Performing in front of a large group is one of those strange things that everyone wants to do but pretends they are scared to do.

Nervous is different, sure anyone who performs is nervous the question is how do you manifest it? These kids reading on Tuesday nights have it tough, if it goes well its a validation of all the work you do if not…you know what happens. If you go enough the readings become a part of your normal social structure so bombing is that much worse. Your now bombing in front of people who are friends/aquintances. Not everyone is used to that.

A lot of people bomb on a regular basis. I have seen it done many ways(done it in a few) and have come to have a list of favorites.

When a poet is on stage and they have worked out physical movements to go with the lines coming up that is a good thing. When executed naturally its fantastic. When the movements don’t fail but your mouth does its amazing. Your hands are going exactly where they are supposed too while your mouth is dribbling out “Shmush ba poopy ty!” Then you have to go back figure out A) what line you jacked up B) should you go back and re do that line or just keep going?

My second favorite is Ad libbing. You throw in a funny line that came to you or you restructure a sentence mid performance because your an artist damn it and this is your art. You can adjust on the fly! You end up so pleased with your ability to change something the audience doesnt care or know you changed that you flub up the rest of the piece. I Love doing this as much as I love seeing it done.

Outside interference is high up there. We have a man with tattoos on his face who stands very close to the stage and at times yells responses to lines he likes or doesnt like. That can mess up your flow. We have some folks who whenever a younger woman takes the stage their first thought is not, boy she looks young and scared i should be quiet so she can concentrate, its the opposite. They will yell right a she is about to begin creepy things like “YOUR SO BEAUTIFUL!!!” or “I’ll DRINK YOUR BATHWATER!!” “YOU REMIND ME OF MY JEEP!!!” ok i made the last two up, but we’re not that far away. Its a lighter way of shouting “I’d have sex with you!” before someone starts reading a deeply personal prose piece or poem. Its is unbelievably distracting and would be higher on my list if it wasnt a little offensive.

I only gave you three for now but its a conversation starter. If you need more then you can contact me and hash it out. My email is dano@portveritas.com I would love to compile a list from everyone who has performed and post that. Now that is a chain poem that would be fun.