By Bill MacMillan

We all have dreams of being famous, touring the world and performing for crowds of our adoring fans. Mike McGee gets to live out that dream.

Mike McGee won the National Poetry Slam Individual Grand Championship in 2003 and the Individual World Poetry Slam Championship in 2006, becoming the first person to attain both titles. Since then, Mike has had the chance to tour throughout North America and Europe, has appeared on HBO, NPR and CBC, has been published by Write Bloody Press, and has built legions of fans in places most of us will never even get to visit.  As a full-time touring poet, Mike performs over 180 shows a year in places as diverse as the University of Paris and Ralph’s Diner in his adopted home of Worcester.

The road to poetry fame has been a long and interesting one for Mike. He started out as a comedian, but was coerced by a friend into giving poetry a try. “I refused a number of times, wanting to avoid poetry, but he won me over and I got hooked immediately. My ‘comedy’ transformed into what I do today because of it.”

That beginning launched Mike into becoming part of the national poetry slam, leading to his first tour in 2002. “My first tour was a week-long trek to Vancouver at the urging of my friend Shane Koyczan. I was unheard of, but he helped to convince local organizers to book me at most of the poetry events around East Vancouver. I fell in love with traveling with and for words. I never thought I’d make a career out of it. I’d always been told you couldn’t make a living at it. Perseverance and networking proved that wrong.”

Mike continues to tour, but for him it has less to do with attaining the rock star dream and more about the interaction between himself and the audience, a point he is always quick to bring up. “I am rewarded for the connection I have with other human beings, and I am honored that it is recognized and appreciated. I know that my ways of talking and entertaining are different and hard to attempt for most. People will always value a rare quality in others. I am not a star, but I am also not your average dude. I am well taken care of by the people who know me and I try to give that back to those who need it.”

But how does Mike know he has had a good show? “When I can make people laugh, cry and think. When people want to hug me after the show. I already want to hug them.”

Find out about all things Mike at www.mikemcgee.net.