Slam poetry, a restaurant, and $250,000
Small business dining idea vaults alumni into finals of national competition
Steven Williamson / News Editor
Issue date: 3/8/07 Section: Page One
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The Mayhem Poets - as they call themselves - are one of four finalists in Microsoft's ideaWins contest to search for the best small business idea in America, for a $250,000 prize.
The three alumni aim to make poetry their profession by opening a slam poetry themed restaurant, called Slamchops, while simultaneously taking over the world - in a manner of speaking, of course.
And where did this epic plot of poetry, dining and global domination begin?
Cook campus, actually, in the Newell Apartments.
Sutton and Tarazevits met in an acting class in 2000 and started an open-mic event together in Newell. The two, both huge fans of the movie "Fight Club," named their group "Verbal Mayhem" after the name of a gang in the film.
"The name was modeled after 'Fight Club's' Project Mayhem," Sutton said. "They tried to take over the world. We figured, hey, we can take over the world with poetry."
Although its founders are long gone, the group "Verbal Mayhem" is still alive and well at the University.
"[Verbal Mayhem] all started with 80 to 100 people in my friend's living room every week," Sutton said. "But it started getting a lot bigger. It became a movement where people would come out and perform."
One of those people was Granger, a performer whose highly intelligent and hilarious lyrics made him an instant hit with the group, Sutton said.
The three began performing anywhere where they could get a show.
The Mayhem Poets began a full-scale poetic assault on local venues, high schools and elementary schools. Each performance used different content that was specially suited to its audience. The trio even released its own CD, titled "Reverse Birth," on its Web site mayhempoets.com.
"We went to jails, rehabilitation clinics and nursing homes," Sutton said. "We were writing material for all different types of people."
The group began performing full time on a college circuit, but this its first chance to extend their art form to a new level - business.