dumbfoundry

How not to run a poetry reading (Kim Addonizio):

Not to get off on a rant here, but the bookstores in the Twin Cities made me wonder what's up with literary presenters who are happy to have writers read but then don't do much of anything to make the event happen. Kudos to Bookstore A--the owner emailed me before the event, got the program listed in the local weekly, and talked up the book to her customers. Result: a good audience, a good time for everyone, and writer and bookstore owner got to sell some books. At Bookstore B, it was clear they weren't motivated to get the visiting writer much of an audience. Result: tiny turnout, no books sold. Did I mention how humiliating this is for a writer? Then there's Public Library C, where I just read--it managed to scare up about four people. I have put on plenty of literary events and I know it's hard to get people out to hear poetry. But if you're not going to do the work of getting an audience to the event--to make it an actual event--don't ask a writer to read, or agree to have a writer read. FYI: Unless the writer is Very Famous, it's your job as a presenter to do audience development, or let the writer know he or she will need to bring their own audience (BYOA). FYI: I am not Very Famous.

This entry was posted by eeksypeeksy on Friday, April 16, 2004 at 5:08 PM. You can skip to the end and leave a response.