Open Mic ft. Ron Goba Memorial!

Please join us in remembering Ron Goba, the esteemed former doorman for the Boston Poetry Slam (BPS), mostly at the Cantab Lounge, who died in January of 2026. Several of Ron’s friends and fellow poets will offer tributes including Prabakar Thyagarajan, Chad Parenteau, Nate Connors, Jenny Oliensis, Michael F. Gill, Victoria Bosch Murray, James Stotts, and Tom Daley. Friends and admirers of Ron are encouraged to read a poem by him or for him or say a few words on the open mike.

Ron Goba served as doorman for the BPS between 1992 and 2004. In his youth, Ron was a champion basketball player. Later on he became a renowned high school English teacher. Several generations of Cantab poets experienced his amicable and encouraging presence at the door. In the words of longtime host, Michael Brown, “If Ron nodded assent, you knew you were doing well.” Ron usually closed out the open mike with his incisive, punning, disjunctive, heartfelt and cerebral poems.

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Accessibility information: The portion of the Cantab where the poetry show is hosted is accessible by one flight of stairs. There is seating available as well as standing room. We highly encourage the use of masks and have them available for anyone who wants one, but they are not required, per venue management.

There are two single-stall, gender neutral bathrooms. Both require stepping onto a slight ledge to access. No flashing lights are used and no music is played over the speakers throughout the show; in general, the room is dimly lit/dark throughout, but can often get loud from conversations occurring. Please message us with any specific questions and we will get back to you ASAP.

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