Laura Mattingly operates as a community member in New Orleans in many capacities—poet and literary event organizer, barber-in-a-bar, and energy healer on call. Arriving in New Orleans in 2007 via a raft down the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, Mattingly washed up on the open mic stages of the 17 Poet Literary Series, and Maple Leaf readings, running writing groups and other music and poetry events, eventually co-organizing the annual literary events of Ladyfest New Orleans for five years.
Mattingly continues the 25 year legacy of Royal St Bar’s Monday Night Barber, and is herself in the 11th year there, a position that holds its own in keeping New Orleans entertainment culture alive. Operating as a Reiki healer for two decades, she offers sessions and classes out of her home and other local venues.