Tuesday Verses shares talent and love

RICHMOND, Va. – Broken bottles and empty wrappers rest at the doorstop of former open mic venue Tea Co. located on Broad Street. All that remains inside is a bar, some artwork and a few tables and chairs. The days of Say Word Wednesdays that used to be held at Tea Co. are long gone. A similar scenario can be found throughout Richmond at other former open mic venues.

One spot that refuses to end up deserted is Tropical Soul Café. Located on Second Street, the restaurant is where Richmond poets, musicians and artists can spend their Tuesday nights.

Every week, Lorna Pinckney, a former Virginia Commonwealth University graduate, hosts Tuesday Verses. Singers, rappers, poets and instrumentalists from throughout the country have graced the Verses stage. Brandon Basile, president of the VCU Def Poets Society, is a regular at Tropical Soul.



“My experience is always enjoyable,” Brandon says. “The crowd tends to always be welcoming, but if not, Lorna will usually get them in check if they aren’t clapping right.”

Tuesday Verses is known for its family-like environment. That may be why it is Richmond’s longest running

open-mic venue, hitting its eight-year anniversary one week ago. Pinckney takes pride in her establishment. She thinks Verses has survived because it’s open to all talents.

“Verses is for anyone who wants to share their work,” Pinckney says. “Making it not so focused just on poetry or slamming or music may be what makes it last.”

“Duplicating is corny,” Pinckney says about open mic venues that don’t go beyond what they’ve seen. “If you’re going to do something, do something new.”

Although the formula Verses uses to attract audience members isn’t new, it is a breath of fresh air for Richmond’s open mic scene.

Roscoe Burnems, former Say Word Wednesdays’ host, suggests that Verses still stands and Say Word doesn’t because everyone at Verses has a similar vision. With Say Word, Burnems says, the venue and the participants didn’t vibe.

“A venue has to see the dream as well as the people starting an open mic,” the poet says. “If everyone shares the same goal without wavering, like at Verses, there can’t be anything but success.”

Most open mic venues in Richmond have mimicked Verses’ style, but unsuccessfully. Nicky McMullen, Verses staff member, thinks that bad intentions can destroy an establishment.

“If a foundation is for personal glory, the venue won’t last,” the singer says.

She appreciates the family-like environment. “We help each other with our personal lives,” McMullen says. “You don’t even have to be family to be family.”

Verses’ success has inspired other venues like Say Word Wednesdays and the Lyricist Lab to consider returning. If they want longevity like that of Verses, McMullen has advice.

“If a place is founded in love and with the people in mind, it’s going to regenerate.”