Slam poetry, or performance poetry, is a primal literary art form, embraced by those seeking innovative expression and a platform for self-expression. It’s been around for centuries, and its popularity is growing. If you’re thinking about giving it a go, you’ve come to the right place. Slam poetry provides an accessible way to write and perform, and can be learned in a few straightforward steps.
Firstly, it’s important to understand the basics of slam poetry. It requires creating an emotionally resonant piece of work, written in an engaging, powerful and often playful manner to captivate an audience. It covers any and all topics, and is usually associated with themes of identity, love, loss, social injustice and more.
Once you’ve grasped the concept, it’s time to start writing. Building on the theme of your piece, create an entire narrative that’s both intellectually compelling and emotionally engaging. Incorporate emotions including empathy, understanding and even humour to make your work stand out. Still struggling? Re-energise yourself by looking up work from the greats like Sarah Kay, Rivuela del Sol, or the 2017 World Poetry Slam Champion, Raff Ikhili.
Once you have the written piece, the next step is to present it. Start by practising in front of a mirror, and then invite friends and family to watch you deliver it. Keep in mind that the content should remain consistent – if you’re rewriting a line midway through your piece it’s ok, as long as the change is seamless. Also work on projecting your voice to drive your point across.
It’s important to look the part too. Compare yourself to the greats, and think about how you can emulate them. For example, Sarah Kay often creates a complete package by wearing a trendy outfit and accessories that suit her signature style. Then, bear in mind that timing is crucial for performance poetry. This is because the ultimate goal is to create a captivating dialogue with your audience.
Slam poetry is a great way to get creative and build confidence. Don’t be afraid to challenge the boundaries of your writing, and to make yourself heard through powerful words in an engaging performance. Who knows, before you know it you could be a published poet on tour!
The Importance of Preparation
Preparation is key with slam poetry. Being well-prepared both mentally and physically is essential before you give any performance. It can be helpful to plan out your practice sessions, so that you are familiar with the movements that you want to make while reciting your poem. Preparing your clothing ahead of time can also help you to feel more relaxed and confident before going on stage. Find clothing that makes you feel comfortable and confident. It can also be beneficial to listen to other slam poetry recitals to familiarise yourself with the timing and flow of the poem.
When preparing for a recital, it is important to write your ideas down or record them on an audio device. This will allow you to go over your poem again and again until you are comfortable and familiar with it. Writing down ideas that come to your mind or building on previous ideas can also help to strengthen your performance.
Make time for yourself before the recital, be it by relaxing in a hot bath or by going for a walk in the park. Taking this time for yourself will help you to be physically and emotionally ready to take the stage and perform. The physical relaxation can also help you to stay grounded during the performance, allowing you to focus on each word and movement.
Make sure to arrive early, and come prepared with the equipment you need. It can be helpful to have a notebook with you, so that you can quickly jot down any new ideas that come to you before or during the performance. This can help you to be spontaneous and still have a structure for your piece.
The Role of Body Language and Movement
Body language and movement play an important role in slam poetry. The overall effect of the poem can be greatly enhanced by using strong, purposeful physical movements. Physical movements can range from soft gestures, such as tilting your head, to larger, more powerful movements such as stomping feet or clapping. Using the right movements in the right places can increase the impact and message of the poem.
Using movement in your piece can also help you to better engage with your audience. Movements will help to highlight your spoken words, and can also draw a common thread throughout the piece. Movements can also help to strengthen the emotion of the piece. For example, you can use a gentle hand wave to emphasize an emotional line or a wave to express joy. You can also use movements to break up the heavy lines of your poem, providing the audience with a break from the intense feeling of the poetry.
Using consistent body language is also important for the overall impact of your piece. This can include standing or sitting in the same way throughout the performance, or making consistent hand movements. Ultimately, the chosen body language and movements should serve to help strengthen and emphasize the words of your poem.
Adding Music and Artistic Elements
Adding music to your slam poetry performance can help to add more emotion to your piece. Music can be used as a bridge between two segments of the poem, helping to draw the piece together and give it a cohesive flow. Music is also useful for transitioning between emotions, and can help to set the tone for the rest of the performance.
You can also use artwork in your performance. Art is a powerful tool, and can provide an engaging visual element to your performance. Art can be used to convey a particular emotion or point, or to illustrate a specific idea. Art can be anything from paintings of landscapes to drawings of abstract shapes. Whatever you choose, make sure that it reflects the overall tone of your poem.
When deciding on how to use music and artwork in your piece, it’s important to remember that artistic elements should enhance the emotion of the poem, not detract from it. Ultimately, the goal is to create an engaging and meaningful performance that resonates with your audience.
The Power of Brevity
The power of brevity can be essential to a successful performance. Keeping a poem short and to the point can be the best way to ensure that the performance sticks in the minds of the audience. Short, sharp poems allow for audience engagement and leave a lasting impression on the audience. Since performance poetry is usually timed, a succinct performance can help you to make the best use of the time limit and be a clear player.
Brevity doesn’t mean that the performance should lack depth, however. Be sure to use strong, impactful words and phrases to make your work vivid and memorable. This allows you to keep your poems concise while still conveying your point. Keeping your performance succinct can also help you to move through the poem at the right pace and keep an audience’s attention.
When writing a piece for slam poetry, it can be helpful to decide on a length that you feel comfortable with. This can help to eliminate any unnecessary and repetitive words or phrases, and can also help to keep your poem within the time limit.
Embracing Opportunity
Opportunities for performing slam poetry are usually found at open mic nights, rap battles and other public events. Participating in these different events allows you to experience different audiences, and can be an invaluable way to build your confidence and improve your performance. Open mic nights are a great way to find your flow and build relationships with other performers. Taking part in rap battles also allows you to see how other performers word their pieces, and to learn from their techniques.
It is also important to consider entering competitions and other events to expand your portfolio and gain recognition for your work. Competitions can also help you to develop your skills, as well as allowing you to shine a spotlight on your performance.
Creating your own platform to perform slam poetry, such as on YouTube or other online streaming services, can also help you to reach a wider audience. Use social media to get your work out there, and to engage with other potential audience members and performers. By creating online platforms to reach as many people as possible, you can build a following and establish yourself as a performer.
Rewarding Yourself
Rewarding yourself is an important part of the process of creating slam poetry. When you have achieved a goal or finished a piece, it can be rewarding to take time for yourself. Celebrating small wins can help to keep you motivated and inspired throughout your creative journey.
Taking a break from writing and performing is essential to ensure that your work remains fresh and exciting. Whether you take a short break to rest your vocal chords or even a full month away from making any poetry, taking a break will ensure that you recharge and can perform your poem with the same energy and enthusiasm as when you first wrote it.
When you take time for yourself, you should also make sure to take the time to reflect. Reflecting on your work and performance can be a great way to learn and improve, as well as helping you to debug any potential errors that occur on stage.
Developing a Signature Style
To stand out in the slam poetry crowd you can create your own unique style. Developing a signature style can involve formulating a unique motif that you bring to every piece, such as choosing certain lines of structure or a certain type of flow. It may also involve creating your own set of movements that you use while performing, such as hand gestures or facial expressions.
Creating a signature style takes time and practice, and it is important to experiment and see what works for you. If you find yourself stuck in developing your own style, it can be a good idea to take inspiration from the poets you admire and to see how they create their own signature styles. With practice and dedication, you can be sure to develop a style that is unmistakably you.
Finding Your Voice
Finding your own poetic voice is essential in slam poetry. Your voice should reflect your views, values and emotions in a way that is both powerful and poignant. When writing a poem, it’s important to think about how it will appear when you perform it. Ensure that you stay true to yourself and your experiences, and use words and phrases that accurately convey your views.
When performing, aim to speak with an authenticity that resonates with your audience. This can involve making slight modifications to the words during the performance to better reflect your intent. You may also wish to pause between lines of your poem to further dramatise your words.
Experimenting with tone and vocal inflection are also important aspects of finding your own voice. Keeping your performance conversational and using different tones to highlight certain words can give greater emphasis to the meaning of your words and help to keep your audience captivated.
Embracing Mistakes
No performance will ever be perfect, so it is important to embrace mistakes and to learn from them. Mistakes are inevitable, but they can be turned into great learning experiences. It can be beneficial to reflect on what went wrong in order to identify areas that need improvement before your next performance. Mistakes can also help to make your poem more natural, and can even bring a sense of charm to your work.
It can be helpful to have people you trust around you during performances to provide feedback and point out any errors that you may have missed. Consulting with an experienced coach can be a great way to gain helpful insights and advice on your work.
Above all, embracing mistakes will ensure that you stay humble and remain motivated throughout your performance. Recognizing your mistakes and working to fix them is an important part of the learning and development process, and is essential in honing your skills as a slam poet.
