Thanks Bob, that's a good point. Again it seems obvious now that you've said
it, but I bet it wouldn't have occurred to me! I think I'd probably have
gone for what I consider my best poem, which as you say, isn't necessarily
the same thing at all when read out loud.
-----Original Message-----
From: The Pennine Poetry Works [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Bob Cooper
Sent: 27 August 2004 12:47
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Hints on poetry readings
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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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