Open mic poetry readings are meant to showcase a wide range of talent and styles of poetry. Most have some rules and guidelines, and these are available ahead of time. Our open mic on August 22 at PJs Coffee (7:30-10:00pm) on the historic square in El Dorado, Arkansas is just such an event. We're calling it "Espresso Yourself!". Here are a few general points to help you be successful at the open mic.
1. Don't be an air raid siren. In other words, if the microphone is on a stand, don't move your head back and forth when reciting or reading, occasionally talking directly into the mic. If you are a constant head mover, hold the mic and keep it near your mouth. Everyone wants to hear you.
2. Don't tell your poem's life story from inspiration to 33rd draft before reading it. For one thing, it will lose your audience. For another, it will use ALL your time slot, and they will not hear your poem. Our time limit is officially 4 minutes a read, and I'll give a LITTLE leeway unless it is abused. 5 minutes at the mic is grounds for unplugging. If your poem is short, consider reading 2, as long as you can still remain within the time limit. This shows you have respect for the others waiting their turn and the hosts.
3. Don't stumble and stutter and ask to start over. Know your poems well enough to make a clean read the first time. This requires a little practice AHEAD of time, preferably while timing yourself.
A small mistake when reading is no great crime. Even the best do it now and then.
4. Don't be distracting to other readers when you are in the audience. This means set your cell phone to vibrate or stun or tickle. This also means don't be talking loudly during their readings. You ALWAYS have permission and are even ENCOURAGED to get up quietly and go to the counter and order food or drink from the great folks at PJS.
5. Don't be afraid to express yourself. See your poem. Be your poem. Give it all you've got, Scottie! The only person who can perform YOUR poem the way YOU mean it to be performed is YOU.
Guidelines and suggestions are available at PJs, Barton Library, and on the South Arkansas Poets of the Pines Facebook page. Please take time to read them before the show.
As a special treat, I am planning a surprise guest performance at 7:30pm before the reading, so show up early and stay late. As soon as I get confirmation, I'll release the identity of our special musical guest.
Live. Love. Laugh. Write (and read) Poetry.
Friday, August 8, 2014
Sunday, August 3, 2014
How to WOW them at an Open Mic
The Hot spot to be this month for poetry is at PJs Coffee on the square in El Dorado, AR. On August 22 from 8pm-10pm, Chris and Angela and the South Arkansas Poets of the Pines present their Summer Spectacular Open Mic Night. For those who remember our last one, you know you'll hear some great poetry while enjoying the best coffee, drinks and eats in the area. The atmosphere is relaxed, and it's a great way to celebrate the Dog days of summer. Bring poems, bring friends, bring money to purchase goodies and drinks, and prepare for a passel of poetry.
For those of you who have never read at an open mic, or who need some reassurance, I am going to present over the next few days a short seminar on the tricks of the trade. I'll be doing this on this blog, which had been dormant for a while, but which will (hopefully) be a regular thing again.
Open mics are a chance to strut your stuff, to make an impression, to really shine. Proper preparation will ensure you not only enjoy your moment in the spotlight, but that the audience will want more from you. Here are a few Prep-steps for an open mic session:
1. Pick poems which will grab the attention and interest of general audiences. Shorter to medium-length poems go over better, and ensure you won't run over your allotted time and draw the dreaded hook from the timekeeper. Epic poetry is best read at home in your easy chair with a cat or small dog in your lap.
Also, try not to pick poems you wrote as memorials to loved ones who have gone on. It puts a damper on things when you can't finish your poem without sobbing and asking for a moment to compose yourself. These poems, too have a proper place, but it is usually not at an open mic.
2. Practice reading your selections at home aloud. Make sure the poem is a smooth read. If there are stumbling blocks, remove them or choose another poem. Practice until you are comfortable with the poem, comfortable with your reading voice, and familiar enough with the wording that you can make some eye contact with the audience. Time yourself, so that you know you can finish in the allotted time or less. No emcee wants to have to stop a poet before the poem is finished, but with time constraints and to be considerate to all who wish to read, some limits have to be enforced.
3. Print out your poem(s) in a large enough font that you can read them easily, even if the lighting isn't perfect. Don't trust your memory so totally that you think you can recite your poem without a little reminder on paper once in a while.
4. Arrive early, sign up, notice where your spot on the program is, and BE READY when called. Again, time is limited at most open mic readings, and other poets are in line behind you. A smooth flow is important in order to accommodate as many poets and poems as possible.
5. Bring more poems than you think you need. Sometimes, fewer poets sign up than expected. You may get to read several times. Be prepared.
6. Don't be nervous. This is a room full of poets and lovers of poetry (and maybe a few stray tourists or locals who don't realize they are attending a poetry reading). No one in the audience will be wishing you harm or hoping you mess up. Be your poem. See your poem. Read your poem like you want it to be heard. It's up to you. You can do this.
Next installment: What Not To Do, and Why.
Guidelines for PJs/Poets of the Pines Open Mic August 22 can be found on the Facebook page of South Arkansas Poets of the Pines and at PJs Coffee and Barton Library.
See you on the Square!
For those of you who have never read at an open mic, or who need some reassurance, I am going to present over the next few days a short seminar on the tricks of the trade. I'll be doing this on this blog, which had been dormant for a while, but which will (hopefully) be a regular thing again.
Open mics are a chance to strut your stuff, to make an impression, to really shine. Proper preparation will ensure you not only enjoy your moment in the spotlight, but that the audience will want more from you. Here are a few Prep-steps for an open mic session:
1. Pick poems which will grab the attention and interest of general audiences. Shorter to medium-length poems go over better, and ensure you won't run over your allotted time and draw the dreaded hook from the timekeeper. Epic poetry is best read at home in your easy chair with a cat or small dog in your lap.
Also, try not to pick poems you wrote as memorials to loved ones who have gone on. It puts a damper on things when you can't finish your poem without sobbing and asking for a moment to compose yourself. These poems, too have a proper place, but it is usually not at an open mic.
2. Practice reading your selections at home aloud. Make sure the poem is a smooth read. If there are stumbling blocks, remove them or choose another poem. Practice until you are comfortable with the poem, comfortable with your reading voice, and familiar enough with the wording that you can make some eye contact with the audience. Time yourself, so that you know you can finish in the allotted time or less. No emcee wants to have to stop a poet before the poem is finished, but with time constraints and to be considerate to all who wish to read, some limits have to be enforced.
3. Print out your poem(s) in a large enough font that you can read them easily, even if the lighting isn't perfect. Don't trust your memory so totally that you think you can recite your poem without a little reminder on paper once in a while.
4. Arrive early, sign up, notice where your spot on the program is, and BE READY when called. Again, time is limited at most open mic readings, and other poets are in line behind you. A smooth flow is important in order to accommodate as many poets and poems as possible.
5. Bring more poems than you think you need. Sometimes, fewer poets sign up than expected. You may get to read several times. Be prepared.
6. Don't be nervous. This is a room full of poets and lovers of poetry (and maybe a few stray tourists or locals who don't realize they are attending a poetry reading). No one in the audience will be wishing you harm or hoping you mess up. Be your poem. See your poem. Read your poem like you want it to be heard. It's up to you. You can do this.
Next installment: What Not To Do, and Why.
Guidelines for PJs/Poets of the Pines Open Mic August 22 can be found on the Facebook page of South Arkansas Poets of the Pines and at PJs Coffee and Barton Library.
See you on the Square!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Summertime Blues? No Way!
I've heard so many folks complain about the summers down here in Equatorial South Arkansas--
the heat, the humidity, the mosquitoes, the heat, the drought, the heat... It's enough to make you want to wear earplugs, for gosh sakes. When I was in school (shortly after the dinosaurs died off), summer was the second best time of year, behind only Christmas. It was a time of endless lazy days full of adventures just waiting to be had. The whole world was in your young hands to do with as we pleased.
As I've gotten older, and marginally more mature, I find that several things seem to anchor down my pirate ship ready to sail the oceans of summer. Work, responsibilities, family, bills, committments all fill up slots in the schedule, leaving little room for unfettered adventures. But then, I remember something someone very wise once told me: If you can't find time to have some fun, try ignoring something else for a while and grab some gusto. Do the dishes really have to be done right now? Does the laundry have to be washed immediately? Can your grass wait one more hour to be mowed?
The only thing in our lives we can really spend well is time. Money buys us luxuries and necessities, but in time, they all wear out or are gone. Time well spent leaves lasting memories and unfading smiles. Take a little time each day (who knows how many we have?) to walk in the woods, to watch butterflies in a field, to float on a pond, to play with a puppy. Take your kids to a park, plant a tree or some flowers, visit a museum, call up a friend to just chat. Take your Mom or Dad to lunch, write a poem, have a picnic. The list is virtually infinite.
Summertime is still the grand old dame of our lives, no matter how old we are. The whole outdoors beckons us. Listen. Then do.
the heat, the humidity, the mosquitoes, the heat, the drought, the heat... It's enough to make you want to wear earplugs, for gosh sakes. When I was in school (shortly after the dinosaurs died off), summer was the second best time of year, behind only Christmas. It was a time of endless lazy days full of adventures just waiting to be had. The whole world was in your young hands to do with as we pleased.
As I've gotten older, and marginally more mature, I find that several things seem to anchor down my pirate ship ready to sail the oceans of summer. Work, responsibilities, family, bills, committments all fill up slots in the schedule, leaving little room for unfettered adventures. But then, I remember something someone very wise once told me: If you can't find time to have some fun, try ignoring something else for a while and grab some gusto. Do the dishes really have to be done right now? Does the laundry have to be washed immediately? Can your grass wait one more hour to be mowed?
The only thing in our lives we can really spend well is time. Money buys us luxuries and necessities, but in time, they all wear out or are gone. Time well spent leaves lasting memories and unfading smiles. Take a little time each day (who knows how many we have?) to walk in the woods, to watch butterflies in a field, to float on a pond, to play with a puppy. Take your kids to a park, plant a tree or some flowers, visit a museum, call up a friend to just chat. Take your Mom or Dad to lunch, write a poem, have a picnic. The list is virtually infinite.
Summertime is still the grand old dame of our lives, no matter how old we are. The whole outdoors beckons us. Listen. Then do.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Poetry and Art a Collaboration
The South Arkansas Arts Center and the South Arkansas Poets of the Pines are once again joining forces to present a collaborative performance on Saturday, August 28th from 6-8PM. An artists' reception will be held for some of the artists whose works are featured in the current exhibit "Collaboration" from the famed Garbo Hearnes collection. The poets have written ekphrastic works, or poetry inspired by artworks, to accompany many of the pieces, and will be reading these poems in the gallery next to each artwork.
The stage reading on the 14th was a huge success, and you don't want to miss this encore performance by some very talented poets. The art is magnificent, as well, and you will be glad you came. Admission is free, but the experience is priceless.
As one audience member said after the stage performance, "It gives a whole new depth and voice to the art. It makes you not only see and hear the work, but feel it as well."
I hope to see you at the Arts center in El Dorado on the 28th. If you need directions, e-mail me at jbob214@yahoo.com or call me at 870-943-2258. Thanks for your support.
The stage reading on the 14th was a huge success, and you don't want to miss this encore performance by some very talented poets. The art is magnificent, as well, and you will be glad you came. Admission is free, but the experience is priceless.
As one audience member said after the stage performance, "It gives a whole new depth and voice to the art. It makes you not only see and hear the work, but feel it as well."
I hope to see you at the Arts center in El Dorado on the 28th. If you need directions, e-mail me at jbob214@yahoo.com or call me at 870-943-2258. Thanks for your support.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
How Do I Know My Poem (or story or essay) Is Ready To Share?
One of the most common mistakes writers, especially newer writers, make is to send out their work before it is ready. How do you know when your piece is ready to send out into the cold, cruel world of publishers, editors, contest judges and critics? Let's look at a few things that should tell you "WAIT!! Don't send this out yet!"
1) Your manuscript is riddled with typos, misspelled words, poor punctuation, etc. I'm amazed at how many intelligent writers send out their work without properly proofreading it. Spellcheck is not a proper proofreader. One set of eyes (your own) is not enough proofreading unless it is a very short piece such as a haiku. Always send it around to a qualified friend or acquaintance for proofreading only. You'd be surprised how many mistakes slip past your own eyes.
2) You haven't followed the guidelines EXACTLY. Judges tell me that the number one reason they reject poems in contests is failure to follow the rules. If the guidelines state "ten syllables per line", don't try to sneak in eleven. If the rules say "Put name on only one copy in upper right corner", don't autograph it at the bottom of each page. Ignorance of the rules is no excuse. The guidelines for any contest, magazine, publisher, etc. are readily available. Read them and stick to them religiously.
3) You have not researched your market. I don't care if you just wrote the greatest romance man or woman has ever seen, Scientific American is NOT going to buy it. Neither is a Shakespearean sonnet going to win a free verse contest. It is up to you to do the research, know your market, then target the proper one(s).
So, how then do you know your literary masterpiece is ripe and ready to sell on the open market? You must write, rewrite, edit, share, correct, tinker and rewrite again. Critique groups are an invaluable tool for writers. Qualified, caring writers in your genre are unbeatable when it comes to improving your work. If you fancy yourself a playwright, join a group of playwrights and stay in touch via e-mail, snail mail, Facebook, Twitter, phone, or even (OhMy!) face-to-face. The same goes for poets, fiction writers, essayists, and so on.
Reading your work out loud is a great tool for locating rough spots in the text, stumbling points in your poem, rough edges on your memoir. Hearing it read by someone else is also a wonderful way to pick up on those troublesome weak spots.
Most importantly, for any type of writing, you must suck it up and just sit down (or stand if you prefer) and WRITE. Write regularly. Write often. Write mentally, write physically. Phil Mickelson did not win the Masters by playing a round of golf at his local country club once a month. Take your writing seriously, or you won't be taken seriously.
If you can't find the time to write, MAKE the time to write. Try using writing as an excuse NOT to do something else for a change (like doing those troublesome dirty dishes).
Until next post, stay cool, stay safe, and stay at your writing desk just a few more minutes each day.
1) Your manuscript is riddled with typos, misspelled words, poor punctuation, etc. I'm amazed at how many intelligent writers send out their work without properly proofreading it. Spellcheck is not a proper proofreader. One set of eyes (your own) is not enough proofreading unless it is a very short piece such as a haiku. Always send it around to a qualified friend or acquaintance for proofreading only. You'd be surprised how many mistakes slip past your own eyes.
2) You haven't followed the guidelines EXACTLY. Judges tell me that the number one reason they reject poems in contests is failure to follow the rules. If the guidelines state "ten syllables per line", don't try to sneak in eleven. If the rules say "Put name on only one copy in upper right corner", don't autograph it at the bottom of each page. Ignorance of the rules is no excuse. The guidelines for any contest, magazine, publisher, etc. are readily available. Read them and stick to them religiously.
3) You have not researched your market. I don't care if you just wrote the greatest romance man or woman has ever seen, Scientific American is NOT going to buy it. Neither is a Shakespearean sonnet going to win a free verse contest. It is up to you to do the research, know your market, then target the proper one(s).
So, how then do you know your literary masterpiece is ripe and ready to sell on the open market? You must write, rewrite, edit, share, correct, tinker and rewrite again. Critique groups are an invaluable tool for writers. Qualified, caring writers in your genre are unbeatable when it comes to improving your work. If you fancy yourself a playwright, join a group of playwrights and stay in touch via e-mail, snail mail, Facebook, Twitter, phone, or even (OhMy!) face-to-face. The same goes for poets, fiction writers, essayists, and so on.
Reading your work out loud is a great tool for locating rough spots in the text, stumbling points in your poem, rough edges on your memoir. Hearing it read by someone else is also a wonderful way to pick up on those troublesome weak spots.
Most importantly, for any type of writing, you must suck it up and just sit down (or stand if you prefer) and WRITE. Write regularly. Write often. Write mentally, write physically. Phil Mickelson did not win the Masters by playing a round of golf at his local country club once a month. Take your writing seriously, or you won't be taken seriously.
If you can't find the time to write, MAKE the time to write. Try using writing as an excuse NOT to do something else for a change (like doing those troublesome dirty dishes).
Until next post, stay cool, stay safe, and stay at your writing desk just a few more minutes each day.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Contests, contests, contests!!!!
This time of year, I am busily preparing entries for a myriad of contests around the country. Some are poetry only, others include fiction and nonfiction. As a general rule, I try to hit contests that provide the most bang for my buck, since I am not among the one percent of writers lucky and good enough to earn a living from slinging ink. I look for contests that offer several categories for one low fee, or a low fee per entry in each. Contests that award only one prize are generally a waste of time, and contests that have no entry fee, though inviting, usually receive ten blue-zillion entries, drastically reducing your chances of winning. So, what are the contests I enter?
Most of the state poetry societies run good contests at a cheap price. I usually try to enter a good number of them. Some writers' organizations run contests that offer all types of writing awards, such as the Springfield Writers' Guild from Missouri, Saturday Writers, also from Missouri, and The Write Helper online. I enter several sets of convention/conference contests, as well. White County (Ark.) Creative Writers Conference in September, Maumelle (Ark.) Writers' Conference in November, and Ozark (Ark./Mo.) Writers Conference in October are all good ones.
In order to be a good contester, you simply MUST be ORGANIZED! No excuses. Buy a large wall calendar from Office Depot or WalMart with big squares for the dates and write your deadlines in ahead of time. Mark a reminder at least a week before the deadline to spark your steel-trap memory. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST DAY TO GET YOUR MANUSCRIPT(S) READY TO MAIL. You will pull out any hair you may have left, and you very possibly will fail to follow EXACTLY the guidelines for entries if you try to rush.
Make sure you have proper sized manuscript envelopes so the judges don't have to iron out your pages to get rid of the curls. Most judges won't do it. They'll simply relegate your unprofessional papers to the trash pile. They have too many other entries that are neat and mailed in proper envelopes to worry about entries jammed in too small envelopes.
Whatever you decide to enter, treat it as an audition of your talents and skills as a professional writer. Send only your best.
Next time, "How do I know my poem or story or essay is ready to enter a contest?"
Most of the state poetry societies run good contests at a cheap price. I usually try to enter a good number of them. Some writers' organizations run contests that offer all types of writing awards, such as the Springfield Writers' Guild from Missouri, Saturday Writers, also from Missouri, and The Write Helper online. I enter several sets of convention/conference contests, as well. White County (Ark.) Creative Writers Conference in September, Maumelle (Ark.) Writers' Conference in November, and Ozark (Ark./Mo.) Writers Conference in October are all good ones.
In order to be a good contester, you simply MUST be ORGANIZED! No excuses. Buy a large wall calendar from Office Depot or WalMart with big squares for the dates and write your deadlines in ahead of time. Mark a reminder at least a week before the deadline to spark your steel-trap memory. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST DAY TO GET YOUR MANUSCRIPT(S) READY TO MAIL. You will pull out any hair you may have left, and you very possibly will fail to follow EXACTLY the guidelines for entries if you try to rush.
Make sure you have proper sized manuscript envelopes so the judges don't have to iron out your pages to get rid of the curls. Most judges won't do it. They'll simply relegate your unprofessional papers to the trash pile. They have too many other entries that are neat and mailed in proper envelopes to worry about entries jammed in too small envelopes.
Whatever you decide to enter, treat it as an audition of your talents and skills as a professional writer. Send only your best.
Next time, "How do I know my poem or story or essay is ready to enter a contest?"
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
The Write Time of Year
The year is half over, or is there half of it left? This time of year always gets me thinking about how much (or how little) I have accomplished in my writing. I have just finished the Arkansas Writers' Conference, but there are plenty more highlights left in our area this year.
September 4 at Searcy is the White County Creative Writers' Conference, always a wonderful learning experience. It is held at Harding and several contests are involved. Go to www.whitecountycreativewriters.org for information.
October features the Ozark Creative Writers Conference at Eureka Springs. One of my favorite Western authors, Johnny Boggs will be there this year. Contests galore at this one, too. Visit www.ozarkcreativewriters.org for further info.
November 6, the Maumelle Writers' Conference will be held at the Jess Odom Community Center in Maumelle. Contests and great speakers are featured. See details at www.maumellewritersconference.com
Besides these wonderful opportunities, there is Poetry Day in Hot Springs October 15-16 at the Comfort Inn on Central Ave. I'll be speaking there this year. My calendar is full of conferences and contests for the rest of the year, plus my duties with my two writers' groups in El Dorado, plus my writing and book readings/signings, and this little ol' blog. Ahhhhh, it's great to be a writer and busy with writerly things...
I encourage each of you to schedule several conferences, seminars, readings, writers' meetings for the latter half of this year. Finish up with a bang!
Write on, folks!
September 4 at Searcy is the White County Creative Writers' Conference, always a wonderful learning experience. It is held at Harding and several contests are involved. Go to www.whitecountycreativewriters.org for information.
October features the Ozark Creative Writers Conference at Eureka Springs. One of my favorite Western authors, Johnny Boggs will be there this year. Contests galore at this one, too. Visit www.ozarkcreativewriters.org for further info.
November 6, the Maumelle Writers' Conference will be held at the Jess Odom Community Center in Maumelle. Contests and great speakers are featured. See details at www.maumellewritersconference.com
Besides these wonderful opportunities, there is Poetry Day in Hot Springs October 15-16 at the Comfort Inn on Central Ave. I'll be speaking there this year. My calendar is full of conferences and contests for the rest of the year, plus my duties with my two writers' groups in El Dorado, plus my writing and book readings/signings, and this little ol' blog. Ahhhhh, it's great to be a writer and busy with writerly things...
I encourage each of you to schedule several conferences, seminars, readings, writers' meetings for the latter half of this year. Finish up with a bang!
Write on, folks!
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