Tips and Advice for Reading your Poetry Aloud

So you’ve written your poem, now how about reading your poetry aloud. Whether you perform your poem for the first time in front of your class, school or strangers at an open mic event or poetry slam, these tips will help you make the best of your performance.

• Breathe and try to relax – this well help you calm down before reading your poetry.

• Every poet that reads in front of people for the first time feels a bit nervous, when you’re there you are in charge and nothing serious can go wrong.

• People at poetry slams or readings are there to support the poets. Remember this and you will feel more confident about reading your poetry.

• If you can learn your poem off by heart that is brilliant, however having a piece of paper or notebook with your work in is fine, though try not to hide behind these when reading your poetry.

• It’s better to get some eye contact with the audience. If you’re nervous find a friendly face to focus on.

• Try to read your poem slowly and clearly and enjoy your time in the spotlight.

• Don’t rush up to the microphone, make sure it’s at the right height for you and if you need it adjusted ask one of the team around you.

• Before you start, stand up as straight as you can and get your body as comfortable as you can and remember to hold your head up.

• The microphone can only amplify what what’s spoken into it; if you’re very loud you might end up deafening people and if you only whisper or stand too far away you won’t be heard when reading your poetry.

• When you say something before your read your poem, whether that’s hello or just the title of your poem try and have a listen to how loud you sound. If you’re too quiet move closer to the microphone, if you’re too loud move back a bit.

• Remember to breathe! Don’t try to read your poetry so quickly you can’t find time to catch your breath.

• And finally, enjoy!

If you would like the chance to read your poetry on stage in front of a live audience, enter Poetry Rivals 2011 and you could be one of the top 100 poets invited to the Poetry Rivals Slam.