Poetry, more than practically all other forms of writing, is meant to be heard. The poetry slam movement got started in the 1990s and breathed new life into a dying art form. Almost everyone has given an oral presentation for business or made an introductory video about themselves. Too often people bemoan their fear of public speaking. If that’s the case, you might be well-served to observe a poetry slam or two. Too often we draw arbitrary lines between creative endeavors vs. business endeavors. It doesn’t have to be that way. In honor of April being National Poetry Month, I’d like to explore how the energy of a performer in a poetry slam can help all of us be more effective speakers.
I don’t consider myself a great public speaker by any means, but I’ve grown by leaps and bounds over the years. Can you remember what your high school speech class was like? I remember cramming entire speeches onto note cards and then reading the information verbatim to my fellow classmates, many of whom I’d known since kindergarten. Communications 101 in college wasn’t much better, but at least we could only use outlines to assist us. What really broke me out of my shell was waiting tables. Countless classes a decade of teaching experience later, and I still squirm at the thought of speaking before strangers, but I relish presenting to my peers. In part, I’ve learned how to tap my inner-performer when the time comes.
Think back to all of the better speeches you’ve observed or given over the years. What do the most memorable speakers have in common? Think about your criteria as you watch this poetry slam video below. Be forewarned, Katie Makkai does drop an F-bomb toward the end. Click the following link if you would rather watch a clean language version instead.
Now let’s compare notes. Some essential elements present in memorable oral presentations include:
- Passion
- Purposeful Message
- Body Language
- Eye Contact
- Timing
- Relatable Examples
- Engaging Tone
- Enunciation
- Pronunciation
- Rehearsal
Obviously, most of us take it down a notch depending on the context our message must be delivered in. While I may seek out audio and video readings of poetry on a regular basis because I love the emotion and rhythm of the words, I’ve also learned a thing or two about how to be a better public speaker thanks to poetry slam videos. One of my main regrets in my trip to Chicago was missing the Uptown Poetry Slam.
Katie Makkai’s “Pretty” is an example of a definition poem. She uses lines of free verse to make an argument against standard notions of what it means to tell a girl to be pretty. I used to play this video (sans F-bomb) when I taught poetry units to high school students. It always led to an interesting discussion about societal pressure to “buy things and look pretty.” My connection with the subject matter of the poem runs deep. Back in 1995, I was just another pretty girl who wanted to be so much more than just a facade. Reconciling that with my academic leanings has made for some interesting tales to be told another day.
What qualities do you look for or possess when it comes to effective public speaking? Have you ever been to a poetry slam? What was your personal reaction to the message in Makkai’s poetry video?
Permission must be granted by JeriWB to use the high school graduation picture featured in this post.
Article by Jeri Walker-Bickett aka JeriWB
Yes…I can relate to the message…as most women can, I think. I thought it a powerful presentation. Though I have to admit, it’s not “poetry” to me…but effective public speaking.
Jacquie, spoken word poetry does tend to walk the line between good public speaking and being a artsty. I think that’s why it can hold such broad appeal once people stumble upon it.
I have to agree with you, Jacqueline. I don’t think of this kind of speaking as being “poetry.”
Jeri, being a good public speaker involves more than merely speaking clearly. It also consists of having good posture and body language. Slouching is out! Keeping your hands in your pockets is out! Exuding confidence and standing tall are in!
Many people don’t think about these things, but when you are a teacher standing in front of a classroom, you need to be aware of these things. These apply to all instances of public speaking, in my opinion.
Lorraine, I’m on the fence with how I tend to react to spoken word poetry. On the one hand, it is like public-speaking times ten. In response to your other observation about teachers exuding confidence, I used to be a mentor for new teachers and had to do countless classroom observations. Often, new teachers try so hard to come across as confident that it can come off as being inauthentic. It takes time to grow comfortable in one’s public speaking skin.
I can see your point, Jeri. However, as part of my teacher training, we had to practice in front of our university classmates until we became comfortable, so perhaps I am just lucky that I don’t have a problem speaking in front of a large group of people.
I am horrible at public speaking. I get sick to my stomach and think of every excuse I can make not to speak in front of people. When I was a LAN Admin, I often had to speak in front of the entire office (125+) people. It never got better how physically sick I felt. I’ve never been to a poetry slam, but I’ve recently become interested in it. I read a fiction book about slam poetry, and I have to say I enjoy. Thanks for letting me know about slam poetry videos. I forget about watching things online.
Makkai’s video was awesome. She used her voice and words to express humor and then seriousness of the matter. I think she did a great job.
Denise, there are so many great poetry videos on YouTube. I love to seek them out and will be posting some during National Poetry Month. I don’t get physically sick at the thought of public speaking, but I do get pretty bad butterflies sometimes. I stumble over my words a lot, but after doing it so much, I just laugh it off and carry on.
I remember asking my mother if I would be pretty. She said yes, and I’ve been in limbo ever since, waiting and waiting… She never did say when it would happen.
I enjoyed the video. Public speaking in high school was definitely not my thing, but I am proved a little through college. I’d still rather avoid it whenever I can.
I’m enjoying following your blog. See you around.
Best,
Deb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com
Debi, I don’t think I’ll ever be a huge fan of public speaking. Teaching is different than speaking before strangers because there’s a chance for rapport to form. Even though, teaching for so long has made talking in front of strangers a bit more bearable. I’m also a secret ham who loves to get into the performance side of things when given a chance. Maybe someday I’ll muster enough courage to set foot on a stage 😉
Jeri… I think her reading is “pretty” good, particularly during the second part… However I find it a little bit similar to a Stand Up show, and I found her poem as being to a cliche as regard to the topic
I agree with you when you have highlighted that public speaking and petry are not probably too connected. The attempt can be an interesting experimental approach, but I have my objections.
Best wishes to you, Aquileana 🙂
Aquileana, I can see how you get a stand-up vibe from slam poetry. The beginning is a bit cliche, but I think was the a purposeful intention on Makkai’s behalf. It sets the listener up for the second part where she starts to begin deconstructing the standard definition of “pretty.”
I found this piece of poetry very entertaining and passionate. Amazing how a little slant on something opens so many doors of thought. thanks! I truly enjoyed…
Marcy, thanks for stopping by and I’m glad you enjoyed the video. It’s one of my favorites. I could listen to it over and over again and it never gets old. I always find something new within the lines to connect to.
I loved the video. I really enjoy when someone can dig so deep inside themselves and produce so much passion in their words.
This push for pretty, popular, fitting in, you name it, is a strange sickness we have taken on. Sure, there has always been that desire to keep up or surpass our neighbors but it has gotten worse. Sometimes I wonder if our need to call attention to the problems leads others down the road of the problem in order to gain the attention others have gotten. It is a double edged sword that we have trouble not cutting ourselves with.
Jon, I’m glad you liked the video. If I was filming myself, I could do what she did. In front of an audience, I guess I’ll never know until I give it a try. I should put reading at a poetry slam on my bucket list.
Loved the poem. So much passion and so well said. Passion and an intention to engage are the two things that immediately come to mind when I think about what like most when I hear a good speaker. They are also the things on want to convey when I do my own public speaking.
Debra, I’m glad you like the passion in the poem. The energy and emotion in spoken word poetry can be off-putting to some, but I find I quite like it. I’m not sure how it would feel though to sit through an entire night of such impassioned readings.
I love writing poetry and the best poems usually come at times of great emotion in your life.
I also have the opposite problem in that I relish public speaking, thrive on an audience and am quiet happy to do it off the cuff with nothing prepared.
On the other hand I hate one to ones with new people and get nervous that people will not find what I have to say interesting.
I have never heard of the poetry slam before and would would so much enjoy trying it.
Thank you for sharing.
Mark, that’s truly fascinating to me that you would rather be in front of a large crowd over a one on one. For me, in a large crowd situation I find it difficult and nerve-racking to gauge the connection I’m making with the crowd. Even as a teacher, I was never a “sage on the stage.”
Although not usually a big poetry reader, I’ve quite enjoyed a few of the poetry slam videos I’ve seen on YouTube in the past couple of years. As for speaking, I’m getting pretty used to it, but I find it takes a lot out of me. I need to go nap afterward!
Laura, yeah I’ll pick up poetry ever now and again, but as for YouTube poetry videos I think they just might be tied on my list with silly cat videos.
My reaction?
Her daughter’s going to be so blessed to have her as a mother.
More girls could definitely benefit from having mother’s who would instill messages like this rather than using shopping as therapy, etc.
I would love to be part of a poetry slam one day! I think public speaking is something that gets easier with practice, like most things. It also depends what you’re talking about and if you’re confident in the subject matter. Nice to see poetry getting the spotlight here, Jeri!
Christy, that would be so awesome to see you in a poetry reading video. I really liked the audio recording your made awhile back.
Jeri — I had never heard of a poetry slam. I write a blog for a training consultancy (and taught presentation skills myself) so I’m very familiar with the techniques of giving an effective presentation. But I feel that Katie Makkai’s overly dramatic presentation detracted from her words. You’ve got to pick your spots for dramatic gestures. Loved your photo!
Jeannette, poetry slams do tend to run to the dramatic side. I watched a YouTube this weekend about the slimmed-down doll of Disney’s villain Ursula from The Little Mermaid. On the one hand, I liked the message, but on the other, felt the poet was practically screaming most of the time.
POOoooOWERFUL. I love love love love this.
I LOVE poetry slam…poetry outloud!
I wish I could perform my own poetry like this.
I am blown away.
here is my all time FAVORITE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE7e_xty4kw
Kim, thanks for the video link. I love the approach she takes to reading. It’s not too over-done and her tone really invites the listener in.
I have never been to a poetry slam. It does sound like it would be interesting and fun. I loved the video and all that it represents and says, even with the F bomb. Oh, that I could be that good. As far as public speaking goes, I had to over come that fear when I grew into an executive position. It truly was a trial by fire experience, but I did learn. 🙂
Susan, I can imagine there might be a good number of poetry events like this in your neck of the woods, especially the close you get to San Francisco.
My experience with public speaking only extends to my time as a software trainer. If I am training a group of people, I have no trouble at all with public speaking. BTW – love the photo!
Cheryl, from what I’ve seen of you speaking style and demeanor during our bi-weekly blogger meetings, I can tell you would be good with a crowd of people.
Very nice. I have never been to a poetry slam but I’ve seen them on TV. This is very similar to one’s I’ve seen in terms of style and how she’s talking. I guess when most people think poetry they think of rhyming stories usually – I know I do being a mother.
Krystle, from my classroom days it is pretty standard for most people to think of poetry as being something that rhymes, which is perfectly okay. With forms like spoken words and countless other forms of poetry, there’s much to explore. I was the slightly un-fun teacher that would assign different types of poetry that got students out of the rhyming comfort zone 😉
The most important thing for me when listening/seeing a new speaker is that they took the time to prepare their message–which means they value me as a listener. How many times have I gone to see someone and they are winging it. Not good.
Loved this poem and her passion for conveying the topic. We are pretty–inside, then out.
RoseMary, I am so not a fan of people who wing it. I saw that often when I taught college composition as a grad student with some of my peers. They thought they were cool, but really, they came off as unprofessional and totally unprepared.