By Larry Fike (eHow)
You’ve written some poetry, and now you want to take that next step – which is sometimes very scary. But reading your poetry in public can also be exhilarating and liberating once you overcome your fears. This activity can also make you aware of the joys of stage performance in general. Who knows? You may even take up acting or comedy!
Step 1
PICK OUT YOUR FAVORITES: These may be very personal or they may be about politics, the desert, the ocean, the sunset, somebody
you love or despise. They could also be rhyming or non-rhyming, but you should feel a deep personal connection to your words regardless of the form or content of the poems.
Step 2
KNOW YOUR TIME LIMITS & VENUE: “Open mics” are virtually everywhere now, so visit one and listen to others read first. Listen to announcements about how many poems you can read and what the time limits are. (Some who read this will find their heart-rate increasing already.) If you don’t like any of the poetry read there, or you think your style is too different from what you hear (even if you like it), check out a different venue.
Step 3
PERFORMANCE STYLE: Ask yourself why you like or dislike the performance style of the various poets. Some poets “shout out!” Some poets are virtual hip-hop artists. Some read from paper or a notebook. Others have their poetry memorized. Some put emphasis on key words. Some modulate their voice depending upon the emphasis they want a particular line to receive.
Step 4
REHEARSAL: Read your poems *out loud* time and time again. Not only may this lead to revisions, but it will give you a sense for how you want them to sound. Even better, record them and listen to the recording. If the recording makes you uncomfortable, ask yourself what could make your reading stronger. A key here is to match your tone with the content of them poem. You probably wouldn’t want to SCREAM OUT! a poem about a flower, but you probably also wouldn’t want to whisper out in a monotone voice a poem about the Lakers defeating the Knicks in a cliff-hanger of a basketball game.
Step 5
GETTING COMFORTABLE: Step 4 may take you quite a bit of time. I generally have my poems at least half-memorized before I go onto a stage, and I generally know the order in which I want to read them, but I like having them there in front of me, and this is completely acceptable. The important thing is to have figured out exactly how you want them to sound when you read them, and to make yourself very comfortable through repeated, out-loud readings.
Step 6
PREPARATION FOR THE BIG READING: Wear comfortable clothing. Sounds trivial, but it can make a difference. Wear a favorite sweatshirt or blouse or something that makes you feel, even . . . sexy! (I often wear a v-neck cashmere sweater with nothing underneath or over it.) Have water available, especially if you’re new to this and are reading more than a poem or two. Third, I recommend a product called “Singer’s Saving Grace” which you can easily find through the Internet.
Step 7
YOUR AUDIENCE: Your audience is there because they enjoy hearing poetry read aloud. So remember: they are not “against” you; they are your allies. By-and-large, audience members will be thinking good thoughts toward you, wanting you to succeed.
Step 8
INTRODUCING YOUR POEMS ONCE ON STAGE: Consider saying something brief before each poem, or something to introduce your poems as a group before you read them. Here are some examples of things I’ve said: “They are all angry poems!” “Here’s a love poem I wrote for my wife.” “This one’s self-explanatory.” “If you’ve ever been through a break-up, y’all will relate to this one!”
Step 9
Most of all, try to have fun with it (it is a form of entertainment, after all). Check out the several tips and anecdotes I’ve included below. I hope to hear you out there some night!
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