Requirements for a Spoken Poetry Performance
A spoken poetry performance is a powerful and mesmerizing experience, whether it be performed in front of a small, intimate audience or a large gathering. The power of spoken word lies in its ability to connect with people on an emotional level—and to do this requires some specific requirements.
Before you can start practicing and preparing for a spoken poetry performance, you will need to consider the following:
Understand Intention
Before you can deliver an emotionally-charged performance, you need to have a clear understanding of the message that is being portrayed. A poem, like any other form of artistic expression, is often based on events from the poet’s personal life, and contains some kind of purpose or message. It is important to understand what this message is, and how you can best translate it for the audience.
Learn the Poem
Once you are familiar with the poem’s intention, it is essential to learn it. Depending on its length and complexity, you may need to read it out loud several times, or even memorize it in order to properly express it. It is often helpful to break the poem down into sections and to practice it one section at a time.
Convey the Emotion
To make the poem as impactful as possible, it’s important to focus on the emotion that is being conveyed. When delivering a poem, the listener should almost feel like they are inside the poet’s head, walking with them through the experiences that are being described. To achieve this, be sure to focus on subtleties like pauses and use of language.
Repertory of Gestures and Expressions
Body language is a powerful tool when delivering a spoken poem. Knowing which gestures, facial expressions, and other body movements can best emphasize the poem’s meaning will help bring the words to life.
Setting the Right Environment
The atmosphere of the performance is just as important as the performance itself. Having the right atmosphere can make all the difference in how deeply your audience absorbs the poem. Ensuring that the audience is in the right atmosphere and mindset to listen to the spoken poem can help to heighten the overall experience.
Choose a Suitable Venue
Choosing the right venue is essential; the atmosphere of the venue should not just be fitting in terms of space, but should also be appropriate for the poem being performed. Consider the style of the poem; a comedic performance may call for a more relaxed venue than a serious, somber one.
Choose a Comfortable Position
The position that you choose to stand in is important; it should be comfortable to avoid distracting the audience, while at the same time offering you enough movement and freedom to be able to perform with confidence.
Choose an Appropriate Audience
The size of the audience is important; if the audience is too small it can be daunting, and if it is too big it can leave a performer feeling overwhelmed. Choose an audience that is large enough to give you enough energy, but small enough for all to be able to listen and appreciate the poem.
Practicing for the Performance
While the essential performance requirements and the setting of the event are essential for a successful spoken poem performance, the most significant part of preparation lies in the practice. The following tips will help you to make sure you feel fully prepared before you take to the stage.
Identify Causes of Nervousness
It is common to experience anxiety before a performance. The best way to deal with this is to identify what is causing the nervousness, and then to address it. If the fear is of being judged, remind yourself that everyone in the audience is there to support you and is interested in what you have to say.
Practice with Friends and Family
Practicing with friends and family is a great way to get used to the idea of performing in front of an audience. Ask your family and friends to give you constructive feedback that you can use to hone your performance.
Record and Listen to Yourself
Recording your practice sessions and then listening back to them can give you a better understanding of how your poem is being delivered and where you need to make adjustments. Creating recordings of yourself can also help boost your confidence, as it will allow you to hear how you sound from the perspective of the audience.
Utilizing Voice and Speech Patterns
The power of the spoken word lies in the quality of the voice, so it is essential to make sure that your voice is strong and steady. Here are some tips for achieving this.
Vary Pitches and Intonations
Using different pitches and intonations when delivering a poem can bring its narrative to life, and also make it sound more interesting. It is important to try to find the natural rhythm of the poem, and then speak it in a way that captures this rhythm.
Project Your Voice
If you’re performing in front of a large audience, it is essential to be able to project your voice. This is partly achieved by some basic planning; if the venue is large, consider whether you need a microphone to help boost your performance.
Use Your Breath
Your breath is the most important tool when it comes to delivering a spoken poem; breathing deeply will help you to maintain your composure, while also providing you with the necessary energy to ensure your performance is engaging. Pausing to take a breath at the right moments will add emphasis and drama to your performance.
Using Movement and Gestures
Using movement is another way to add an extra dimension to a spoken poem performance. Here are some tips on using movement to add to your performance.
Know the Poem
Before utilizing movement in your performance, you need to spend time getting familiar with the poem. Movement will only be effective if it is in synch with the words of the poem and changes as the meaning does.
Focus on the Meaning
When movements are done mindlessly, they can distract from the meaning of the poem and take away from the performance. When considering which movements to use, make sure that they correspond with the poem’s meaning.
Adding Emphasis
The right movements can help to emphasize certain elements of the poem. However, it is important to be aware of overdoing the movements; too much movement can be distracting, so be sure to use it sparingly.
Using Props and Costumes
Using props and costumes can also add to a spoken poetry performance, but they should be used thoughtfully and appropriately.
Know the Theme
When selecting props and costumes, you should consider the theme or atmosphere of the poem. For example, if the poem is about nature then integrating plants or flowers into the performance could help to accentuate the atmosphere.
Costumes and Props Should Enhance the Poem
Prop and costume pieces should be used to enhance the poem and aid in storytelling. When using props and costumes, make sure that they are in keeping with the narrative of the poem.
Think About Unique Ideas
Prop and costume pieces do not necessarily need to be a literal interpretation of the poem, but rather should be used to create a unique, visual interpretation of the poem. Think of any unusual ideas that can help to bring the poem to life and make it more interesting.
