Spoken word poetry, or
slam poetry has many forms. When I was first introduced to slam, I was blown
away at the ability the authors had to convey their message. It wasn't simply
stating a fact, or an experience, it was an artistic outlet, providing powerful
means for others (their audience) to experience what they had
experienced. While I have been reading and writing poetry since I was a young
boy, I had never been moved by poems like OCD, Shake the Dust, or
God In Code (Hilborn, Mojgani, Cook respectively). Hearing these poets
for the first time helped inspire me to write differently, about issues and
topics that I felt strongly about. However, the road to discovering my voice
was a long one; at first, mimicking what I heard and saw before finding how I
could share my poetry.
While I mostly want to provide some major tips to help
you with writing and performing slam poetry, I want first to express the
importance of finding your voice. This will be a long road for many, with a lot
of trial and error in writing and performing, but it is an important part of
the process. When I first started writing slams, I mimicked authors like Neil
Hilborn, Andrea Gibson, Javon Johnson, and Sam Cook. They spoke with thunder in
their mouths, yelling into the mic, speaking about real-world issues like
suicide, racism, rape, disorders, equality, and many more. I wrote about these
issues, trying my best to get the words onto the page but often times failing
to convey anything meaningful in my poems. I became discouraged, thinking that
I simply was not a slam poet and should stick with my contemporary, free-verse
writing. It wasn't until I came across the spoken word poet, Anis Mojgani, that
I discovered what I would, or could say. He spoke of childhood, of empathy, and
provided an optimistic and yet existential view of life. Soon after listening
to his poem For Those Who Can Still Ride in an Airplane For the First Time,
I wrote my own poem Ghosts, and then When I Go, and Apple Juice.
Each, showcasing my own voice. I had confidence in these poems and began
sharing them.
When you start writing and performing you will likely
become discouraged; you may even want to quit, as I did. That's just the
reality that comes with creating. It will take time. However, with a lot of
practice and trial and error you will find what you want to talk about, what
comes from your memories, heart, and experience. Slam poetry is a beautiful
method of sharing with of yourself, as the poet Anis Mojgani says, in his poem Shake
the Dust, “Every time I write, every time I open my eyes, I'm cutting out
parts of myself just to give them to you.”
And so, in order to better help you share your poetry I
have several tips that I feel will help you get started in writing and
performing your poems.
1. MAKING LISTS
One of the most effective
ways I've found to get the juices flowing is to write themed lists. Lists that
help you think about specific topics, or give breadth to things you are
considering writing about.
2. WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW, OR
NOT.
When you first start
writing, write about things you are familiar with. Once you've gotten use to
that, and have found your writing (and performing) style, start asking
questions, and write about what you'd like to know.
3. EXPERIENCE
Poetry should relate to
others. When you share it you want them to feel what you feel. This cannot be
done (or at least is significantly harder) when you are writing about something
that you are not familiar with. Focus on writing from experience; even if your
poem is ultimately asking a question.
5. PERFORMANCE IS AN
EDITING TOOL.
You learn things about
your writing when you perform it. Don't think twice about going back and
revising a section of your poem (or the entire poem!) based on the reactions
(or lack of reactions) you get from a live audience.
6. DON'T FORCE YOUR
EMOTIONS.
Most poetry invites the
poet and the audience to feel different emotions. Don't force them or act them
out. Let the words do their own work. Present those emotions naturally.
7. BE AN EXPERT ON THE
MICROPHONE.
Know how to adjust the mic
stand in case you need to. Know where the mic should be and how close you
should be to it. Remember you have at least 15 seconds to get ready before
people will begin to wonder why you haven't started.
8. CLARITY ABOVE ALL ELSE.
If the messenger is not
clear, then there really isn't any message, is there? You could be the most
brilliant poet in the world, but if no one understand you, they won't listen.
Try over-enunciating, exaggerating the shape of your mouth with each word. You
will not sound as stupid as you think you look.
9. EVERYONE WANTS YOU TO
BE AMAZING!
Despite what you might
think, the audience is not waiting for you to mess up. Nor are they hoping you
do so. They want you to blow them away with your words. So do them a favor and
do it.
10. HAVE AN INTERESTING
VOICE.
Or if you don't, at least
use a fuller range of your voice than you would in a normal conversation. Get
deeper in places and higher in others. Sing! I mean it! Include lines from
songs in your poems and sing them, especially if you don't think you have a
very good voice. The audience will love and admire you for having such guts.
11. INSTRUCT OR ENTERTAIN
OR (IF POSSIBLE) DO BOTH!
Poets (like teachers) are
part entertainers. Their poems should delight as will as inform. Put a little
humor in most poems (even the sad ones).
12. HAVE A FEW LINES THAT
EVERYONE WILL UNDERSTAND.
If you write “non-linear”
poems (more lyrical, imagistic poems that don't necessarily tell a story), be
sure to have a few places where the audience can “rest” and think, “I
understood that.” If you don't, they will stop listening to you.
13. NEVER SAY, “I JUST
WROTE THIS POEM TODAY.”
Because it means you
either want the audience to be easy on you (because you're afraid your poem is
bad) or be impressed by you (because you think it's good). Better to just shut
up and recite the poem.
14. GO BACK TO THE NUGGET
OF TRUTH.
Sometimes we get so caught
up in trying to make our poems sound like poetry that we don't let ourselves
say simple, truthful, beautiful things that would help the poem immensely.
Things like, “Sometimes I wished I were an only child.” Don't be afraid to
leave the truth unadorned.
15. STAY STILL—OR HAVE A
REASON FOR MOVING.
Movement is unusually the
result of nervousness, and everyone can tell. Plant your feet and don't fidget.
If you let your hands hang naturally at your sides, you will LOOK normal (even
if you FEEL stupid).
16. NO ONE NEEDS TO KNOW
IF YOU FORGET A LINE.
If your mind goes blank,
take a pause. Don't let the audience know you have no idea what comes next.
Start singing “Amazing Grace.” Make up the rest of the poem as best you can. No
one cares that it's not perfect (except you).
17. TRY TO SIGNAL THAT YOU
POEM IS OVER.
You
know you have performed a poem well if the audience knows when it is time to
start clapping simply because you start smiling. Don't be afraid to end with a
moment of expectant silence. When they start to clap, stay there for a moment and collect the applause before walking away.
