People’s Choice Poem Performance Award (Cash Prize) with features Jerrica Escoto and Gill Sotu. This social, fun, lyrical and interactive arts and culture experience takes place in the Museum of the Living Artist, 1439 El Prado, Balboa Park and is open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for snacks and music, and the show starts at 7 p.m. Members are free, $5 at the door or bring wine or snacks to share and get in free. This event is co-sponsored by Poetry International.

The People’s Choice Poem Performance Award: All participants read/perform one poem under three minutes long. Audience members choose their favorite poem based on content and performance. Props, artwork, singing, music, dancing, all accompaniment is allowed and anything goes. Top poem performances (the poems that receive the most votes) win $50. Audience members will be encouraged to hoot for their favorites and try to influence the rest of the audience.

Writers/artists who would like to participate can get their names in the hat ahead of time at [email protected] or sign in on the night of the show. Fifteen spots for The People’s Choice Poem Performance Award will be decided by lottery.

Jerrica Escoto and Gill Sotu will perform as featured artists. Gill will perform and provide music throughout the event as poet and DJ. Gill has opened for Grammy-nominated legend Sheila E, and partnered and performed with the San Diego Symphony. He has been commissioned to create numerous poetry pieces for the United Way of San Diego and performed for TEDx San Diego in December 2013. Gill has been featured on NBC 7's Art Pulse TV and was named the 2012 & 2013 San Diego Raw Performing Artist of the Year.

Jerrica Escoto was a finalist at the 2011 Women of the World Poetry Slam, where she ranked 12th in the world. Her performances with the 2010 San Diego Slam Team helped San Diego rank 6th in the nation at the National Poetry Slam. She has used her poetry to mentor youth and facilitate workshops for young women in community schools and juvenile hall. Jerrica received her B.A. at CSUSM, double majoring in Literature and Writing and Women's Studies, and minoring in Philosophy. She received her M.A. from SDSU in Women's Studies in the Fall of 2013 while also performing as a member of the 2013 San Diego Slam Team.

Poetry International is an annual literary journal published by SDSU with Ilya Kaminsky as editor-in-chief.

There will be goodies and wine as always. Bring beverages or snacks/desserts/dishes to share and get in free. Please contact host, Michael Klam, with any questions: 619-957-3264 (cell) or 619-236-0011 (museum).