-Tips When Performing a Spoken Word???-

RealMS · 07-07-2004, 09:42 AM

Hey y'all
I've only done a spoken word once in my life in front of a small crowd, and next week I'll be doing one for this talent show at the campus here next Thursday. No way can I memorize one in such a short time, but I need some tips, I think I'll be nervous a lil since its a big crowd. Anything would be helpful and very much appreciated.
Love-

vedantad · 07-07-2004, 12:42 PM

Well, I'm not the expert, but I would say remember that spoken word is also a true performance art. Project your voice or not dependent on the tone, use gestures, walk around, interact with the audience, enunciate, make good use of your pauses and such, and most importantly--Get your point across. That's what I would do.

allnakey · 07-07-2004, 03:42 PM

Never did on in my life, i'd say just go to more spoken words and just observe what the performers do. The best way to learn the art of spoken word is to see it more and more.

Mind~$oul · 07-07-2004, 06:31 PM

I've done it only once.

And somebody told me if you're nervous just look at one paticular thing, like in the middle of the crowd. And focus on that one thing. It helped me out alot.

But yeah you also gotta move around alot and interact(sp) with the crowd.

As far as rememberin the lines. Start off maybe like 3 lines at a time, and try to get those down until you know them by heart. Then go on to the next 3.

good luck

RealMS · 07-08-2004, 12:19 PM

I pretty much just gotta work on the nervousness-like those crazy butterflies that swarm in the pit of my stomach. The advice given is really what I was aiming at too, and I hope it goes well. I appreciate it-lets hope I don't fall and break a leg now!
-Much Love

MISSKEYdaQUEEN · 07-12-2004, 07:32 PM

I'm sorry I didnt peep this earlier mah!

I've been doing Spoken Word poetry for 6 months now. I do it at 3-5 different spots so I am very regular. My advice to you(and I am no pro yet either) is to embrace the audience. They for the most part are not out to get you. They want to be inspired. Read about something you believe in and become comfortable with reading it on paper..It's ok! Many poets (even slam poets) read off paper. But read it like fluid off the paper! Find that place you were in when you wrote the piece and go there inside. You have to feel your words. If you don't feel them no one else will!

Luvmisskey- aim

hit me up if you need to!

RealMS · 07-13-2004, 09:38 AM

-thanks gyrl

MisterEThoughts · 10-14-2004, 05:00 PM

Hmm I done it couple times what I do is practice it in front of the mirror for like 20 min a day and practice the pauses and things like that and the movement and such and just keep doing that in front of the mirror get ur friends to watch u let them be your audience.... good luck

DaJackle · 10-15-2004, 11:50 PM

yeah, I agree with misterE...first practice it in your private...then...do it in front of people friends, someone you just met...that's what i did for my one talent show...lol i read to 5 people at my job...heh they'll respect you too, and it's a good way to gain a new friend ^_^

DaJackle · 10-15-2004, 11:51 PM

forgot my point lol...the point was that...the more you do it in front of random people, the more confidence you'll have doing it in front of random audience

RealMS · 10-16-2004, 08:09 PM

lol ^ thanks for the advice DaJackle, the talent show was in July. Nah I'm clowning, I appreciate you takin the time, I'll hold it for future reference. My creative writing instructor says I am too elegant for spoken words, unless I change up my style and put the upmost power in my words-yeah I understand but damn that was a full audience and I was nervous as hell. I didn't win but I still got much props and respect for just doin it lol. Thanks homeboy
-Peace

Anaphora · 10-16-2004, 08:27 PM

Your creative writing teacher was a retard... spoken word can be elegant, just don't read it all thugged out or anything. Always try to break the ice first with the audience... make some kind of joke, ask how they're doing (my favorite), get them warmed up because otherwise they'll just sit there and only half pay attention, then clap when your done, and wait for it to be over so they can smoke weed, or play bongos.

MISSKEYdaQUEEN · 10-17-2004, 06:57 PM

^^^Yessssss yessss!!! I feel that! Go up there and be like "How are you tonight!! Make a joke maybe. I always talk about my children..ex-Dayum my son tripped me out today..yadda yadda..

Something sincere and natural though, not rehearsed!

07-07-2004, 09:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
RealMS Pro 31 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Lafayette/New Orleans, LA Posts: 4,184	-Tips When Performing a Spoken Word???- Hey y'all I've only done a spoken word once in my life in front of a small crowd, and next week I'll be doing one for this talent show at the campus here next Thursday. No way can I memorize one in such a short time, but I need some tips, I think I'll be nervous a lil since its a big crowd. Anything would be helpful and very much appreciated. Love-

07-07-2004, 12:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
vedantad interesting Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Caught up in the clouds Posts: 37	Well, I'm not the expert, but I would say remember that spoken word is also a true performance art. Project your voice or not dependent on the tone, use gestures, walk around, interact with the audience, enunciate, make good use of your pauses and such, and most importantly--Get your point across. That's what I would do. __________________ Come Senators, Congressmen please heed the call Don't stand in the doorway, Don't lock up the hall For he that gets hurt will be he who has stalled The battle outside ragin will soon shake your windows and rattle your walls Ohhh the Times they are a'changin

07-07-2004, 03:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
allnakey Sex is no fun by yourself Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,860	Never did on in my life, i'd say just go to more spoken words and just observe what the performers do. The best way to learn the art of spoken word is to see it more and more. __________________ And I sat watching a flower As it was withering I was embarrassed by its honesty So I'd prefer to be remembered as a smiling face Not this fucking wreck That's taken its place get some balls biatch or else

07-07-2004, 06:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mind~$oul I'm Pretty Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: North Memphis BITCH! Posts: 17,139	I've done it only once. And somebody told me if you're nervous just look at one paticular thing, like in the middle of the crowd. And focus on that one thing. It helped me out alot. But yeah you also gotta move around alot and interact(sp) with the crowd. As far as rememberin the lines. Start off maybe like 3 lines at a time, and try to get those down until you know them by heart. Then go on to the next 3. good luck __________________ "Everybody wanna be a nicca, but don't nobody wanna be a nicca"-Paul Mooney "I tried to live right, but society aint made for niccas to live right"-Joe Budden

07-12-2004, 07:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
MISSKEYdaQUEEN Watch the black panther.. Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Glenville REPPIN BIYAAAATCHES!! Posts: 17,647	I'm sorry I didnt peep this earlier mah! I've been doing Spoken Word poetry for 6 months now. I do it at 3-5 different spots so I am very regular. My advice to you(and I am no pro yet either) is to embrace the audience. They for the most part are not out to get you. They want to be inspired. Read about something you believe in and become comfortable with reading it on paper..It's ok! Many poets (even slam poets) read off paper. But read it like fluid off the paper! Find that place you were in when you wrote the piece and go there inside. You have to feel your words. If you don't feel them no one else will! Luvmisskey- aim hit me up if you need to! __________________ Queen's MySpace Page Queen's Other Myspace Page biaaatches *********************** The battles that count aren't the ones for gold medals. The struggles within yourself—the invisible, inevitable battles inside all of us—that's where it's at.~Jesse Owens (1913-1980)

07-08-2004, 12:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
RealMS Pro 31 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Lafayette/New Orleans, LA Posts: 4,184	I pretty much just gotta work on the nervousness-like those crazy butterflies that swarm in the pit of my stomach. The advice given is really what I was aiming at too, and I hope it goes well. I appreciate it-lets hope I don't fall and break a leg now! -Much Love

07-13-2004, 09:38 AM	#7 (permalink)
RealMS Pro 31 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Lafayette/New Orleans, LA Posts: 4,184	-thanks gyrl

10-14-2004, 05:00 PM	#8 (permalink)
MisterEThoughts MysteryOfUntoldTruth Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bay Area,Cali Posts: 1,962	Hmm I done it couple times what I do is practice it in front of the mirror for like 20 min a day and practice the pauses and things like that and the movement and such and just keep doing that in front of the mirror get ur friends to watch u let them be your audience.... good luck __________________ complicated visionary....injected beauty... provided by the starry night of misery... http://www.lulu.com/browse/book_view.php?fCID=800464 My Published Book. "A Closed Window Of Truth"

10-15-2004, 11:50 PM	#9 (permalink)
DaJackle ThoughtS ProcessinG Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 493	yeah, I agree with misterE...first practice it in your private...then...do it in front of people friends, someone you just met...that's what i did for my one talent show...lol i read to 5 people at my job...heh they'll respect you too, and it's a good way to gain a new friend ^_^ __________________ You can only do so much in life, at some point you just have to let go and let God decide...what is the meaning of life? it's very simple...to simply live

10-15-2004, 11:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
DaJackle ThoughtS ProcessinG Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 493	forgot my point lol...the point was that...the more you do it in front of random people, the more confidence you'll have doing it in front of random audience __________________ You can only do so much in life, at some point you just have to let go and let God decide...what is the meaning of life? it's very simple...to simply live

10-16-2004, 08:09 PM	#11 (permalink)
RealMS Pro 31 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Lafayette/New Orleans, LA Posts: 4,184	lol ^ thanks for the advice DaJackle, the talent show was in July. Nah I'm clowning, I appreciate you takin the time, I'll hold it for future reference. My creative writing instructor says I am too elegant for spoken words, unless I change up my style and put the upmost power in my words-yeah I understand but damn that was a full audience and I was nervous as hell. I didn't win but I still got much props and respect for just doin it lol. Thanks homeboy -Peace

10-16-2004, 08:27 PM	#12 (permalink)
Anaphora was here Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,694	Your creative writing teacher was a retard... spoken word can be elegant, just don't read it all thugged out or anything. Always try to break the ice first with the audience... make some kind of joke, ask how they're doing (my favorite), get them warmed up because otherwise they'll just sit there and only half pay attention, then clap when your done, and wait for it to be over so they can smoke weed, or play bongos. __________________ -- -- -- -- "Those who know they are profound strive for clarity. Those who would like to seem profound strive for obscurity." -Nietzsche -- -- -- -- -- -- This isn't a place for people to improve. This is a support group, where everybody just pats each other on the back and give words of encouragement. -predicate* on the poetry realm*

10-17-2004, 06:57 PM	#13 (permalink)
MISSKEYdaQUEEN Watch the black panther.. Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Glenville REPPIN BIYAAAATCHES!! Posts: 17,647	^^^Yessssss yessss!!! I feel that! Go up there and be like "How are you tonight!! Make a joke maybe. I always talk about my children..ex-Dayum my son tripped me out today..yadda yadda.. Something sincere and natural though, not rehearsed! __________________ Queen's MySpace Page Queen's Other Myspace Page biaaatches *********************** The battles that count aren't the ones for gold medals. The struggles within yourself—the invisible, inevitable battles inside all of us—that's where it's at.~Jesse Owens (1913-1980)

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode