I am very fortunate this year in that as well as readings here there and everywhere, I have been asked to do a number of online events for various fabulous poetry organisations across the country. This has occasioned me to ask why am I bothering? Here's some random thoughts on why this is a jolly good thing (most of the time):
1. There are hundreds of poetry fans across the country who for a variety of reasons are unable to get to in person readings. Whether they live in the Boonies or struggle with disabilities, online readings are one of the blessings to have come out of the pandemic for this, and indeed any, audience.
2. If the organisers time it right - evenings in the UK suit a North American audience, as much as a Far East or Antipodean one - there's a whole world of people out there that you might be able to reach with your words. I've done readings for folk in LA with an audience from across the US, and other times people have tuned in from Canada and South Africa.
3. The poet doesn't have to go anywhere. Not that I mind travelling the length and breadth of the country, but putting on a face and sitting in front of my laptop wherever I am is a lot less tiring than the usual long distance late night drive home.
4. Enjoying other people's poems in the attendant open mic is wonderful. It's always great to hear what others are writing. Encouraging each other is big in my world.
5. Meeting new poetry people who you'd probably never otherwise come into contact with is a joy too. Poetry is a community that has given me so much happiness and over the years, many good friends.
But, oh, and of course, there are downsides:
1. Yes, it's true that by nature of the medium you don't get much audience reaction. It's quite a challenge to do an animated reading without responses. I pause occasionally to ask people if they are laughing when I would expect them to. Reaction buttons are really useful in this regard. Please do heart and applaud the reading poet so we can see the icons as they climb up the screen. It makes all the difference as we can't see your praise in the chat while we are reading, but do that as well. And when unmuted, do please make a noise. We are fragile creatures in search of love.
2. You might not get paid. This is a no, no. I've lost track of the number of delightful requests I've had to read for nothing, for the exposure, for the chance to sell books. Bad form folks. Poets need to be paid for their work. So, please if you are planning on organising a reading of any kind, please make sure you have the funds to pay your poets. You might think that online is a doddle, but I can tell you it's not. I don't just rock up five minutes beforehand, open the book and read. I rehearse. I check the timings carefully. And I put aside a lot of time to do this. Like an actor, I prepare. This surely deserves a reward.
3. You might not sell (m)any books. This probably the biggest downside of the online reading. It is very easy to ignore the link to the publisher's website. I live in the vain hope that this isn't the case, but my sales figures prove me, depressingly, wrong. If you've enjoyed a poet's work, please do buy their book. I know everyone is broke these days, but you can forgo a few coffees or pints, surely? We will be very, very, very grateful if you would.
