After six months in the program, I finally have the opportunity to learn and mingle in person with the majority of my fellow Mile-High MFA students this week as part of our bi-annual ten-day residency. One of the best parts is listening to so many compelling readings, from talented, accomplished faculty as well as students who have never read their work out loud before. Allow me to share with you now both the pitfalls and successes I’ve witnessed so far.
How much is too much? When we’re talking volume, err on the side of loud. Unless you’re a classically trained opera singer, chances are you won’t burst any eardrums. Even if you think its a little too loud for the tone of the piece, better to ensure the majority of your audience can hear, rather than forcing someone to holler out that they can’t right in the middle of your reading. (Or worse yet, putting them to sleep.) Where movement is concerned, however, less is usually more. Certain dramatic scenes may warrant some gestures, especially when reading to a younger, more visually-oriented audience, but generally, large movements distract from your words and may result in losing your place on the page, dropping your material, or bumping the microphone. Try to rely on the power of your work and voice to convey emotion and tension, limiting gestures to a few significant ones.
Arrive early to scope out the set up. If there isn’t a microphone, you might do some quick vocal warm-ups (which I’ll teach in my upcoming conference workshop) to prevent the need to clear your throat excessively. Drink water, preferably not cold as it tightens the vocal cords, which your nerves may already be doing. If preparing for a longer reading (more than ten minutes), consider bringing a water bottle and tissue up to the “stage” with you. Find a spot to discreetly blow your nose moments before you begin to prevent sniffing. And don’t be afraid to adjust elements again right before you read. I watched a writer struggle to see her own pages in the glare of the evening sun as it shifted through the large windows nearby, a problem that could have been easily fixed by closing the blinds or shifting the podium. The harsh lighting also made it very difficult to capture a decent photo.
Speaking of photos, ask a friend or colleague to take pictures of your readings if you’re on social media. According to researchers at Georgia Tech, pictures of faces are 38% more likely to get a like than photos without faces, and 32% more likely to snag a comment. Whether you’re reading directly from your book (not necessarily recommended as it can be harder to hold open and aloft for an extended period of time) or typed pages or—last resort—your phone or other device, do bring a copy of your book onstage to hold up before you begin, both for an ideal photo op and so eager listeners can identify the cover and purchase it after your stellar reading.
Photo by Rachel Dempsey: Author Erika Krouse reading from her memoir, TELL ME EVERYTHING at Regis University.