Section 14: Recitation

Performance of poetry, either as spoken word recitation or as a song, can be great learning tools for any poet interested in sharing poems or communicating a message to others. The tips in this section cover three areas: writing for performance, preparing for performance, and performing poetry.

207.	Remember Speech 101?
208.	Write to enhance interactivity.
209.	Write in such a way that another could perform your work.
210.	Write it out loud.
211.	Learn to compose extemporaneously.
212.	Start small.
213.	Unless you have a reason, avoid singsong.
214.	Rewrite your poem as paragraphs.
215.	Watch and listen to others as they perform poetry.
216.	Use voice dynamics to create an atmosphere.
217.	Consider voice training.
218.	Create a persona or image.
219.	Pay attention to the audience.
220.	Think of your performance as a conversation with the audience.
221.	Perform as much as you can and analyze what works.
222.	Find ways of using other people’s audiences.
223.	It’s easier to make 100 people laugh than six.
224.	Audiences are more real than other poets.
225.	Use the Folk Process
226.	For international performances, consider translation.
227.	Memorize it!
228.	Prepare the interstices, too.
229.	Slow down.
230.	Beware of TMI Syndrome.
231.	Take an acting class.
232.	Join an improv group.
233.	Plan your sets.