I go to a lot of poetry readings. I have noticed a lot of things, good and bad, that affect how a given reading will go. On one occasion, where another poet’s lack of consideration effectively ate up a good chunk of what would have been my reading time, I got so frustrated that I made up a list.

Now that enough time has passed that I can address this calmly and rationally, I will now continue with my rules of poetry reading etiquette—this time with the rules for hosts.

Let your featured readers know the order in which you plan to introduce them

People like to know how much time they have to prepare—whether it is a last look at the material selected for reading, a last quick trip to the bathroom, and so on. Few things are worse than being called before one is ready, or having to sit and wait once ready to go. So, let your readers know who is reading when. It’s the polite thing to do.

Confirm with readers the names by which they would like to be introduced

Whether I am a featured reader, or an open-mic participant, I prefer to use my middle initial. Yet, more often than not, the host or MC leaves it out. That’s fine for me when I introduce myself (I find including the J a little awkward), but I have included the initial as part of my name on my website and on my books. My full name with initial is the name I am trying to make for myself as a poet. Leaving it out is not only disrespectful, but it also may make it more difficult for people to find me later on.

While you’re at it, double-check pronunciation. If you are not sure how a name should be pronounced, or if a name is pronounced differently than the ‘standard’ pronunciation of the name, it is incumbent upon you, the host, to make sure you know what the correct pronunciation is before you introduce that person. If your introduction is the first time you have tried to pronounce the name, you’re doing it wrong.

Enforce the allotted times

As host/MC, it is your duty to enforce allotted reading times. If there is no clock in the room, use your watch. If you do not have a watch, use your phone. If you do not have a phone, ask to borrow one. You cannot ensure that reading times are adhered to, and the schedule maintained, if you cannot keep track of the time.

As part of this duty, you may have to let the reader know that they have x number of minutes left, or time for ‘just one more’. If the reader exceeds their allotted time, part of the responsibility for that is yours. If you cannot handle this responsibility, ask someone else to perform timekeeper duties for you.

Except to inform the reader that his or her time is up, don’t interrupt

One particularly rude host interrupted me as I was starting to explain why I would have to leave early that evening—‘you know introductions come out of your three minutes!’ So don’t do that. Limit interruptions to things like ‘your time is almost up’ warnings or reining in the clueless reader who clearly has no interest in observing the specified time limit.

Keep personal comments between readers to a minimum

Announcements of future readings, related readings, or other pertinent information are expected. Anecdotes about what you did on your vacation, that great barbecue you had last week, or your efforts to stop the city from cutting down a tree should be saved for post-reading chit-chat. Remember, we’re on a schedule.

Next: rules for audiences.

(14 August 2016)