Meet Heather Pease | Spoken Word Artist, Curator & Host of OC Speakeasy

We had the good fortune of connecting with Heather Pease and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Heather, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I wanted to be a writer when I grew up, but writers don’t make a “good” living, so I got my degree in business and have spent 20+ years recruiting engineering talent for tech companies. That pays the bills but poetry is the only thing that makes me feel alive and full.

Poetry is mine, my soul, my heart, and yet every word I write is for so many others too. Poetry has given me a voice to the little girl who was told to be quiet, all the time. It has helped me battle mental health issues, and share. In doing that, I know I am not alone in how I feel and in what I experience. Isn’t that what we all want? The world is so much more than statistics, and business meetings. There is inspiration in the smallest of moments.

When I get on the mic, I am transported, I still remember the person who came up to me after my very first open mic. She thanked me for sharing, she quoted a phrase, then walked away, not knowing she created a core memory for me, in an instant.

In 2019 I was invited to perform at the House of Blues, from that moment on I have been on an exciting journey of hosting Spoken Word poetry, filling the venue with poets from around the world to inspire. It’s a dream job I do for free and I couldn’t feel more rich.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Poetry has always been around me, as a baby I received poems from an aunt. My uncle Jim was an extraordinary poet, always telling me to write. I grew up penning every moment, as if extraordinary, in journals, sharing with teachers, stating I would be a writer or veterinarian. I could be both, when I grew up. My career took a different path and I kept writing for myself. I remember the moment I first saw poetry on the stage, exactly the moment I sat on the edge of the coffee table, leaning in close, watching Beau Sia, Shihan the Poet, and others on 2001 Def Poetry Jam. I cried, cheered, snapped, and wrote furiously during every episode. I felt seen, I felt starving for more but it wasn’t until years later that I found a place to share poetry I could call home.

Poetry is not my profession, I wish! Poetry is my passion and somehow I get to perform my passion on a pretty extraordinary stage. By pure hashtag magic I was invited to the House of Blues for a Showcase of artists. My friend, Christina Brown, and I were the only poets in a room full of bands. I took to the stage and to be honest don’t remember much else except the room got loud, musicians cheered, and my life changed when the promoter, Michael Dean, asked me to create a night of just poets at the freaking House of Blues! I created the OC Speakeasy, Orange County’s premier Spoken Word Poetry showcase at House of Blues, Anaheim CA and each event ROCKS!

The Foundation Room speaks for itself, and allows me to create a WOW factor for the poets I invite to perform. I create all the marketing materials to promote and build up a social media presence to fill the room. I’ve recruited my family to help: my husband, our doorman, greets everyone, my oldest is our event photographer. Each event is beyond expectations and I am humbled I get to build an event like the ones I watched on TV.

I’ve taken everything I have learned in business, as a talent recruiter for over 15 years, and used those skills to give Spoken Word Artists a night where they are treated like rock-stars. The entire room is full of people who cheer, snap, and make noise as poets speak on the mic. First time poets brave the stage, only to become second, and third timers, coming back, braver each time. I’ve watched people who have never shared a poem get on the mic, watched people embrace these hearts and inspire more sharing. It’s beautiful and unlike anything else in Southern California or the country!
Poetry is important, it belongs on stages like this, as well as in business settings. It is the truth everyone wants to hear, needs to hear, and poets are the messengers we need as our society evolves. I believe this is poetry’s moment and I’m ready to bring poetry to Madison Square Garden.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Here are some of my favorite poetry venues in Southern California. If you’re looking to be inspired, there’s a venue for you.

Long Beach CA Venues

The Definitive SoapBox – Long Beach- @thedefinativesoapbox. This poetry venue runs the last Friday of the month, poets/singers/comedians are welcome and there is a DJ.  Located at Wrigley Coffee in Long Beach CA. No cover but please support the venue and buy a cup of coffee.

Under Mic Influence – On the 1st and 3rd Monday of the Month – Run by @kuahmel – This is a pure slam poetry night vibe, with a DJ. Located at Long Beach Unified Bar. This venue has a $5 cover.

Roxanne’s Open Mic – Run by Shy but Flyy Every Monday – Music, Poetry, and an amazing vibe. Located at Roxanne’s on Wardlow.

Los Angeles

LA has SEVERAL Venues – Small Bookstores- Coffee Shops etc, but here are a few

Sims Library of Poetry is the 1st black owned poetry library in the country – Hiram Sims @hiramsims is a gift to our community and created this extraordinary library.

Da Poetry Lounge – is the biggest poetry venue in the nation with poetry every Tuesday with open mics, slam night, and women & femmes nights. They host workshops too.

Palms UP Academy – on Wednesday. This venue is a creative space with Recess Mic, workshops and a bookstore and is located in FilipinoTown in LA. Hosted by Arianna Basco, aka Lady Basco @ariannabasco_ _

SWAAM (Spoken Word Art & Music) @Swaamofficialpage is the longest LA Running poetry event and is on the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month

Orange County

OC Speakeasy – @ocspeakeasy Monthly Spoken Word Poetry event at House of Blues Anaheim. There’s a 10.00 cover, full menu and bar. This is Orange County’s premier poetry venue.

Light the Mic at Fullerton Museum – First Friday of the Month – This is a Poetry, Music and Comedy – it’s a little museum with a big crowd for their events. Great art and it’s free!

Two Idiots Peddling Poetry is every Wednesday at The Ugly Mug in Orange, CA. This is a weekly poetry venue with a $3 cover and open mic.

Inland Empire

Whiskey & Words – Once a month on Tuesday, located in Pomona. Poetry, comedy and live music. This venue has great food and drinks and is hosted by the former poet laureate for Pomona.

San Diego

The San Diego Poetry SLAM runs the 2nd Monday every month and is one of the nations premier poetry venues –located at Queen Bee’s Art & Cultural Center

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Michael Dean gifted the opportunity to host at the House of Blues, he has changed my life in an extraordinary way by giving me a runway to make poetry matter on an amazing stage. Every poet who has featured on the stage, Shiela Sadr, Yaw Osafo-Kantanka, LaLa Deville, Soul Stuf, Danielle Mitchell, Christina Brown, Alyssa Matuchniak, Elvia Susana Rubalcava, Aman Batra, Bridgette Bianca, Jaha Zainabu, Ashley Renee, Shy but Flyy. Philosophy, Ravina Wadhwani, Dr. V, and Tommy Domino each of them a treasure. And every poet who gets up on the open mic to share, especially those who brave their first time, I see you, I hear you, I thank you for sharing who you are poet. Thank you to my family for loving me.

Website: https://poeticgirl.com/

Instagram: @ohpoetic1 AND @OCspeakeasy

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherpease/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heatherdpease

Other: Our next Poetry event is January 26th – https://fb.me/e/4aBxiiFwn

Image Credits
Shay Jones