Chances are you’ve walked by your local coffee shop or neighborhood bar and seen a crowd of people listening to a poet reading his or her work. Usually free or requiring a small cover charge, open mic (short for “microphone”) readings are for anyone who wants to read their poetry in a public venue. Sometimes open mic nights have a featured reader or writing workshop, but generally there is a sign-up sheet for anyone interested. Each poet is called to step up to the microphone and read a poem or two.
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It might sound daunting, but participating in an open mic reading can be a lot of fun. Some people attend just to listen, others to try out a new poem for an audience, and still others stop by to see if any crazy hijinks will ensue during the reading. It’s a great way to meet other writers in your area and find out about your local writing community. Check your local newspaper or library, ask at your local coffee house, or find a writers’ group in your area for information. You can also look for events on the Academy’s National Events Calendar and National Poetry Map. Even if you drop in just to listen, open mic nights are a great way to celebrate poetry all year long.
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*Here are some general public speaking tips to get you started:
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DO keep it short. If you see the MC tapping their watch or looking desperate, finish your poem and exit the stage gracefully.
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DO try to eliminate filler from your speech, as in “um, uh, well, yeah” and do speak clearly into the microphone. (If there is no microphone and you feel uncomfortable speaking loudly, clear diction will help your voice carry.)
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DO look at the audience when you can. Eye contact will always energize a performance. DO relax and have a good time! If you look comfortable in front of a crowd, the crowd will feel comfortable looking at you.
Source: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/5621
Open mic nights aren’t just for music; many amateur and professional poets attend open mic nights to test out new material and develop their reading style. They’re a great way to get an objective reaction to your work, and to steel up nerves for more organized readings.
If you’re a poet, here are a few tips for making your first open mic night performance successful.
1. Have a printed copy of the poem you’re reading. Pencil doesn’t reflect well in stage light, and ink can run. Bringing a legible, printed copy of your poem is always a good idea, as it lowers the chances of any sort of embarrassing mistake. If you can use thicker paper, that’s a good idea, too, as you can hold thicker paper easily without worrying about it buckling in the middle. If you don’t have access to a printer, go to a copy store and make a copy of your written poem on high contrast; it’ll function just as well.
2. Memorize as much as you can. This will give you more freedom in the interpretation, and most importantly it will allow you to use your eyes to connect with audience members, see your environment, and find new ways to develop your performance. It may be impossible to memorize your entire poem, but even learning the first words of every few stanzas will greatly improve your performances and make you appear more natural, especially relative to the other poets at the open mic night.
3. Use your hands. A large percentage of human communication is nonverbal, and the point of a live poetry reading is to bring something to the table that normal, read poetry could not, so try using your hands and the rest of your body to convey the images and ideas in your poetry. Again, this is easier to do if prior to the open mic night you’ve already memorized some part of the poem or poems that you’re performing.
4. Don’t be shy about getting emotional. Live poetry is only interesting when it’s wild, bold, and unpredictable. You’re doing a disservice to your poetry and your audience by providing anything less than a riveting experience, so really get into the poem that you’re reading. Remember, though, that it is an open mic night, and pay attention to time rules and restraints. Whatever you do, don’t feel ashamed about your poetry–it’s supposed to be big, emotional, and reckless, and you should be proud if you accomplish that end.
Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com
