Meet Poetryteacher: Poet/Artistic event curator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Poetryteacher and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Poetryteacher, how do you define success?
My definition of success (for me) is after I’ve completed or lived out a vision, a task or artistic project I don’t go back in my head and try to “revise” it when it’s done. Meaning if I can look at my work and there’s nothing I’d do differently, there’s nothing I’d change about that event or that piece of work then it’s a success. A lot of times we will criticize and critique a thing until we no longer love it. I’ve learned to believe in my work first and most times once I get through that there’s nothing that I can say that will make me believe it isn’t my best or even the best there is. Believing in my work, seeing it materialize and watching it flourish in the timeline I choose is success to me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a spoken words artist/poet and curator of some pretty dope s***☺️ I currently have a 3 year old t-shirt line, entitled “Words Are Food”. It’s a play on words of my career as a writer and public speaker. I am a strong believer in you are what you say you are. Words Are Food encourages us to make sure we are feeding ourselves positive and nourishing affirmations. I am proud of how I’m able to keep pushing in spite of the constant set backs I encounter. I just make it look easy, but it’s not as easy as I feel like it should be. I’m proud of my tenacity and the quality of the work I put forth. I am where I am today professionally by having a desire to be here and believing I belong here. The only easy part about all of this is the decision to do great things, but once you get started and throughout the journey it definitely gets harder. I overcome challenges by changing how I perceive certain things. I feel like if you can get your brain to work under the notion -that everything that’s uncomfortable or scary isn’t necessarily unsafe or dangerous-you can move through lots of challenges. Your mind is set up to protect you from things that cause you to fear, but just because you’re afraid to do something doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. Lessons I’ve learned along the way are that sometimes the masses won’t get it and that’s ok.. do it anyway. It’s ok to rise to the top by yourself if you have to,,you’ll meet your tribe when you get there and always make sure you are listening to you first. The world should know that as someone in the artist community I put my heart and soul into everything I do and it’s not just for me. My goal is to create trends not just follow them and even though I haven’t reached my destiny of the big lights and cameras and checks that doesn’t make me or my brand any less amazing.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my bestie was coming into town for a week we would start off with brunch (of course) and make our way to •Jonathan’s Cafe in Oak Cliff •Day drink /Bar hop at The Statler then to Deep Ellum •Visit the Dallas Farmer’s Market • Dinner and live music at The Free Man Cafe downtown • Tacos and Tequila for mid week happy hour • Klyde Warren Park to talk and chill • White Rock lake to exercise off the carbs we ate •Union Park for some more Friday nightlife

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate this shout out to everyone who sends me great vibes and energy to keep pushing, to the ones who help out the best way they can and they do it without expectation. And to everyone who believes in me as an artist and my artistic endeavors.

Website: www.thepoetryteacher.com
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/Iampoetryteacher
Linkedin: www.LinkedIn.com/Reaganmartin
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/poetryteacher
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/poetryteacher
Youtube: www.YouTube.com/bossgirlthaace
Other: www.Facebook.com/thepatheticallybeautifulproject