stretch, David Gaffney, Matthew Davis and Tao Lin, who read via special video from New York. There were stories and poems about work, shower curtains, sex, powerpoint, existence… and all manner of things in between.

What was great was that we had lots of interest in the open mic, too, despite the big scary stage, because the point in no point is that everyone can get involved, if they want to.

the reading night was brilliant

Okay. So. The first reading night was last night. It was brilliant. After a few technical hitches before the doors opened, and a Challenge Anneka-style taxi ride to Maplins in Cheetham Hill and back, everything ran smoothly.

The readers were ace. Thank you to Tim, Tom, Sian, Martin, Jenn, Shane, Socrates, Graham, Nicholas, Peter and Ben. The standard of reading was superb. Everyone had a really nice time. And thanks also to Tom and Francis - who got up in the open mic slot and read excellent poems.

Chris took some videos, and he'll post them here soon. And once we've stopped feeling a bit sick and funny and congratulating ourselves that it worked out so well, we'll start organising the next one.

If you're interested in reading at future 'there's no point in not being friends with someone if you want to be friends with them' nights, then email us. Or if you just want to say hello or something, then email us, too.