Dear Lawrence
Organising readings is a 'thankless task', but even if a only very select
group of people were there to enjoy a particular reading, it is still
worth it. Worth it for that evening, but also worth it because, through
organising a reading series come rain or shine, you are establishing
continuity for poetry, something no amount of media, marketing and 10%
discount stickers can do.
On a practical level, attendance levels are also dependent on poets'
readers, friends, semblables and freres turning up, and with two poets
from abroad reading, their local circles are not here. Readings are social
events, and certain venues, like pubs, do emphasise them as such. I think
people also turn up if they know, or have reason to believe, some of their
acquaintances are going to be there. It seems a perfectly acceptable
reason, after all, the shared focus on a public rendition of poetry
(rather than the private reading of poetry) allows for immediate exchange
on the subject afterward. And some poets do have more of a following,
which will have taken years, if not centuries, to establish.
It's not nice to be out of pocket and embarrased for the readers' sake,
but it doesn't mean people don't appreciate you organising the readings. I
hope the next ones will but as good as the last one, as well as more
satisfactory to you as an organiser.
Diana bless
Karlien
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