Poetry in motion: Inspire me, and I’ll inspire you. I am Kro, The Traveling Typist. This is how it works: you encounter me on the street or at an event. Shyly or boldly, you approach and ask for a poem. I inquire: what will this poem be about? You reply with whatever is on your heart and mind. Within a few minutes and the clack-clack of the keys, a poem appears. Using my finesse and flair as a spoken word artist, I read the poem aloud in a private, moving moment. Then the poem is sealed in an envelope and goes off with you into the world.
“Kro” is an eccentric, eclectic & electric poet whose style & knack for writing “on demand” poetry is like no other. Her whimsical approach to typing a personal poem for you within minutes is creative & innovative. Ask for a poem about anything & with a quick chatter of the keys your poem is created on one of her many antique typewriters she packs. Ya gotta check her out at one of her many appearances around the Chicagoland area!
Price Range: $250 and up
Gig Length: 60 - 360 minutes
Languages: English
I provide on-demand poetry services for brand activations, weddings, birthdays, and any type of event you can imagine. (Have typewriter, will travel!)
Patrons would encounter me at the poetry station, set up at a table with my typewriter, and a sign that says "come get a poem." They will pull up a chair, and we will have a brief conversation about what is on their heart and mind at the present moment. From this input, I will generate a poem on the spot.
They listen to the click and clack of the typewriter keys for about two minutes. Once read, I read their poem aloud using my ten years of experience as a spoken-word artist. Then the poem is sealed in an envelope to protect it. They take home both the physical artifact of the poem as well as the memory of our poetic encounter.
I have an entire performer's closet as well as an array of typewriters in all colors from all eras. I can dress to the theme of your event, and bring a typewriter that matches the any color scheme.
My name is Kro, Chicago's favorite on-demand typewriter poet. In addition to poetry, I peddle surprise and delight. My offering is a spontaneous encounter, and an intimate, utterly unique artistic experience. Give me a prompt and I’ll give you a poem, and a private reading besides. I sweep into events with the theatrical flair of character acting. Patrons experience immersive poetry and typewriter theater. My patrons are my muses; together we co-create a moment suspended in time.
As a full-time on-demand typewriter poet, I have traveled all over the country: from the East Coast to the Rockies to the Heartland, working weddings, festivals, and celebrations of all kinds along the way.
I have been writing for 20 years. My weapons of choice are a 1976 Brother Charger 11, a 1956 Smith-Corona Sterling, and a 1984 Olivetti-Underwood Studio 45 with cursive font. I own 16 typewriters and counting. I have an MA in Linguistics, with a specialization in bilingual performance poetry. I will have my MFA in Creative Writing in 2025, for which I was given a full-ride scholarship.
I host the Poetic Devices podcast and The Traveling Typist blog; these follow my (type)writing journey as I discuss the philosophy, methodology, and stories of being an on-demand typewriter poet. I am also the author of Prayer Wheel.
-Due to the conversational nature of my offering, I ask to be placed away from PA's, speakers, and sound systems.
-I will need to be provided a table and chairs for the poetry station.
-Lighting is key! I am unable to type in the dark and need to be provided with appropriate illumination.
I am influenced by the works of Pablo Neruda, Andrea Gibson, and Kathleen Rooney.
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