Good luck with the reading,  Matt. My GP told me that lots  of - ahem -
artistes like concert pianists get so nervous they take beta-blockers. The
fact is that being an author doesn't mean you're a natural performer.
I just thought -- if anyone was so nervous they'd rather not do readings,
there must be plenty of out-of-work (resting) actors who'd be glad to do it.
Actors do a special voice for poetry - I think of it as 'thesping'.
Listening to an actor thesp a poem can be an forgettable experience.

Kind regards,
       grasshopper


----- Original Message -----
From: "Merritt, Matt - Leic. Mercury" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, August 27, 2004 2:57 PM
Subject: Re: [THE-WORKS] Hints on poetry readings


> Yes, the water's always a good idea. My throat dries up very quickly at
the
> best of times
>