Event Spotlight: 'The Muse Exchange' at Velvet Lounge

What started last year as a group of like-minded artists around a fire pit in a Babylon backyard has evolved into something much bigger – and has arrived in Setauket at Velvet Lounge.

The Muse Exchange is an open mic night that will serve as a hub for spoken word artists, visual artists, and singers and songwriters.

It is based on the concept of "Carnival of Arts," which was a weekly open mic and arts event that started at the now-defunct Munchaba Lounge a decade ago in Levittown. The Muse Exchange will be bi-weekly and will be co-hosted by an artist who goes by the name Clarity, who was a regular performer at Munchaba Lounge back in the day.

"Since Munchaba, we haven’t really had a regular series that focused on the spoken word, the oral tradition, the art of storytelling…that’s what I’m aiming at with The Muse Exchange," Clarity said in an email to Patch. "...It was really a special, magical conduit of free thinking and creative minds. So, I’ve been longing for that – that connectivity – that stimuli of words and music and art and an open space where anyone can come into the circle and share what’s on their mind."

The event will also host a featured performer; this week's featured performer will be George Wallace, former Suffolk County Poet Laureate.

Clarity said there is just so much talent and beauty that goes unnoticed.

"There are so many writers out there looking for an outlet, for a space to show up and share and I want The Muse Exchange to be that for them," he said.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Every other Thursday, starting Jan. 10
Time: Signup begins at 7 p.m.; performances start at 8 p.m. and run to 10 p.m.
Format: Each performer will have a five-minute time slot.
Details: No cover; must be 21. Drink specials from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.