Lefoko denotes poetry in the streets of South African townships, the spoken word. In SeTswana it simply means word. This blog aims to discuss and focus on ways in which poets can establish themselves as brands and make a living out of the craft.
Friday, August 23, 2013
Launching The Hustle.
After one has establish oneself, one is known to the masses as the messenger of the word and if you speak their language by now they like you. You get called to poetry readings, sessions and shows by fellow poets. You have now establish a network for yourself and gained appreciation from the masses. You need to maintain this by writing more fresh poetry.
Yes we do poetry for the love and to enlighten souls, but a man has got to eat at the end of the day. When your poetry is tried and tested and you have established a fan base, it easy for you to get bookings for people know and love your poetry to actually pay to see and hear you perform. There are companies that manage poets, they get bookings for you. You submit your poems and details to them and they add you to their database, these people market you and put your profile on their website for people to book you. If you are independent like myself you can have your own blog or website where people can get you for bookings.
Competitions
Another way of making money is entering competitions. This is where you get to see whether you got it or not but obviously we cannot all win, so this is also a place to grow. You get to learn new ways and what are current trends, competitions are very interesting and nerve wrecking ask any poet, but it is all for building oneself and the money obviously. As a poet you need to be a recognized brand , so you need all the exposure to achieve that as I have mentioned in my first post. The attached video is Dejavu Tefari performing for a crowd during a competition in Cape town: Taken from YouTube.
Nice one! In a PR and Media standpoint it is very imperative for one to publicise him or her self to the forefront of the poetry lovers--for exposure and to be taken into cognisance. I concur with you, as poets we do it for the love, but we also need to eat. Please support us.
I have been having a little problem with my connection lad, should have replied to you ages ago. Yes, my brother you have a Point right there we have bellies to fill at the end of it all. I have seen a lot of poets doing it as a hobby maybe that is one of the reason it is not as big.
I hear you Portia, and it is true. Poetry does need exposure and perhaps a bit of commitment because a lot of poets take it as a hobby and have no aspiration or whatsoever to take it further than that.
It is truey man poetry is one of the ways where people can market themselves and improve their lives.people need to know that poetry is also part of talent and tou can be recognised by it and end up going places.
liking the vibes of this blog keeping lefoko alive that african essence of where we come from that the modern day world tries so hard to make us forget, our heritage holds more important lessons then that of the modern day world imposes on us, so people lets preserve who we are and not lose ourselves amidst all of this modernisation and urbanisation of the western world
Poetry is just too beautiful and quite frankly I just think it isn't getting the publicity it needs, I just feel like the Department of Arts and Culture is failing the movement
This is a good blog post and it adds value to the Industry. Poets are not well recognized by media and the society as large. I think this is a platform for Poets to express themselves. Thank you for this.
Nice one! In a PR and Media standpoint it is very imperative for one to publicise him or her self to the forefront of the poetry lovers--for exposure and to be taken into cognisance. I concur with you, as poets we do it for the love, but we also need to eat. Please support us.
ReplyDeleteI have been having a little problem with my connection lad, should have replied to you ages ago. Yes, my brother you have a Point right there we have bellies to fill at the end of it all. I have seen a lot of poets doing it as a hobby maybe that is one of the reason it is not as big.
DeleteDon't you guys think poetry need more exposure because most of us we don't even knw where one go where want to support or attend sessions
ReplyDeleteI hear you Portia, and it is true. Poetry does need exposure and perhaps a bit of commitment because a lot of poets take it as a hobby and have no aspiration or whatsoever to take it further than that.
DeleteIt is truey man poetry is one of the ways where people can market themselves and improve their lives.people need to know that poetry is also part of talent and tou can be recognised by it and end up going places.
ReplyDeleteYes brother Prince, it is one's vehicle to liberation.
Deleteliking the vibes of this blog keeping lefoko alive that african essence of where we come from that the modern day world tries so hard to make us forget, our heritage holds more important lessons then that of the modern day world imposes on us, so people lets preserve who we are and not lose ourselves amidst all of this modernisation and urbanisation of the western world
ReplyDeleteThanks man, wouldn't have said it beter myself.
DeletePoetry is just too beautiful and quite frankly I just think it isn't getting the publicity it needs, I just feel like the Department of Arts and Culture is failing the movement
ReplyDeleteTrue tat sista, that is why i saw the need to come up with the blog.
DeleteThis is a good blog post and it adds value to the Industry. Poets are not well recognized by media and the society as large. I think this is a platform for Poets to express themselves. Thank you for this.
ReplyDeletepleasure sista, thank you for joining the blog.
Delete