AN ECLECTIC MIX...

Went to a poetry event a while ago and after enjoying the open stage, which was definitely an eclectic mix, overheard someone say ''yes, it was------(long pause) ------interesting.'

Interesting?

Yes it was interesting, but it was also entertaining.

Inspiring.

Funny.

Sad.

Thought provoking.

That is what I really enjoy about open stage. You never know exactly what you will get.


And let's face it, variety is everything.

A grove of trees, all the same, do look amazing. But imagine if that was all there was. Nothing else.
I wouldn't call that a garden, not for me.

I like the fact that the seasons change it all. Bluebells appear in a flurry of colour, in autumn leaves deck the ground, winter and the hellebores flower beneath the stark branches.


Some poems and poets make you go 'WOW'. And there are times when you want more. More of those words that took your heart and twisted it tight. Made you smile, laugh out loud. Made you shudder with unease. 

Sometimes though, you need the spice to make the ordinary zing.


Open stage is a chance, for those brave enough, to get up in front of a crowd and share their work.

Whether it is a bush ballad or a piece of political satire - a sound poem or a pantoum - a short story or snippet of a novel.  A song played on the ukelele or a string quartet- a libretto or scene from a play. Poetic non fiction or some rap. 

For me, the open stage is awesome. I get to hear different voices, different forms of spoken (or sung) word. And no matter what, you have to admire anyone that has the courage to stand up and perform their work. It takes guts. 


For me I love the variety of open stage. I find it exciting. You never know what is around the corner....

Vicki 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

UNTITLED....

Image
I must admit to a difficult time thinking of titles. Most of my work at the beginning has a very bland and often generic title, simply because the computer needs a title to save the work. I do have autumn 1, autumn 2 etc...not to mention many poems that simply have a date as a title. Perhaps it would be better to say these are working titles. 29/05/12 is such a catchy title isn't it? Makes you really want to read it.... But when I do send my work out, not only do I edit, re-read and work on the pieces to make them the best I can, I work very hard on the title. Because this is the first thing an editor/publisher/ reader sees. And we do want it to stand out from the crowd, to grab attention. Every time I open a short story collection or a book of poetry I read the contents page.  Looking for a title that grabs my attention, that makes me smile, makes me ponder, wonder what that is about.  I'm sorry but having a poem entitled UNTITLED is a bit of a cop out. I am left t
Read more

PLANNING AHEAD...

Image
In my day job I do a lot of planning. In fact the school holiday program that runs for two weeks in January was planned four months ago. And we are just about to plan for the Easter school holidays. In so many ways, it is difficult to plan so far ahead. Once chosen, these programs are locked in. They are in booklets and flyers and are advertised. Not to be changed. We have no idea if a new theme or program will work until it has been tried and tested. Just because it works in another library, doesn't mean it will work in ours. Different space, different people, different reactions. And when we trial a new program, which we are next year, as well as new days and times for programs, it is a step into the unknown. Will they work? How long before we know? When can we tweak? When it comes to a lot of the programs, we have to give them a year. And of course during that year we are planning for the next year's programming. It is a continuous circle of planning months
Read more

FRESH START....

Image
There's something about the beginning of a new year. Fills us with inspiration, hopes and dreams. Lets us believe that anything is possible. That the year to come can be anything we want it to be. And it can. And of course there are resolutions...I'm still debating about what tack to take. Whether to focus on poetry or short story, the novel(s) that I wrote last year....hmmm too hard to think about just yet. I'll let it percolate, ponder on the pros and cons, on what I WANT to do, not what I SHOULD do. Personal resolutions are so much easier- I have plans on health and wellbeing, on the house, on the garden, on myself spiritually as well. The writing ones are so much harder. And of course there is knowing when to stop. There is no point in having a list a mile long ( I so used to do that)... totally unachievable and so daunting. So it's better to have a few solid ones on the list...ones that can be achieved within twelve months. And also goals that I have contr
Read more