Are You Brave Enough?

Some people have a natural ability to remember poems from their younger years or are blessed with a nice singing voice and asked to sing for others in the past. Performing for others is not a problem for them. Others have never been asked to stand in front of anyone else, be the center of attention, and would possibly be very reluctant to do so. To stand up and recite a poem, sing a song, play an instrument, or tell a joke or a story in front of others can be very daunting if you are not used to it.

The key to successfully encouraging a person to take this step is to give them something manageable to do.

When you are with a group, ask everyone to do a little "piece." If they can read, they might like to do a small poem or a joke. If you supply them with the text to read, ensure it is big enough for them to see it easily. Also, make sure you yourself are performing something and getting involved in the activity. We always have to be careful not to put someone on the spot and challenge them too hard. Some people will gain confidence by watching others do their thing and may eventually take part when they see nothing bad will happen. Playing familiar songs can make for a sing-along if a person likes to sing but can't remember all the words. You might get a rousing chorus if you have a microphone to give them!

Maybe they can do something with a partner?

A simple joke like "Why did the chicken cross the road?" and then the other person answers could work well. You might be the 'other person' and rehearse a little, one-on-one, before the event. Do as much as possible to make the participants feel safe in the activity. I asked some of the residents in St Elizabeth's nursing home if they would like to be filmed reciting poetry and immediately had three volunteers. Lucy is 97 years old, and poetry is her big passion. She has memorized many poems and loves to recite them. Padraig Colum is the author of the 'Old Woman of the Road.'

Oliver and Maureen are reading poems from the book we produced from our Creative writing group, and they were both part of writing them in the first place.

Here is Lucy again, reciting two more poems.

Who can do this activity?

You know the people you are with best. The participants need to be able to follow simple instructions. Depending on what they are going to do, they may have to be able to read. Performing for others can be fun and rewarding. For those reluctant to participate, attending and just listening can be a fun passive activity.

Would you like to write your own poem? Here is a link to our SMILE poem worksheet.