Hi Matt,
And another two-penn'th...
When doing a reading I always try to start with a poem that I know I can
read well. Then if I'm very nervous beforehand I'm starting with something
that boosts my confidence!
I sometimes stick post-it notes in the book I'm reading from, or scribble on
the sheets of paper, such things as "smile!" and "check how the time's
going!" and "take a deep breath before you start this one."
At readings the relationship between the poem and the poet changes. I mean I
can go to a readings where I've read the poets work, perhaps in a book, but
never met the person. After I've heard them read, the poems I've read and
then heard seem to change. It's complex: poems as sound and poems as read
silently... I sometimes find subtle rhythms - subtle inflections of meaning
- in my own poems that I wasn't aware of until I took the piece to the front
of a room.
I also try to make sure I don't read too many longish poems one after
another - maybe include two or three very short pieces one after another,
where they need less than a phrase to introduce each one. By "longish" I
mean a sonnet (which, at a reading feels really full and rich to hear) and
"short" can be 4, 5, or 6 lines.
And I always time myself at home - the whole reading including the links -
to make sure I don't take far more time than I've been allocated! Ha! Then
I've sometimes quietly said to the organiser, after I've done my spot,
"Sorry, you said 10 minutes, I over-ran by 30 seconds!" (There's some poets
I've read alongside who think 10 minutes is almost half-an-hour - and if
there's a beer-break coming up the audience get restless!).
And I feel there's a difference between a poetry reading and a poetry
recital. The word reading seems more relaxed.
Bob
>From: Sally James <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Pennine Poetry Works <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Hints on poetry readings
>Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004 18:56:09 +0100
>
>Yes, I agree Arthur. I think we all have a bit off the show off in us. I
>too
>was terribly shy at readings and it was awful at first but once I got the
>feel for it I began to enjoy it especially when I made the audience laugh.
>It is a good feeling when you know they are really listening and you have
>captured them. I always try to judge my audience and take a wide selection
>of poetry serious and humerous pieces. I am much more relaxed now than I
>used to be but reading a new piece is always scary. bw sally j
>
>
>>From: Arthur Seeley <[log in to unmask]>
>>Reply-To: The Pennine Poetry Works <[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Re: Hints on poetry readings
>>Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004 16:55:15 +0100
>>
>>Apropos of ' What the hell' attitude. When I lectured before a large
>>audience or when I read, which is only occasionally, I recognise that I am
>>two people, I am the shy and retiring one who would never ever stand up in
>>front of a crowd and I am also a dreadful show-off enjoying centre stage.
>>I
>>let the shy one go off and watch from the side of the stage and let the
>>show-off get on with it. Arthur.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: The Pennine Poetry Works on behalf of Sue Scalf
>> Sent: Thu 26/08/2004 16:28
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Cc:
>> Subject: Hints on poetry readings
>>
>>
>>
>> I used to be a terrible poetry reader. I was nervous in the
>>extreme, and
>>my
>> readings detracted from the poems rather than enhancing them.
>>Teaching
>>helped
>> me because I had to face an audience all the time, but even then I
>>had
>> moments of fright, especially when I had to face a whole audience
>>of
>>parents who
>> were paying very high tuition and tell them about my plans for the
>>year,
>>etc.
>> Soooo. I looked at the audience, and I said to myself, Oh, what
>>the hell.
>> And
>> it turned a key for me. Anytime I feel stage fright to the point
>>that it
>>is
>> going to affect my presentation that is the phrase I say to
>>myself.
>>Another
>> thing that helps is to tell a little joke to begin. Once you have
>>made a
>>fool
>> of yourself initially, you have nothing much left to worry about.
>> My favorite is: Your contest chair asked me what my reading fee
>>was, and
>>I
>> told him I would pay as much as $50 to get to read before some
>>groups.
>> Thirdly, once I start I totally forget about the audience and keep
>>my mind
>>deep in
>> the poem. As a result of this, I am told I am an excellent reader.
>> One
>>thing
>> for sure is that I absolutely enjoy it now. Hope this helps, Sue
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
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