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Tips I've learned Performing Spoken Word

Writer's picture: Adonis RichardsAdonis Richards


I’ve been performing spoken for seven years now. Through the course of performing, I’ve learned a lot of tricks and tips. Here, I’m going to share some of them. This is part one of a series I’m starting, which includes poetry and spoken word. Stay tuned for part 2 this week. 

Here are the tips I learned for performing spoken word:

Choose Your Poem: This sounds like “choose your character” from Super Smash Bro’s Melee to me. To a certain extent, it is. Choose the poem you think would do well with the performance. Remember, cadence, crowd, setting, and theme apply in this aspect. However, remember to select a poem that connects with you and your message at the time. Also, choose a poem that you feel comfortable performing. You always want to recite something you think is more straightforward to accomplish.


Practice, Practice, Practice: A good friend of mine says that when you say something 18 times, you fully remember it. Take time to practice your poem. This helps with articulation, performance, annunciation, and confidence. As you practice, you also become more comfortable with the poem, and it becomes second nature.


Understand Your Audience: It’s always important to know your crowd. Remember to cater your poem to said crowd if you’re performing for a specific theme, such as love or social justice. You’ll get more engagement when you appease your crowd. However, performing a poem you want is essential, so also pay attention to the crowd to see if your poem is for them. It’s also important to know who you’re attracting with your poems. If you’re an erotic poet, you’ll attract that audience. If you’re a love poet, you’ll attract that audience. And so on. Now, understand your audience and watch them cater to you.


Control Nervousness: As a person who has been performing for seven years. I’ll say I’m always nervous when performing poetry. Although poetry is an art to be interpreted by the listener, it is still a vulnerable space. You’re sharing yourself with others. You never know how they’ll feel. That can cause angst. It’s understandable. Controlling that angst is essential. I think, “This is my art, and you’ll get it regardless.” Also, “Someone in this crowd will be inspired to write because of me.” That’s how I control my nervousness. It’s okay to be nervous; it means you care. It means you want to perform. Try breathing before going up. Practice your poems; that also helps control nervousness. Bring friends and people you care about, too; that also helps.


Use Body Language: Your body language can enhance your performance. Use gestures, facial expressions, and movement to emphasize key moments in your poem. This is always fun to do. Look at crowd members and engage with them. Use your hands to tell stories. When I perform, my hands are moving. It’s almost like I’m in Naruto weaving hand signs. I’m creating a visual for viewers to see. Turn to the crowd when you emphasize certain words or lines. Body language helps the performance as it shows your engagement with the crowd and the poem, adding to the experience of it.


Practice Vocal Variety: Experiment with tone, volume, and emphasis on certain words. Try different annunciations of words, and play with your poem a bit. See what sticks. In poetry, vocal variety showcases parts you want the audience to resonate with and remember. It’s essential to change inflections and not remain monotone. Raise your voice at times, then drop it slowly. It helps with performance.


Study Literary elements: Sonnet, Sestinas, Haiku, free verse. These are just some examples. As you practice, practice writing and rehearsing poems in these forms. It helps strengthen your pen and your ability to perform.


Be Authentic: Stay true to your poem’s message and emotions. Authenticity resonates with listeners and makes your performance compelling. Live and breathe the poem. It’s an extension of you. Know who you are as a post and live that experience.


Prepare for Reactions: People will react to a line or an inflection. Be prepared for that. Some people will try to make you laugh in the middle of a performance. It can throw you off, especially when memorizing or knowing where you are in the poem. It’s about knowing that “ this line will get the crowd engaged.” It’s a recognition that someone liked your poem. Stay the course, and finish the poem. You don’t want to fall off track and lose your place performing.


Reflect and Learn: After your performance, reflect on what went well and what didn’t. Look for crowd engagement. Gauge where you wanted them to engage, look at your posture, and consider how you performed the piece. Take the time to think about what could’ve been better and ask questions.


Performing poetry can be both a rewarding and thrilling experience. Hopefully, these tips can help you when you perform, as they are some key concepts I have learned throughout the years of performing.


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