Bright lights - open mike! Dammit!

[sandspike]

We were over on the island this past weekend, trying to educate folks that
it is the glow and not the fragrance that takes you back in time and brings your
ass back to the beach in the dead of winter. Someone, don't know who decided
to have a poetry hour at the Deepwater before the jam session. We hit the
beach after the festival and I killed several beers decided to go check the
poetry thing out. They had never had anything like this and I had never been
to anything like that, but it was cool. I got up on the stage looked out and
saw the lights ( they were fliming this thing) and couldn't find a face to speak
to. Ran through the only two things I could think of ( a "Keb'Mo' " thing and
a poem I did posted last week "Baby I'm With you"). My timing was off, but
I had the time of my life. If you ever get the the chance to show folks what you
got, do it. For the first time I wished I was from someplace where poets gather
and get it on. Oh yeah, nobody left while I was up there on the stage, then
I got a loud clap at the end, probably because I was walking off the stage.
Really felt good, I hope you all get the chance, if you want it. sandspike

 

[wildsweetone]

Sounds like you had a great time sandspike, well done!

Do you have an arts centre nearby?

 

[BooMerengue]

Good for you, BeachBoy! Not me though... not in a million years!! But I don't memorize my poems anyway. Do most of you?

 

[bogusbrig]

I've read at several events at the open mic. spot, never been a named poet on the bill though. I'm lucky in so far that some of my poems lend themselves to being read aloud while some of the other poets were reading poems that were meant to be read from the page by the reader. I realised the first time I read live that performing is a very different thing from writing and some good poets can die in front of an audience, never to be read by them again. I don't remember my poems by heart. The ones I read tend to be too long and I need the poems written down for prompts.

There is a documemtary that was made about a big poetry reading in The Royal Albert Hall in London in '68 (I think). Ginsberg was the star poet on the bill. The event made Adrian Mitchell's reputation (If you don't know jhim, read him) because of his performance and he readily admits a better poet than him killed his career that day with a bad performance. (Can't remeber the name of the poet who died.)

 

[Angeline]

Good work Spikey! I've done some readings, but not for a long time. I'm gonna though. If they don't listen, I'll slap em. Poetically.

 

[sandspike]

Sounds like you had a great time sandspike, well done!

Do you have an arts centre nearby?

Where I'm from the arts center is full of pictures not words.

 

[annaswirls]

Where I'm from the arts center is full of pictures not words.

Congrats Sandy! I am sure you can find something going on where you live. If not, start it up. I have been reading on Monday nights at a coffee bar -- they have open mic, a featured poet (dayum! they get good ones!) and then a slam! competition.

I read babes in boyland and clone, went okay. They really liked my Doggie Style one about the animals in the zoo that get ahold of a sex manual

But you are right, Bogus, about readings making or breaking a poet. I am trying to improve, but it is not easy to let go and really get into it. Also, as you said, some poems are not meant for reading!

The featured poet did a combination of song, performance poetry and straight read. I think that is the way to go. Keep people's attention.

Congrats and good luck!

J

 

[The_Fool]

I'm still trying to get over the trauma of my first audio poem...

 

[Maria2394]

thats terrific, Sandspike!! youre braver than I will ever be. Let me know if you ever get a set place to do this and I will try to come see ya, only about 3 hours from the beach