Over the years, I have received several
emails from writers who want to become professional performance poets. I
wrote a short list of guidelines. I hope all who are interested find
this helpful!
Dear Aspiring Performance Poet,
Read
everything.
Read constantly.
Underline the lines you wish you wrote.
Find a circle of writers in your community that you admire and trust.
Meet with them regularly to recite what you've written.
Ask questions: What works? What could work?
Give feedback with an open mind.
Receive feedback with an open heart.
Go home and edit edit edit.
Observe
the world around you. Take notes.
See more than you speak.
Risk a theatre class and/or dance class.
Memorize what you can.
Rehearse
rehearse rehearse.
Go to as many open mics as you can.
Get so good that hosts invite you to feature.
Realize this might take years.
Practice patience. Don't give up.
Notice how your audience responds to your work.
Notice how your audience responds to other poets.
Learn from them. Love them.
Read these books, among others: Word Warriors: 35 Women Leaders
of the Spoken Word Revolution (edited Alix Olson) & Take the Mic: The Art of Performance Poetry, Slam & the
Spoken Word (by Marc Kelly Smith)
Show up for other traveling performing poets when they pass through your
town.
Bring friends.
Repeat repeat repeat.
Word Up,
Lenelle