slammit!

[anamacha]

Warning: I swear in this post. If you don't like that, then you probably shouldn't be on my friends list in the first place.

I keep thinking about slam. You know, poetry slam. It's kind of like poetry readings ... squared. It's where you get up in front of a microphone like I used to do oh so long ago, pick out poems -- and read them.

Comments

[wardellen]

What are you afraid of? Other people thinking you're a failure and not good enough? Who cares? More importantly, why do YOU care what they think? Sounds like what Judge calls the "coolatude" factor. You want to look cool, and right now, there's no reason for ppl to not think that you are cool. As soon as you stand up in front of a crowd, then you have to be cool. Bullshit.

You only have to please yourself. If doing a slam is your goal, then the crowd's opinion doesn't matter. That can be your NEXT goal. Take it one step at a time and remember who is important here. That being YOU.

[anamacha]

true ... to be honest I'm too old to realy care what other people think of me. On some levels I shed that particular cross some time ago. But old habits die hard, yeah? It's hard to just up and do.

I will get it, though. I feel as though I've started the boulder rolling off that hill, and it's starting to gather speed.

[tru2myart]

I've never actually done it but I've watched it and I love it. Performance poetry readings are the best!

[anamacha]

we don't really have a video camera -- we have a digi cam that will record short videos, but I'm not sure how well that will work, especially since I am not sure where my tripod is.

when would be a good time to get together and do this, then?

[ladytairngire]

I used to do it all the time before the baby was born. We have a local slam team and a regular open mic thing.
My personal style tends to be more soulful and artsy than slam, per se, but I have slammed. I have aspirations to compete some day.

Just do it. There's nothing quite like poetry in motion.

[roseross]

I think you're quite right that slam is more than a poetry reading -- it is performance art and participants are judged on their dramatic ability. More so than the poem's merit, imho, though slammers who've heard me say that always seem to throw a fit.

I think the best thing is just do it. If you fret, it fosters stage fright but if you do positive visualization where you imagine yourself successful reading to the applause of the crowd, you'll be as braced as you can be. Practice in front of a mirror. Public speaking classes make you do that and though it feels silly, it helps to prepare. :-)