Okay, I got asked whether I got nervous when performing my poetry and the honest answer is that I don't really feel nerves any more unless I'm at a venue for the first time. Even then I've never much been ruled by nerves.

However, I got to thinking. Is being nervous good before performing. I know many people will try to use the nervous energy in their performance, I also know that some absolutely hate it.

So do you still get nervous?
Is it useful for you?

Er um ahhhh

I always feel nervous but I guess that is part of the buzz. I feel more relaxed on my home ground at the Tudor than I would in a bright art gallery or further afield with less familiar people.
I can't imagine that nerves add to a performance - someone shaking or looking uncomfortable, distracts from the poem. I wish I was less nervous - then I might be able to memorise my poems and not worry about forgetting the lines. Have only ever tried to do that once and it was disastrous!

Although I have never done a poetry performance, I do speak in front of groups of people.
I still get nervous, but have been able to use that energy to my advantage...
Sometimes it is quite surreal because I am talking, but I cannot hear myself make sense, yet I feel super confident... I glance out across the room to see the look on peoples faces, and if they are not looking back at me like I am crazy, then I know that I must have gotten my message across successfully : )

I think whether nervous or not, confidence is definitely the key ; )

I've spoken/performed to two kinds of audience, and have a different level of enjoyment.
I 'talk' occasionally to local history groups, about life in my local area. There are usually approx. 60 or 70 attending, and I have no real problem with nerves, and don't mind doing it. I admit to getting a small degree of enjoyment.

On the other front, I have now been 'performing' my poems since August last year, and get virtually no enjoyment from it.

I hear other people read, and see them get the buzz, but I just don't get it. I do get nervous, and it may be this that counteracts the enjoyment.

I am much more nervous reading a poem, probably because it's all my own words and feeling, whereas on the history front I am relating facts with my own twist.

I've sung and played guitar in front of many audiences and several times performed my own songs...always bloody terrifying. Only fun when it's finished. If it has gone down well then it's a blast, indifference is the worst.

Mind you, bad gigs have, retrospectively, given me the most pleasure in recall....'remember the night a dog wandered on stage and pissed up your amp right in the middle of your finger shredding, gurnfest of a solo?' Yup!

:)

Jx

It must depend at least partly on how much the reader has personally invested in the success of the performance - how much they are depending on the affirmation. To some people it really matters, so they get the nerves and highs and lows. For me, I know my stuff isn't great performance poetry (or great any sort of poetry) but getting up and reading is what one does to be part of a fascinating, rich human occasion, so I 'just do it'. It's the price of admission, it's what you do to be there, but I wouldn't feel dismayed if my stuff didn't go down well - it's just so interesting to be there, and poets are, on the whole, such interesting people, with compelling, quirky, surprising things to say.

Probably I'd perform better if I was nervous, because then I'd bother about technique, delivery etc.

But don't blame it on the good times?

:)

jx

I've never performed (except recording myself on 'ere) but have read my stuff out to people in writing groups. I think I would love it if I could remember to BREATH! The fear of hyperventilating, and that thumping heartbeat! Must keep reading those tips in our new newsletter thingy about performing! It is something I dearly want to do, if I can EVER find anywhere in my neck of the woods. Otherwise, I'll just have to buy an exceptionally exhorbitant train ticket and come up and see you all in the far north, and even join in!!!! xxxxxxxxx

I keep thinking about travelling too. Wigan is only an hour from my brother in Leeds, and Hebden Bridge is even closer....but I keep imagining I'd be duffed up by someone who hated one of my poems...or worse...my comments upon their poems, 'So..you're Johneeeeeeee...!'

(Cue, big stabbing motions)

I'm sure they are friendlier than that...but you never know.

:)

Jx

I'll have you know that we are very refined up here in Wigan. From what I have heard some of your venues down there can be rather rough. I remember someone telling us on WOL, that in Windsor or Henley or somewhere with a river, missiles were thrown at the poets. I've never known that happen at the Tudor - though there is always a first John...
Perhaps we should all get together at a London venue in the summer? I could dump the kids with a friend, or bring them with me to throw at people...
Food for thought - though it would take some organising.

sorry to interrupt the intellectual flow,but that picture of Paul Blackburn on home page?was he singing oh cum all ye faithful?

Stefan - you are on the wrong thread! We started considering that one on 'Users on line' oddly enough...
I do think Paul's photo would be an interesting one to have in features next month - you know the one where you get to write captions and poems about interesting photos. We could all think up interesting songs. You've already started the ball rolling Stefan...you naughty man - such an idea would never have entered my head but how about Ding Dong Merrily on High?

well I think Pauls photo is rather good although he is clearly in delivery mode as some of us would recognise!
Nerves, pertrified actually, and when I started to read my poems ( perform is a misnomer yet) I felt I had been pushed into it too early. However after 12 months of listening and watching I have recently improved and can now start to think about performance. So my advice is listen and watch carefully, decide which bits work for you. Dont let the idea of performing put you off going to listen. There's two aspects, the absolute delight of listening to other poets and the terrifying prospect of performing balanced by the pleasure of animating your words from the page, perhaps for the first time.

Isobel to pick up on the point you made about nerves adding to performance (or not as the case may be), I think that is the very reason I don't feel nerves. I use that nervous energy (by that I mean a restless feeling rather than shaking and stuttering) to keep my energy up.

As to learning the poems, well I think that comes with practise. I can say I "know" a good number of my poems, but unless I have read them a few times before an audience (or just other people) they aren't quite as easy to recall. It is certainly one of my next aims though. I mean if I can learn my part in the play I'm currently rehearsing (and a smattering of monologues) there is certainly no reason why I should be able to learn all of my own poems is there? I think I've just been too lazy up until now if I'm honest.