Norah Rami, the winner of Best Performance in our Poetry and Spoken Word Competition, thrives on...
“Lots and lots of things scare me but you just get on with it,” actor Dame Judi Dench once said. “Fright can transform into petrol, you just have to use it to your advantage.”
You just have to use it to your advantage. Turning your fear into petrol isn’t easy, but performing spoken word pieces can be really rewarding as a writer. It transforms your words from something static on a page into a living, breathing experience. Read on for some tips on how to recite a poem and handle that pesky performance anxiety. Then, enter our Poetry & Spoken Word Competition to put your new skills to the test!
What Makes a Performance Stand Out?
Think about a performer, speaker, or poet who has captivated you (check out some of our favorites here!). What made their delivery so powerful? Was it their confidence? Their passion? Their ability to connect with the audience?
You might not even realize what the performer was doing to make their words so captivating—there’s some sleight of hand here! Here are some key elements of an engaging performance:
- Eye Contact – Connect with the audience to make your words feel personal.
- Vocal Expression – Use tone, pace, and volume to add emotion.
- Body Language – Use gestures and movement to reinforce your message.
- Clarity & Projection – Make sure your words are heard and understood.
Managing Performance Anxiety
Even seasoned performers get nervous. Speaking about how she felt before her speech at the United Nations, Harry Potter actor Emma Watson said: "I was very nervous. It wasn’t an easy thing for me to do. It felt like: 'Am I going to have lunch with these people, or am I going to be eaten? Am I the lunch?’” The key is learning how to turn nerves into useful energy.
Here are some techniques for combatting performance anxiety:
- Tame the “Monkey-Mind” – Racing thoughts before performing? Gut turning? “Monkey-mind” is a Buddhist concept that describes a state of restlessness and lack of control in one's thoughts. When we experience nerves before or during a performance, it is often because of our monkey-mind. Let’s try a breathing exercise: Imagine your nerves as ripples in a small pool of water. Focus on slowing them down until the water is still. Give your monkey-mind a job to focus on that isn’t your nerves—allow it to take care of the rippling water, or tell it to focus on your breathing.
- Embrace Imperfection – If you aim for 100% perfection, you’ll stress yourself out. Instead, approach your performance as a chance to experiment and grow. It is in the playing that something interesting happens. Actor Andrew Garfield says he thrives in "the heat of failing."
- Give Your Nerves a Name – Picture your anxiety as a goofy character with a silly name. Instead of trying to get rid of them, acknowledge them and perform anyway!
Prepare for Your Performance
Once you have the words written down, it’s time to prepare for the performance. And that doesn’t mean just reading the words off the page. This part can take as much care and consideration as the actual writing of the poem!
- Think about what shape the piece takes. Try sketching it. Does it look like a rocky mountain range or gentle rolling hills? This activity is similar to deciding if the flow of your piece is staccato (punchy and crisp) or legato (smooth and flowing).
- Choose a tone. This can be something solid like “happy” or “sad,” or something more abstract like “rainy” or “yellow.”
- Set up your camera or recording device. Here is an optional guide to recording on your phone.
- Stand or sit, but make sure that your feet are placed firmly on the floor. Visualize roots growing from them, deep into the ground; imagine that your breath comes from there and travels all the way up through your body.
- Now, try reading your piece. Keep in mind the shape and tone that you decided on. These will influence your vocal expression and the overall emotion of the piece.
TIP #1: It can help to first record yourself speaking about something you love! Do this for one minute. You don’t have to share it with anyone – it is simply a way to help break the ice between you and the camera.
TIP #2: Imagine that your eyes are cameras! Try sucking in the light and take ownership of the space around you.
TIP #3: Watch this TedX talk given by British boxer Stacey Copeland called ‘A Fighter’s Guide to Performance Anxiety.’
