Once you took that leap of faith and started reading your poetry in front of an audience, you found that you liked sharing your poems with others. You realized that the only way to keep it is by giving it away. You became empowered by empowering others. The more you read your poetry you noticed that your voice got stronger. You also realized that strategic pausing between words also held a silent power of its own.
And as you performed your poetry at numerous venues across the city; you found that your circle widened. You began to collaborate on projects with other poets and dancers, singers and musicians. A choreographer friend recruited you for a modern dance project which with some reluctance you agreed. It didn’t require any specific dance training just a few synchronized moves with other inexperienced dancers. And after many rehearsals it finally looked polished when it came showtime. Who would have thought-you the poet, the dancing poet
Fun while it lasted, but you moved on. You realized that you couldn’t put your creativity in a box. Your hands became restless and jewelry making caught your eye. You made some good quality pieces, earrings and necklaces; some you sold but most you gave away. You liked making jewelry. But you became restless again and had to move on. Your hands led you to tying flies for fly fishing. You liked to fish and you liked tying flies. But you moved on, always returning back to your love of writing and performing your poetry in cafes, bars, churches any place that welcomed you.
Perhaps all of these endeavors would be instrumental to leading you to the voice you never thought you had- singing. It was confusing because you knew you wasn’t a singer. Well, sometimes a shower singer. And, of course you would never even think of singing without a bar of soap in your hand. Singing was private affair. You felt you didn’t have a good singing voice, especially not good enough to sing in front of people. Yet something kept calling you. Calling you out of that shower and telling you that it’s okay.
You eventually picked up a set of bongos and started hitting some licks and reciting your poetry. Then singing eased its way into the picture. You felt comfortable exploring this whole other world because you were by yourself; doing it for yourself, for your own enjoyment. ( for further vocal exploration check out, Flight: Rhiannon’s interactive guide to vocal techniques, on You tube.)
DOE… RAY…ME…
After months of practicing by yourself, it was time. This had become much bigger than you now. It had to be released. You had a story to tell. WORDS, MUSIC AND POETIC SONG …by…..YOU.
WOW!!! Who could have believed it? You pulled it off. A one person show. You trusted yourself and had the courage to step out on a limb. You even sung acapella at times. After the show people came up to you and said you had a ‘ nice’ voice. They enjoyed the whole show. The bongo beats, the spoken word along with the poetic song all flowed together so well. All because you BELIEVED in yourself and had the courage to step out of that box of fear and insecurity, realizing the POWER of your voice.
Got an itch you can’t scratch.
Where is your creative itch leading you? Singing may or may not be your path. Perhaps yours will be totally different. Only you can determine that. The point is that whatever your creative itch is embrace it for as long as it lasts. Remember. If you want success-write it, speak it, sing it into existence. If you want it bad enough; you will make it happen.
There is only ONE you. WRITTEN. SPOKEN. SUNG.
YOUR VOICE. YOUR SOUND. YOUR CHOICE.
EMBRACE IT!
Recent Comments