Find Poetry Reading Events
Writing poetry is often a solitary pursuit and sometimes results are never shared. But for performing poets who dare to seek out poetry reading events where they can stand on a stage and reveal their insecurities to an often indifferent audience, it becomes a contact sport. If you'd like to share your work or listen to others perform, you need to know find poetry reading events in your area.
Instructions
1. Visit local writing clubs. Many of these groups center around poetry and they will be the most likely source of people wanting to perform their works in front of members of the public.
2. Check with libraries. They're often the meeting place for local and visiting writing groups and frequently the main sponsor of poetry reading events.
3. Review the classifieds section of newspapers in and around your area. Sometimes you'll see an ad from someone wanting mikes or amps. It's worth a phone call to see if they're looking for such equipment for an open mike night where poetry readings might be part of the agenda.
4. Browse event calendars online, such as the one offered on Poets.org. Sometimes venues considered part of a city's underground community are featured and events may include public poetry readings.
5. Watch for flyers posted around town by local colleges announcing poetry readings. People often have no experience with reading poetry aloud until they complete high school and sign up for their first literature class. Even though the poems are written by students, the voices are fresh and these readings will produce a good opportunity for enrichment.
6. Contact other possible forums for public poetry readings including non-denominational churches, community centers, cafes, coffee shops, bookstores, street festivals or nightclubs.
7. Research statewide online news magazines for one-time events, such as the Lloyds' eco poetry reading this past February, during which they unveiled a new outdoor space for City of London workers and visitors that used poetry to emphasize the importance of taking climate change seriously.
