Ten Top Tips from Ten by Ten

1.You have ten minutes, that’s three maybe four poems with an introduction or two. Don’t come along with ten poems and then spend three minutes introducing the first one. Think about the introductions, rehearse and time those as well. As a rule of thumb, if the introduction is longer that the poem it should be cut. The introduction should only be to tell the audience vital information they may need to understand the poem otherwise shut up and get on with it.

2.Performing poetry is a bit like sex, you think that a few drinks might improve your performance but believe me it doesn’t. You lose your sense of timing and rhythm and afterwards although you may think your performance was good your audience may disagree. Stay sober, don’t have a joint and under no circumstances take cocaine otherwise the audience will never hear your poetry because you will spend your ten minutes on the introduction.

3.Performance poetry is not just a series of jokes dressed up as poetry. Use humour but cast your own light on the world. Let the audience in and show them how you see things. Don’t just rant and rave about politics/war/sexism/racism or whatever it is that gets you out of bed in the morning. Be subtle, be clever, use a sniper rifle not a shotgun. Your audience is more sophisticated than you might  think. Don’t insult their intelligence, appeal to it, flatter it.

4.Edit your poem. More is less and often a performance poem is far too long. Once you have your first draft. Read it out loud, in a big voice not a mumble. Read it to a friend, even if they have no comment to make the experience of reading it to them will help you. A poem doesn’t come alive until it is read out loud. Cut out the spare fat in the poem, it should be as lean as an athlete. Be careful with the words you use, for example if you have a swear words ask yourself, are they needed by the poem or to shock the audience. If all you want is shock value, drop it. Avoid cliché; if you have heard a metaphor before, don’t use it. It is very rare for a poem to be born fully formed. The editing process lets it grow and mature. Experience will teach you when it is time to stop editing

5.Respect your audience. Don’t turn up on the night with a carrier bag full of poems and start to randomly pick them out when you get on the stage. By standing on the stage you are entering in to a contract with the audience in exchange for them listening to you, you have to give them something worth listening to. You are not there to impress them with your erudition you are there to entertain them. Give some thought to the mixture, how well the poems will go together. Start with a poem you feel comfortable with. Make it short and snappy. This will allow you to get the feel of the stage and the audience. This also lets the room get to know you. Then you can go on with the new material.

6.Don’t worry if you are nervous, you need your nerves to perform well. If you are not nervous, you don’t care and poets who don’t care will invariably be awful. If it is your first time arrive at the venue early, we set up at 7.00 and people start to arrive after 7.30. This is your chance to rehearse, go on to the stage, and test the mic.  You don’t need to turn up in your best party frock or a dinner suit but give some thought to how you will look on stage. Before the audience have heard a word they will see you and how you are dressed. Make an effort, make an impression- it will help.

7.Practice, practice, practice. Your mouth needs to get used to the words. Your tongue needs to commit your poem to its memory. Most poets cannot memorise their poems and that’s Ok. Use the paper as an aide memoire but don’t read from it. If you practice enough then you can always be one line ahead when you are reading. Practice your words out loud; poems for performance don’t come alive unless they are said out loud. The more often you rehearse the poem the better it will be in performance. You won’t stutter and performance will seem more natural.

8.Use the microphone, it can be your friend. It will allow your voice to travel to the far corners of the room. Let it reach over the clinking glasses and the creak of the chairs. You may think your words will be heard clearly right at the back of the room but few people have that sort of reach.  Don’t stand too close to the mic and don’t stand too far way. Make a fist and put it between you and the mic, this will give you the right distance.

9.Feel the power of the pause.  Don’t rush your words. People need time to absorb your ideas, give them the time...Pause... Many a good poem has been ruined on stage by the poet charging at it like a demented cat on speed. Slow down.

10.Don’t use a poetry voice that has a drone to it that could stun a sheep at fifty paces. Look at the words that are important in your poem and stress them, use variety in your delivery and pitch. Use a strong voice, speak with conviction, look your audience in the eye. When you finish your poem, let the audience know, stand back, say thanks or smile, do something to let them know you have finished. Don’t rush in to the next poem. That way the audience will know you have finished and then they know they can applaud. Let the applause stop before you start again.

They’ll love you.

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Jeff Price

Editor Zebra Publishing