OPEN MICS
I wanted to start sharing my story in public. I knew of open mic nights in London, where anybody could sign up, and get 5 mins on the stage to perform what they wished. The night was mainly singers and musicians, but I went as a storyteller and began telling my story.
THING WERE NOT GOING WELL
The events were in the pubs and bars around London. They were busy places, with people drinking and expecting entertainment from the performers. It was not the correct environment for me to tell my story. The audiences looked shocked, uncomfortable, and it felt like a nightmare at every event.
AUDIENCE KICK BACK
Things went from bad to worse. One event cut my microphone half way and said that my story was too much. At another event, a member of the audience stood up and shouted at me to get off the stage, saying that the event was entertainment and I should not be coming with this subject. I felt crushed.
BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD
I knew I needed to make adjustments. I needed to figure out a way to tell my story that suited these events. I started speaking over background music, and instead of telling my story every time, I started exploring different concepts like ‘why I never said anything when the abuse was going on’. It was working. The support from the crowds began to grow.
POETRY AND SPOKEN WORD SCENE
A member of the crowd introduced me to poetry and spoken word scene. I couldn’t believe it. Large audiences, all paying for tickets to see the performers, everyone clapping and cheering. I had found the correct environment for my story. It felt like a real relief.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF MY CONTENT
I started getting connected with various artists, and creatives on the scene: filmmakers, illustrators, photographers. People were interested in collaborating. To turn my performances into short videos, to match the emotions with photography. We started collaborating. I made social media accounts and began posting the content online. People started messaging telling me that they appreciated my content. The momentum was building.
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