How to Overcome the Fear of Reading Poetry to an Audience

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!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Yourself and your poems.
• A beverage.
• Singer's Saving Grace (recommended).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!"

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!

Tips & Warnings

• I never "liked" Robert Frost's poetry until I heard him reading it aloud. Then I thought, "Oh, wow ... THAT's what he means!" (I can say the same thing about a large number of other poets.) I've also read poets I loved, then thought they "ruined" them by reading them so poorly. The point is, reading aloud can help your audience understand why you wrote what you wrote. I've received comments to this effect on numerous occasions.
• Think about how different it is to only read the lyrics to a song you've never heard, and then to hear it. It can totally alter the overall meaning that the song has for you. The same is true with a poem, so you're doing your audience a favor.
• Historically, poetry was read almost as though it were being sung. Early recordings of Whitman and even T. S. Eliot reveal this tendency. This is back, although with contemporary sounds. But it's not exclusive, and a lot of more "academically inclined poets" turn their noses up on this approach. I like to mix it up. You may find that you do, too. Experiment!
• Never walk onto, or off of, a stage conveying to the audience by your body language that you think you were a failure, even if you feel that way. Remember: It's a performance.
• In the big scheme of things, even if you try it and hate it and decide to never do it again, you'll be able to say you tried it! "Been there; done that." Remember the saying that we regret more what we don't do, that we actually attempt to do. Give it a shot!
• Don't fall off the stage, as I once did.

[zpadmore]

on 10/20/2009 This is definitely a funny yet informative article.

I would like to print it up as a brochure for open mics. Your reference to "virtual hip hop artists" in step 3 lets me know we've been to some of the same venues.

I also think it's best to memorize poetry before reading, even an amateur open mic. It makes the reading memorable.

[MerryCline]

on 2/1/2008 I think Larry Fike covers all the bases when it comes to reading poetry. I just wish I had a few of these pointers when I've read a few of my pieces! The advice is definitely good to pass on. I run an open mic in Akron, OH and frequently encounter jittery readers to whom I throw out a few words of encouragement before they go on -- but I think I'm going to print this out and have it ready to hand them as "full reinforcement"!