Open Mic and Haiku Deathmatch
About this Event
🎤 Open Mic + Haiku Deathmatch ⚡
Two ways to get on the mic. One Wednesday night. Come share your words, cheer on the poets, and find out what happens when a haiku becomes a competition sport.
🎙️ OPEN MIC: Hosted by Micailah Ocaii
Got something to say? A poem you've been sitting on? A piece you're finally ready to share? The open mic is your space. New voices, seasoned poets, unfinished work, and everything in between are welcome. Sign up at the door and come ready to share.
⚔️ HAIKU DEATHMATCH: Hosted by Mr. Dave
Seventeen syllables. Multiple rounds. One haiku deathmatch. Sign up online, bring your creativity, and see what you can do with a little poetic pressure. Short poems, big energy, and plenty of reasons to stick around for the next round.
🌟 SPECIAL FEATURE: ESMAN
We're bringing nationally ranked spoken word poet Esman Rodas Calderon to the stage for a special feature performance!
Esman is a Guatemalan-American poet based in Lincoln, Nebraska, whose work challenges dominant narratives at the intersection of social justice and representation. A band and orchestra teacher by day, he finds joy in creating art and sharing it with others. His writing has been published in The Good Life Review, and his performances have taken him across the Midwest and into Texas. Esman holds a bachelor's degree in K–12 Music Education from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and has facilitated poetry workshops with organizations including the Nebraska Poetry Society, Poetic Underground, and Young Lions Roar.
Come experience the work of a poet whose art makes room for stories that deserve to be heard.
📅 Wednesday, October 14, 2026
📍 Alamo Drafthouse Mueller — Inside Barrel O’ Fun
1911 Aldrich St., Austin, TX 78723
🕖 Doors open at 7 PM
🕗 Show starts at 8 PM
🎟️ Discounted student tickets are available at the door with a valid student ID.
See you Wednesday, Austin! 💖
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 13.54 to USD 15.85
