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Poetry reads

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11-15-2009 at 09:00:08 AM
  • kah
  • kah
  • Posts: 339

Poetry reads

I am going to a poetry read this week in my town. I'm bringing some of my work, and hopefully will be brave enough to read myself. I've never done this before. Is there anyone out there who has done this? Give me some clue of what to expect? It's not a poetry slam, which I think is different?

I'm nervous!!

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11-15-2009 at 02:09:26 PM

Re: Poetry reads

Yes, I do this a lot: prepare yourself by reading your poems out loud into a mirror or a video camera, constantly; never stop reading out loud; try to memorize the piece, if not, try to memorize a part of it; try not to read in a drone-like voice, create some dynamic in your presentation; look the audience in the eye from time to time. Nervous? This never goes away.
Just keep doing it! Go to as many open-mics as you can because you only get better at reading and presenting your work. Make it fun!
cool cheese

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11-15-2009 at 03:11:38 PM

Re: Poetry reads

good advice, Dah ... and yay, how exciting, kah!! smile

one thing that's stuck with me:
enjoying/ingesting a piece of artwork is like a fine meal ...
and a whiff or a small bit, to start, helps the body prepare ...
physically, mentally, spiritually, for what it's about to encounter ...

with poetry ... i think this is also true ...
an audience is better able to truly experience your work ...
if you give them a taste, first ... set them up for what they're about to experience ...
even if it's just "this is sad, or happy, or light, or heavy, or long, or short" ...
in nervousness, sometimes i find it hard to talk ... i just want to share the work ...
but that gives the audience more of a shock ... and a difficult time truly appreciating ...
plus, opening each poem with a story, about how it came about, or a form it's emulating, etc., helps establish a connection with your audience ... you can gauge interest in a form, or topic ... get them invested ... so they're present when you read ...

also ... i've found most of these types of events to be VERY FRIENDLY ... have fun!! smile

-dh

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11-18-2009 at 06:17:53 AM
  • kah
  • kah
  • Posts: 339

Re: Poetry reads

Thank you so much for your advice! I am definitely going to spend some time practicing the out-loud reading! And giving a little info on the poem before I read it...I would not have thought of that.

Thanks for the advice. Tomorrow is the big night, so I'll let you know how it goes!

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Poetry comes nearer to vital truth than history.

Plato (BC 427-BC 347) Greek philosopher.
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