What do you do in features besides read slam poems?

[sirenoftitan1]

I am dissecting the anatomy of a good feature, because I think a twenty-minute set should be more than just five or six slam poems.

Some things I've used or seen others use:

Cover poems
Short poems
Some type of intermission (Limericks, haiku, beatboxing, etc.)
First drafts

What else, LJ kids?

Comments

[gunpowdersmile]

My venue really likes a good story teller. Funny, sad, whatever as long as they connect with it.

[k80fs]

YES. idris goodwin came through town and told a story amid his poemy/hiphoppy set--and afterwards, during the q&a, all the questions were about the story. i was blown away.

[jwbaz]

I always tell stories - partly because that's what I do - but it's a good way to break up poems.

Ultimately, I always strive to put together a well-rounded set. I like to build an arch. When I'm writing a setlist, I start with what poem I'd like to do first and then build from there - "Oh, this joke will connect to this poem, then to this story, which will set up a merch plug, then these two poems work well...." etc. I don't do that so much here at home, but on the road, I'm always shooting for it.

Really, you can do anything. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you want audiences to invest in YOU, not just your poems. The more invested in the performer, the more likely they are to buy merch and follow your progress/career.

[brazencaucasian]

i second the stories. A feature is a time to connect with the poet. I always love hearing stories behind certain poems because it lets you into the process and is often entertaining. Derrick Brown does this the best.

[anomalemily]

However, one of Derrick's WB poets came through Chicago and tried to tell a story to introduce a poem (citing Derrick's encouragement to do so), but the story was 5 times better than the poem and I really couldn't figure out the connection...

So, be wary of storytelling if you can't connect the poem to the story. Also, don't tell stories that either over-shadow or over-hype the poem to follow.

[sirenoftitan1]

Josh, right? I remember that...something about the ballerina.

[twosnoos]

I sometimes just pick a theme and go for it. For instance, if there is an arc of my relationship with one person (say, Shappy) which has poems in multiple books, I'll do those poem in chronological order as set

[sirenoftitan1]

When I read this on my BB, I thought the comment was from Tim, and I was like "why would Tim have an entire set worth of material about Shappy?"

I like candy.

Because I am also an organizer, I am VERY sensitive to finishing on time. I sometimes forget to check my watch, though, and have to rely on the host to let me know how I'm doing.

[jbradley]

Flash fiction, banter

[radioactiveart]

Alone, I do what Cristin said: an arc or theme. Try to mix greatest hits (a few) with newer stuff. Selected greatest hits have to fit the theme. If it fits, a cover; if it fits, a debut. I have no fear when it comes to that.

With Faro, one rule: Do one thing that scares us as artists on stage. A new piece live for the first time, or Faro doing musical improv behind a poem we've not done before, usually one of my older pieces that I've got off page cold. We practice doing this a lot when we rehearse, and that's always fun. I think it keeps us on our toes.