Performance Poetry

I learnt a lot about public presentation through time spent as the front man in several bands that toured during the 70s, 80s and 90s (the image left is me playing at a gig sometime in 1982). Later I learnt more about public speaking through my teaching career, and latterly as a professional speaker on the keynote circuit. I managed to clock up tens of thousands of miles a year as an invited speaker at large events around the world, taking in more than 45 countries. 

There are some key things to remember when you speak or present publicly. It's all based on performance to, and connection with your audience. The same principles apply to poetry performance as they do the playing music or public speaking. 

Here are just a few of the things I learnt:

1) Take your time, don't rush, don't speak too quickly. Do some deep breathing before you start. It lowers your voice and steadies it. 

2) Your audience largely wants you to succeed. Most of them are on your side. The ones that aren't don't actually matter.

3) Start with some humour. Get the audience smiling or laughing. It will lighten the atmosphere.

4) Speak clearly - use pauses - and maintain eye contact with your audience. If there are a lot, then you may need to scan around more, but if you do so, each member of that crowd with think you are speaking to them directly.

5) If it goes wrong. Start again. Make a joke out of it. Use the moment to regroup and ... go again.

6) If someone is stupid enough to heckle you, remember.... you have the stage. You may also have the microphone. Which is more that they have. You can either talk over them until they shut up, or you can wait until they say something that actually makes them look foolish. Then, if you are brutal enough... you can turn it against them. 

7) Finally, don't just read blandly your poem. You have an audience! Perform it to them. Use all your emotion and energy to convey the meaning of your poem to them. People will appreciate it. 

I hope these have helped a little for those doing any live performances of their poetry. Remember, the poetry - if it's good enough - will speak for itself. You will merely be the vehicle in which it arrives.