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Interview with Ian McMillan
Here's a short interview I had with Ian McMillan
Ian, what do you think of the apparent growth of open mic and other participative poetry events?
I think the growth in open mic and participative poetry events shows that poetry is currently on the crest of a wave; somehow (and this happens every now and then, although this time the boom seems sustainable) poetry is in the air and people feel that they can do it. And of course they can: I have a vision of a kind of perfect open mic event, where there's no division between poet and audience, and everyone's got a poem to say, and everyone wants to listen.
What are the most common errors of poets reading their work in public?
What tips can you offer?
I think it's good for all poets to at least have a go at performing their work in public; I know it's terrifying the first time, but it does get better, honest! Poetry audiences are kind and they want you to do well. Before you go on, take deep breaths; practise the poem at home as often as you like. Don't be scared to stop and start again if the poem goes a bit wrong, and if you don't want to learn the poem, do it from a bit of paper.
What contribution (or otherwise) do you feel such activities make, or should make, to UK culture?
I think that the performing of words in a live setting is one of the bedrocks of the culture of this country, and long may it be so. Long live Write Out Loud, and all who sail in her!
Fri, 17 Mar 2006 02:08 pm
