Some Venues for Valley Verse--and Some Rules

All you need is a pen and paper, but before you burst into verse, some guidelines: Open readings are for poetry or short prose only. Open-mike nights include music and comedy performers. Attendance is free. Performers have a time limit of five to 10 minutes. At popular venues, sign-ups can start 30 to 60 minutes before. Some venues for Valley verse:

The Cobalt Cafe, 22047 Sherman Way, Canoga Park. (818) 348-3789. Open readings at 9 p.m. Tuesdays.

Healthy attendance of primarily--but not exclusively--twentysomething poets. A handful of talented writers and readers balance out a heavy dose of angst. Eagle’s Coffee Pub & Newsstand, 5231 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. (818) 760-4212. Open mike at 8 p.m. Wednesdays.

Competing with mediocre stand-up comedy and music can make the place hit or miss for poetry. Iguana Cafe, 10943 Camarillo St., North Hollywood. (818) 763-7735. Open mike at 6:30 p.m. Sundays. Featured reading schedule varies.

Well-earned solid reputation as one of the premiere venues for spoken-word in Los Angeles. Cover charge for featured readings, which sometimes include open reading.

Grounds Zero, 124 N. San Fernando Blvd., Burbank. (818) 567-4257. Open reading at 9 p.m. Thursdays.

Small turnout of pre-college set. The Happening, 4495 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks. (818) 981-9331. Open reading at 9 p.m. Sundays.

See Grounds Zero.

The Reader’s Edge, 2329 1/2 Honolulu Ave., Montrose. (818) 249-5546. Open reading at 7:30 p.m. Fridays.

Reading in a bookstore has a friendly and supportive atmosphere for poets of all ages.