One of the very cool things about Waiheke is the creative spirit. The island is home to many artists, writers and poets, photographers, musicians and other creative souls. People make things, often from nothing. People invent things from scratch. People paint, potter, sew, knit, build, make soaps, skincare, candles, jewellery, footwear and housewares, and sing, perform, write books and film scripts, take photographs and write poetry. All alongside those who work in the wine and food industries. Waiheke’s wines, extra virgin olive oils, honeys and artisan foods are second to none. Much of what Waihekeans do is on display at the weekly craft market in Ostend and the summer markets in Oneroa.
Once a month on Waiheke we hold a song and poetry night. When I came to live on the island over 4 years ago it had a small but loyal following, but in the last year it has really flourished, and as a consequence, instead of taking a summer break, we are holding a S&P Thing in January because of the demand. We welcome everyone along, not just performers.
The beauty of our S&P Thing is that those who are performing must perform original material. We could fill up a week with everyone singing their favourite songs or reading their favourite poems, but that’s not the buzz. The aim is to stimulate new material, and to provide a platform for artists to perform.
Most singers, songwriters and musicians have plenty of practice while putting a song or instrumental together, but poets don’t have that opportunity. Most poets write alone and read poems in their head. Reading a poem aloud in front of people can be daunting. Our job is to help encourage first-timers, and to help lessen the fear that first performance often brings.
I was lucky. When I moved to Waiheke I attended a poetry afternoon I saw advertised in the local Weekender newspaper. I took a poem along but I didn’t think I’d read it – I’d never read a poem aloud to anyone before. I sat next to our previous Poet Laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh, and she wasn’t having a bar of it. You had to stand on a barrel to read – it was in a winery – and I told her I was afraid of heights (true, but stretching it when it was only barrel-height!). She told me to take off my shoes to feel more grounded. She told me to stand on a half-barrel. There was no getting out of it under her watch. So, I kicked off my shoes, stood on that half-barrel and with my heart thumping in my throat, I read a poem. People clapped, most likely because I did it, not necessarily because it was a great poem, but that was all I needed to turn that doubt into, ‘I CAN do it’. I understand the fear of first-time poets, and at S&P Thing I always give them a way out in case they genuinely do feel physically sick about getting up and reading, but I try to get them to do it, letting them read first, to get it over and done with, or towards the end of the evening when the crowd, helped along by a little nectar, are very forgiving.
Have you got a poem in you? Read it aloud. Develop a rhythm for it and move the words around on the paper so they are in the right place for that rhythm – in other words, let go of grammar. Don’t read it in front of friends, especially if they are not into poetry, because their puzzled expressions can knock your confidence. Read it to the mirror – it never lies! And head on down to S&P Thing Thursday 30th January.
And musos – it’s a great place to try out new material, to introduce your music to a new crowd, and to promote new work coming out.
The deets are:
Song & Poetry Thing
30th January
FOUND Café Ostend Waiheke
6.30 sign up for 7.00pm start
Song & Poetry Thing is run by Julie Biuso, Katy Soljak, Sue Fitchett and Kathy Voyles. The stunning posters are by Waihekean artist Miles Gillet. FOUND Café, Ostend, is available for private gigs.
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