tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264914780516321436.post6591679455988314942..comments2023-10-21T21:54:39.121+13:00Comments on Tim Jones: Books in the Trees: What Makes a Good Book Launch? What Makes a Good Reading?Tim Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14856414700019368658noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264914780516321436.post-24719327744050339132009-06-13T22:09:08.419+12:002009-06-13T22:09:08.419+12:00Thanks.
Just let me know next time you'll be i...Thanks.<br />Just let me know next time you'll be in town. No rush!Ross Brightonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04917759678804057979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264914780516321436.post-37713039062405935712009-06-13T21:54:37.956+12:002009-06-13T21:54:37.956+12:00Ross, congratulations - I'm pleased to hear it...Ross, congratulations - I'm pleased to hear it went well. It would be good to catch up (and check out your chapbook) the next time I'm in Christchurch - I'm not yet sure when that will be, though.Tim Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14856414700019368658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264914780516321436.post-37867421156390186512009-06-13T21:42:14.471+12:002009-06-13T21:42:14.471+12:00I had my first launch last night, and it was amazi...I had my first launch last night, and it was amazing. I think the audience engagement thing is important, but it's also important not to force it - My work is a bit out there, and i was really amazed at how into it people were getting. It seems the average Christchurcher is far more open to avant-gardism than a lot of folk i have had the displeasure of meeting in the art scene, or in cyberspace (present company excluded, of course).<br /><br />And a comfortable bar makes a good venue as well - often bookshops or galleries can feel a bit formal, and things run well when nicely lubricated.Ross Brightonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04917759678804057979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264914780516321436.post-13436906394605930052009-06-13T13:50:44.264+12:002009-06-13T13:50:44.264+12:00A PS to the first comment: Glenn Colquhoun is a ma...A PS to the first comment: Glenn Colquhoun is a marvellous performer, in a style I will never be able to emulate. That's why I've tried to develop a more anecdotal, story-telling approach, as Harvey and Helen Rickerby suggest, and the kind of reading trajectory that Helen also suggests - I know I can do that well, whereas the oratorical approach of Glenn Colquhoun would sound silly coming from me.Tim Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14856414700019368658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264914780516321436.post-39490124372888283562009-06-13T13:47:39.351+12:002009-06-13T13:47:39.351+12:00Wow, what great comments - thank you so much, Paul...Wow, what great comments - thank you so much, Pauline, Helen H, Harvey, Johanna and Helen R. There's nothing I disagree with here, and a fair amount of consensus on what works.<br /><br />Finding a suitable venue is an issue near the top of my mind at the moment, as Christchurch writer Helen Lowe and I are jointly planning a writing event on the 17th of September, when she comes up to Wellington for the Spinning Gold children's book festival. The problem we're having at the moment is finding a suitable venue that we can afford. I hadn't thought of galleries, Helen - definitely worth checking out!Tim Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14856414700019368658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264914780516321436.post-58817011281417479992009-06-13T10:24:09.178+12:002009-06-13T10:24:09.178+12:00Great post Tim! Over the last few years, as I’ve d...Great post Tim! Over the last few years, as I’ve done more launches (both my own and for Seraph Press books) and more readings, I’ve been thinking about both these things quite a bit.<br /><br />I agree about launches – it’s more important to have your friends, family, work colleagues, people who care about you there than the local literati. It’s nice to have them there too of course, but the best launches I’ve been to/had have been ones that are warm, supportive and enthusiastic.<br /><br />Pick a venue that will be friendly, and also if it has things for people to look at if they aren’t mingling, all the better! I’ve tended to go for galleries rather than bookshops for my launches – partly out of cost – a Unity launch doesn’t come cheap, because they have to actually pay there staff, while my books-table man (Sean) comes for free. Also, I do the catering – usually with the help of my mum, and other people. I quite enjoy the home-madeness of that.<br /><br />I like to give the launch goers a discount on the recommended retail price, so they feel like it’s worth buying the book on the night. Sometimes at book launches there are other incentives – at one of Harvey McQueen’s launches everyone who bought the book got a kowhai seedling (which has now grown into quite a shrub).<br /><br />In terms of readings, I could write a whole post about that, which this comment is fast turning into! <br /><br />Basically, I think you should try to make it easy for people to listen to you. I usually start with something that I think will grab people – usually something with a bit of humour, and not too long. Then I’ll move on to more serious darker or longer poems. Quite often I’ll bring it back up again at the end. Readings, like books, have a kind of a rhythm.<br /><br />I’m also not of the monotone reading school – that can work for some people, but I mostly find it boring and hard to listen to. I try to vary my tone and speed and loudness (as appropriate:)).<br /><br />And I agree with Harvey’s comments about talking to audience. I saw musician Amanda Palmer perform earlier this year, and she was amazing. What was so good about her though wasn’t just that I enjoyed her music, it was that she connected with the audience. She wasn’t just performing to a bunch of people she’d rather ignore, as many people do, she was trying to engage with this bunch of people. As a shy person, that can be quite hard, but I think it’s rewarding for everyone.<br /><br />Phew!Helen Rickerbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10652318704387476082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264914780516321436.post-37326006357083334592009-06-13T07:46:22.001+12:002009-06-13T07:46:22.001+12:00Re speeches - I reckon a truly humorous, laugh-out...Re speeches - I reckon a truly humorous, laugh-out-loud kind of speech can get away with being long.Johanna Knoxhttp://quietworldproject.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264914780516321436.post-25537672400970672972009-06-12T17:22:22.711+12:002009-06-12T17:22:22.711+12:00Tim, I think a good reading is one in which the po...Tim, I think a good reading is one in which the poet talks to the audience. Of course the poetry is important but it's not enough. The audience is trying to get a sense of you and you can't be too timid or reserved. It's good to tell little stories about yourself and your poems. The reading also has to make sense--it has to be shaped and orchestrated for the audience. And it's good not to fumble looking for poems too much. I know that the readings have gone well up there so I'm following some good poets.Harvey Molloyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13168420609485849643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264914780516321436.post-40934981217937959032009-06-12T11:02:26.773+12:002009-06-12T11:02:26.773+12:00I think venue is important. Unity Books does a gre...I think venue is important. Unity Books does a great launch. Yes - short speeches plenty of wine and friends :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264914780516321436.post-70587372199041651952009-06-12T10:33:32.167+12:002009-06-12T10:33:32.167+12:00As a guest I've been thinkign about 2 wonderfu...As a guest I've been thinkign about 2 wonderful spellbinding readings I've been to in the last couple of years. One was Glenn Colquhoun reading Tuwhare in a tribute type thing with a wonderful documentary about Hone as well. These was just this awesome connection happening.<br /><br />The other was Alan Roddick who read some Brasch poems at Caselberg House (right next to the old Brasch crib on Otago Peninsula). Alan was a superb reader but again there was a physical connection to the place. Both were transportign experiencesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com