Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeanette Hickman.
Jeanette, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
It all started with a stagnant life and an invite. I found myself walking into a coffee shop to support a friend’s open mic, and I ended up falling in love. I fell in love with the community, the artistry, the encouragement, the creative atmosphere. Before long I was writing pieces of my own and helping however I could each month. Volunteering turned into reading announcements during the show, announcements turned into an offer of running the event, and I eventually become the showrunner.
It changed my life.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Life is a series of lessons and I have learned many. This journey has not been a smooth road. It’s been exciting and overwhelming and amazing, but definitely not easy. When I first started running my open mic events, I did not have a network of artists and audience. We struggled to fill seats. We could not fill the performance list. And the rain. Oh the RAIN. For the first six months, our event was accompanied by an inevitable angry downpour.
I am so thankful that I persevered, even though I wanted to quit. Consistency and commitment have created something truly special in our community, and it has grown beyond anything I could have ever imagined.
Growth fashions new challenges. I’ve been faced with business decisions, individuals who want a piece of the magic we create each month, the temptation to capitalize on an event that is so important to so many people, an event that many would not be able to attend if there was a cost.
And then there is the burn out, juggling a day job and evening events, creating for everyone else and then forgetting to create for yourself- both so important.
Hostess with the Mostest – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
In the South Florida art scene and beyond, I am known as the Hostess with the Mostest. I have seen thousands of people come through my shows over the years, both my monthly open mic shows, my curated specialty events, and my writing and performing workshops.
I am both a showrunner and a Spoken Word Artist.
My shows are unique and highly praised by the individuals that attend. My goal for these events are twofold. I want to see authentic community being crafted each show, and I want a stage that truly spotlights artists from every genre, skill, and talent level. There is a respect at my events that flows between audience and artist, uplift and acceptance. By the end of each show, we are family.
My spoken word pieces focus on truth and calls to action- pushing the audience to move, change, think, and feel. My mission when wielding my words is also that I will empower the next generation, speak worth into lives, and spread a message of love and hope.
My ultimate goal is to spread impact beyond the stage. This life I am blessed to live is a ministry, and I want to shine the light and the love from the Lord in all that I do. I want to live like I am leaving a legacy.
The authenticity of community, the space for transparency and vulnerability on stage, the level of talent we see, and the respect that is demanded sets these nights apart from anything I’ve ever seen. What we create runs so much deeper than an evening of entertainment.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I’ve had incredible experiences, both as a poet and a host. I had the huge opportunity to travel on tour up the East Coast with four other poets. I’ve created poetry books and have been featured on many stages as an artist. I’ve worked with organizations such as Hope for Freedom, the Homeless Coalition, No Child Hungry, Rescue Upstream, Common Ground Community Development, United Arts Council of Collier County and more.
But more than anything else, I am overwhelmed with pride every time an artist battles their nerves, their emotions, their fears, steps up onto the stage, and shares an important piece of themselves in this room full of strangers. I help create that moment for them. I get to usher in this safe place for all walks of life to share and learn and grow with each other.
It is those moments that are most memorable.
Contact Info:
- Email: jeanettehickmanpoetry@gmail.com
- Instagram: @jeanettehickmansays
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/jeanettehickmanpoetry
Image Credit:
Imani Givertz Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
