I wonder how this translates in the UK.
> I would call a good sized reading between 60-100. I've seen this amount of
> people for
> poetry at festivals, performance poetry gigs
> (the old Perserverance pub readings and Michael Crane's poetry
> slams in Melbourne.) I've seen a lot of readings with under 30.
Carcanet organised a major reading by Les Murray in Manchester back in the
late Eighties. I recall about 15 people turning up, about 8 were entourage.
Someone from the University asked me which department I worked in and I told
them I was a reader, the look of shock was extremely funny.
Since my experience of readings varies hugely (most of my experience in the
Provinces). I feel lucky if I get 10 non-University readers. A good-sized
reading would be about 20 non-Uni. I'm making a distinction here between
undergrad or postgrad machinery and a general readership. Perhaps this is
wantonly artificial. So I've seen lots of readings with under 20.
Best
C
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