NUYOrican poets Café FAQ

1. Why is the Nuyorican closed? Will There be events?

The Nuyorican Poets Café closed its doors on November 1st, 2023 to fully renovate, restore, and modernize our 100-year-old building. We call this three-year-long project our NUYORICANSTRUCTION. Our renovated Café will be expanded and fully accessible. We will have two theaters, state of the art classrooms, work space and rehearsal space, and a beautiful backyard garden.

Our poetry, music, theater, and education programming is taking place offsite at different institutions throughout NYC, the country, and the world. Some exciting partnerships include the Bowery Poetry Club, the International Center of Photography, The Loisaida Center, and others. We will also continue facilitating poetry workshops in schools and community centers. Our international Online Open Mic that began at the onset of the global Covid-19 pandemic has been going strong since 2020 and will continue to run through our reconstruction. We may be closing our doors but the poetry will not stop!

2. Why is the Nuyorican Poets Café a non-profit organization?

The Nuyorican is a tax-exempt non-profit organization (sometimes called a 501(c)3, because of the IRS tax code that governs non-profits) because it presents arts and educational programs that benefit New York City’s diverse communities of artists, spectators and students. The Café gratefully accepts donations from individuals and grants from public and private foundations; these contributions allow the Nuyorican to offer exciting events at very affordable ticket prices. To make a tax-deductible donation, visit our contribute page.
 

3. Can I buy tickets in advance? What time should I arrive at the Café for a show?

We sell advance tickets online for all of our events. It is best to arrive at least 15 minutes before performance time. To sign up for an Open Mic or Poetry Slam, we recommend arriving 30 minutes early to line up.

4. For whom are events at the Nuyorican appropriate?

Everyone. There are no age restrictions at our events; to order beer or wine from our bar, of course, patrons must be at least 21 years of age and have valid ID (our bartenders are hard to fool), but events by the Nuyorican are open to (and frequently attended by) children, teenagers, adults and retired persons. Individuals in wheelchairs can access our performance venue via a wheelchair ramp. Please note that our spoken word events do sometimes include explicit language and can also get very crowded, so we encourage parents to exercise their best judgment when deciding whether to bring younger children – but that’s your call to make, not ours.

5. Can I get a discount if I bring a large group of spectators to a show at the Nuyorican?

Our ticket prices are extremely low by Manhattan standards, and we depend on ticket sales to cover many of our expenses, so we don’t offer many discounts. If you would like to request discounted tickets, please email at info@nuyorican.org.

6. Can I videotape or make audio recordings of events at the Café?

No; unless you have written permission from Nuyorican Poets Café management, you may not record any events at the Nuyorican or bring recording devices into the Café. We realize that posting videos of their own performances online is an important means of promotion for many artists, and that the internet is constantly redefining the relationship between live and recorded entertainment. But we also know of too many instances when the work of artists has been recorded and distributed (sometimes for profit) without their permission. Out of respect for our artists AND for the audiences who pay to see them perform live at the Nuyorican, we strictly forbid unauthorized recording of any events at the Café. If you would like to request permission to record an event at the Café, please call 212-780-9386 or email info@nuyorican.org.
 

7. Can I advertise on your calendar, website or e-blasts?

The Nuyorican sells advertising space on its calendar, website and in its monthly e-blasts. Collectively, these materials are viewed by tens of thousands of arts-focused individuals each month. Advertising rates depend on the length of the promotion and the size of the ads involved; lower rates are available for small non-profit entities (please see our non-profit page for more details). To inquire about advertising with us, please contact caridad@nuyorican.org, info@nuyorican.org, or 212-780-9386.
 

8. If I am a member of the press, whom should I contact regarding press passes, interviews, or any other inquiries?

For Press information, please contact Caridad de la Luz, at Caridad@nuyorican.org.

9. Can I rent the Café for an event?

The Nuyorican Poets Café is available for rentals from time to time. Most often, we rent to other non-profit groups for evening benefit events; to school or educational groups for daytime events; to production companies for film or TV location shooting; for book launches or for other receptions. Rental rates are determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the length of the event, the number of people expected to attend, the technical demands of the event and the number of our staff members who will be needed to work the event.

The Nuyorican Poets Café is closed to the public for NUYORICANSTRUCTION. If you are looking for a venue to host your event, the Café can gladly connect you with one of our community partners. Most often, we rent to other non-profit groups for evening benefit events; to school or educational groups for daytime events; to production companies for film or TV location shooting; for book launches, or for other receptions. For more information about rentals in one of our community parter’s venues, please contact 212-780-9386 or info@nuyorican.org.

10. How do I apply for jobs or internships at the Café?

The Nuyorican has a small staff but a large community of artists, consultants, volunteers and interns. We are always interested in hearing from potential volunteers and interns; please visit our volunteers  page for detailed information about opportunities. We rarely have job openings, but we will be gradually expanding our staff over the next several years. We’ll look at resumes if you submit them, but we STRONGLY encourage job seekers to acquaint themselves with the Nuyorican’s programs and history before inquiring about employment. Resumes and letters of inquiry may be submitted to info@nuyorican.org.
 

11. How do I get to perform my poetry at the Nuyorican? How do I become a poetry slammer at the Nuyorican?

If you’re new to the slam poetry scene and want to learn more, begin by attending our Nuyorican Bowery Slam and Monthly Grand Slam to meet our hosts and listen to other poets. Our slams are friendly and welcoming events, so feel free to ask questions and participate when you come.

To become a Nuyorican Poetry Slammer, you must first win a Nuyorican Bowery Slam event; winning an Open Slam qualifies you to compete in the Monthly Grand Slam (Grand Slams are not Open Mics; in order to perform during Monthly Grand Slams, you must first have won a Nuyorican Bowery Slam). Poets who win a Monthly Grand Slam then compete in a Grand Slam Finale at the end of the year.

12. What kind of Open Mic opportunities do you have for poets, spoken word artists and jazz musicians? how do I sign up for the open mic?

Our open mic events operate on a first-come-first-serve basis. Interested performers may line up at the venue 1 hour before doors open (e.g. 8pm for a 9pm show). When doors open, the sign up sheet opens and the first 25-30 performers receive slots. Participants receive 3-5 minutes to perform, depending on the length of the list and duration of event.

Our featured poets at the Monthly Grand Slams are advance-curated by the event's host; we do not allow the general public to perform at these events or accept outside submissions. However, we encourage Grand Slam attendees to stick around for the Open Room, a post-show open mic starting around 12am.

13. How does the Nuyorican Poets Café fit into the history of Puerto Rican writers and poets?

The Nuyorican was originally founded in the 1970s by a pioneering group of Puerto Rican writers; that group included Miguel Algarin, Lucky Cienfuegos, Sandra Maria Esteves, Jesus Papoleto Melendez, Rev. Pedro Pietri, Miguel Piñero and Bimbo Rivas. Some of these Founding Poets are still active at the Nuyorican today; they have helped established the Café as a landmark for countless other artists. Visit the History page for more details about these founders, and the many artists who followed in their footsteps.

14. Is the Nuyorican Poets Café only for Latinx poets, Slam Poets or Spoken Word Artists?

The Nuyorican Poets Café is a multi-cultural arts organization that serves an enormous community of diverse artists. The performers and spectators who frequent the Nuyorican hail from countless different backgrounds and locations. The current leaders of the Café continue to fulfill the original founders’ vision of inclusiveness and artistic excellence. We are proud of our roots and are guided by our heritage; artists are welcomed to the Café from every corner of the earth. Not for nothing did poet Allen Ginsberg call the Nuyorican Poets Café “the most integrated place on the planet”.
 

15. How can I perform or present my work at the Nuyorican?

We have a long tradition of providing performance opportunities for both rising and established artists, and we’re always on the lookout for new talent. If you’re a musician, theater artist, dancer, singer, hip-hop artist or a producer/presenter and you want to book a show or performance at the Nuyorican, we encourage you to first familiarize yourself with our programs and visit our Bookings & Rentals page. If you are a slam poet/spoken word artist or a jazz artist looking for an opportunity to jam, please read the information about our Open Mic events above, see question 12.