Pros practice for disasters. If the mic cuts out, saunter to edge of stage & shout, "The powers that be always try to silence me!" Then, read dramatically so the busy sound teckie goes un-noticed.
How Do You Make It As a Performance Poet? Part I
The following is a fictional interview but is a composite of real life newpaper & radio showcases on performance art icon Zoa Smith, inventor of the word/sound genre called Talkapella which helped to fuel the Spoken Word Movement in the Great Northwest (US) in the 80's.
August, 2006
- POET:
- At first, I wasn't too thrilled about doing this interview.
- REPORTER:
- Oh? But I thought you.
- POET:
- I hate interviews. Hate reporters, no offense. Most are after the dirt, misquoting.
- REPORTER:
- Sensationalizing? Selling or propagandizing.
- POET:
- Exactly. I hate it when they want to fixate on something, anything- my hair, my clothes, my androgyny- things they think are strange about me.
- REPORTER:
- Are you strange? (cheerfully)
- POET:
- I guess sOOO-ho. (dramatic inflection)
- REPORTER:
- Well. I agree mainstream journalists are taught to spin it for the public. People, generally, just want to droll over and glom onto a performer. who they both love & hate. There is a terrible craving for dirt in the world, for gossip and misinformation.
- POET:
- I imagine my dirt is a big blob of bright orange clay. You sort of want to pick it up, sure, play with it, 'cause it has the wonderfully seductive smell of Playdough.
Read the complete interview.
Part I: How Do You Make It As
a Performance Poet?
Part II: Finding A Venue
Part III: Building an Audience
