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After seeing The Manhattan Monologue Slam, at the Bowery Poetry Club, Miriam caught up with co-founder Phil Galinksy to talk about the show. Here's the Q & A:

Miriam: The Monologue Slam is the only slam of its kind. How did the Manhattan Monologue Slam start?

Phil: My brother [Robert] and I created it, and now we host and produce it along with some other producing partners in New York and LA. We were thinking one day about how we [actors] can get noticed Ð what's the best vehicle get seen by casting directors, managers, agents, people that are actually going to help you along in your career. The original formula is a showcase...or you would have to go to a club, try to bring ten people and pay twenty bucks a ticket. That's not what people really want.

M: Why is the Manhattan Monologue Slam a better alternative?

P: We don't do pay-to-play. Actors and agents come, and they do it for free. An actor really wants that moment to shine. We thought about the monologue slam as a vehicle for the actor...all he or she has to do is come prepared to perform a piece, not a whole play. Put together, it almost looks like a cool 40-minute show. And you get to see a lot of talent within that time frame. There are other places in the city where you can spend upwards to a hundred dollars to try and meet an agent, and you only get five minutes to perform in a rehearsal studio. That's not really conducive to showing your wares.

M: Have actors met with any success thanks to the MM Slam?

P: Some of our actors have been on Law and Order, Saturday Night Live and on various music videos. Some have been signed by managers...one woman now has a one-person show...and others have been signed to agents. So people are getting work, and that's good.

M: Why do you think the Slam has worked so well?

P: There are a lot of industry people who come to the show. Not only the judges, but also people in the audience, are often movie directors, agents...so you're being seen by a lot of people. It's a venue where all you have to do is get your thirty seconds and get up and do it. You never know what's going to happen. Plus, there are a lot of celebrity judges. In LA, there's been Andy Dick, Sarah Silverman, Debra Wilson from MADtv...and in New York, people like Noah Emmerich, Illeana Douglas and surprise people like Molly Shannon from Saturday Night Live.

M: You are an actor yourself, right? What is your own acting background?

P: I've been a working actor in New York City for the past ten years. I took classes with William Esper, an instructor from William Esper Studios Ð which I recommend for any actor that is serious about getting better. When I first started acting, I was on Comedy Central and MTV, and I did some commercials. I was on TV with a show called Cheap Seats, and I did some films, too. One of them, Too Much Sleep, is nominated for an impendent film award now.

M: Are you working on anything else now?

P: I just finished my one man show: Philip Galinsky Presents the Best of Craigslist, which is about all of the craziness that happens on Craigslist. I'll be doing that again in the fall. Plus, I have a few other projects that I'm pitching around...and, of course, the slam on the first Monday of every month and the first Wednesday of every month in LA, so I get to travel around a little bit.

M: How about your brother and co-host Robert? What's his acting background?

P: He's done a lot of spoken word and poetry as well as acting. He's been on MTV's Rock the Vote, and he does a lot of shows. He hosts the first set in the Slam, so he gets to wear the suit and look all polished. It makes him the James Lipton of the two of us.

M: How is it for you as an actor, working with other actors to produce the MM Slam?

P: Originally, we performed our own monologues during the show, along with the other actors. We realized at a certain point that since we can't win, it was cool to perform, but not necessarily good for the show. As far as hosting, I love it. I mean...I think it's fun. And because we are actors, we created an atmosphere that the other actors feel very comfortable with. We have formula for the show...and when we rehearse the actors, we have to agree to that vision. You only have three minutes, so you have to get to the action right away or the audience is lost.

M: Why do you hope to see more young people in the Slam audience -- and on the stage -- in the future?

P: There aren't many outlets for younger actors to perform and to get better, except in rehearsal...and there's nothing like performing in front of a live audience. You're going to know what works and what doesn't work right away. If [young] actors just try to do it on their own, they're in a vacuum...and they won't get the feedback that they need. Plus, the show is fun -- goofy and zany, with lots of confetti and bubbles. The next show is on August 7th. Doors open at seven, and tickets are just two for six bucks when you show a student ID.

Manhattan Monologue Slamco-founder Phil Galinksy

Writer & High 5-er Miriam