Jesse Parent, SLC performer and top-ranked individual slammer. Photo by Julie Moench Parent.
Jesse Parent is a poet, an improviser, a former mixed martial arts fighter, a computer nerd, a husband, a father, and, above all, a human being. According to the results of the 2010 and 2011 Individual World Poetry Slams, he is also the second ranked slam poet in the world. He also finished 5th at the 2012 Ontario International Poetry Slam and 4th at the 2014 Ill List Invitational Poetry Slam. His poetry has been featured on the Huffington Post, UpWorthy, TheBlaze.com, and WorldStarHipHop.com.
Jesse entered the world of performance poetry in December 2006 after touring for a few years with the poetry/music/improv show he created called The Hook. He has been on the Salt City Slam poetry teams from 2007-2014 (which included an 8th place finish at the 2011 and 2012 National Poetry Slams), was the coach of the 2007, 2008 and 2010 Salt City Slam teams, was the Salt Lake City grand champion in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2013, and was the SlamMaster of Salt City Slam from 2007 to 2013. He has served on the Executive Council for Poetry Slam, Inc. and the rules committee for the College Union Poetry Slam Invitational tournament. Jesse continues to coach the Westminster College poetry slam team, which he has done since 2013.
In his professional life, Jesse is a software engineering manager at a company that provides products and services that help the deaf and hearing to communicate. In his other art life, Jesse tours nationally as one half of the improv duo JoKyR and Jesster, performs with Laughing Stock Improv at the Off Broadway Theatre on Main St. in Salt Lake City, and is an artistic associate of the prestigious Chicago Improv Festival. In his personal life, he has a very tolerant wife and three adorable kids.
Note that tonight’s open poetry slam is a speed slam with 3-, 2-, and 1-minute rounds. Slam winners qualify for the 2015 World Qualifier.
This show in our weekly Wednesday series takes place at the Cantab Lounge, 738 Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge. Doors for the show open at 7:15. The open mic begins at 8:00 and the feature performs at approximately 10:00. An open speed slam in the 8×8 series will follow. The show is 18+ (ID required) and the cover charge is $3.
Boston Poetry Slam Online