Just one thing I forgot to say two funny things happened to me when I was
reading. My young son was at the age when he was losing his teeth and one
came out while we were out so I wrapped it in tissue and put it in my bag. I
forgot about the tooth and the next evening just before I was about to begin
reading I got the tissue out of my bag and the tooth rolled out and rattled
along the wooden floor and a woman on the first row picked it up.  I was
reading to a ladies group and it really broke the ice and I really enjoyed
that because I was in a lighthearted and giddy mood after that
Another time I was asked to read my dialect poems to a very select ladies
group at a posh residence near me. It was very official although it was held
in someone's house. I know my poetry can be a bit suacy at times but they
wanted me to read the Lancashire dialect poems.There was a particularly
saucy one about a rag and bone man and a lady called Mrs Jones. When I had
finished reading  a lady, very smart with a chain of office around her neck
said "Oh and by the way my name is Mrs Jones". hmmm
Like I say just enjoy it but always judge your audience then you can't
offend anyone like I did with Mrs Jones and make sure you have a glass of
water and a box of tisues. Short readings are o.k. but after fifteen minutes
I find my nose always decides to run. Hmmm now that's another story. Bw
Sally J


>From: Bob Cooper <[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: Fri, 27 Aug 2004 11:46:34 +0000
>
>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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