East Bay Typewriter Poets Collective

Improvised poems on antique typewriters. Throw us a topic!

What is this?

We are the East Bay Typewriter Poets Collective - a group of Bay Area poets armed with antique typewriters and the ability to create extemporaneous poetry.

Saunter up and talk with us a while. Choose a topic. Then sit back as we invent, type up, and perform an original piece for you to take home.

We have been booked for a wide range of events in Oakland, Berkeley, San Francisco, San Jose, Petaluma, Santa Rosa, San Rafael, Mill Valley, and beyond.

This is a highly interactive form of entertainment that is perfect for:

  • Corporate Events

  • Weddings

  • Activations

  • Private Parties

  • Fundraisers

What Our Customers Are Saying:

Vintage typewriters on a table with a sign reading 'POETRY', set in a cozy room with artwork, a lamp, and a sofa.
A woman wearing a large beige hat and a white lace-collared blouse, smiling while sitting outdoors at a wooden table with a vintage black typewriter in front of her. A man wearing a blue tank top and gray pants is sitting beside her.
A typewritten poem titled 'On Coming Of Age' held in a person's hand, positioned on a vintage typewriter.

How does it work?

We set our typewriters up. We dress sharp. Curious guests approach and we ask them for a topic. After a short conversation, we improvise a poem based on that topic, read it aloud, and remit the work to its new steward. The poems might be funny, earnest, absurd - there’s no telling until the ink is on the paper.

We’ve written thousands of poems for thousands of strangers. Try to give us a topic we’ve never gotten before! I dare you.

We have a roster of local poets available. Most events book two to three poets, but we’ve gone as low as one and as high as five.

We do travel for gigs! Please fill out our quote form for more information.

Three people having a conversation in a modern living room with wooden cabinets and artwork

Contact Us

A man wearing a light blue striped shirt and a straw fedora hat sits at a checkered table outside, playing a typewriter. Behind him, there is a large window showing a street scene with cars and trees.

Interested in booking typewriter poetry for your event? Click the link below and fill out some info. We’ll be in touch shortly.