Hello beautiful people!
My name is Amy Allen and I am trying to create and launch my career as a professional poet.
I am a queer independent self-managing poet/spoken word artist from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, living in London.
POETRY AS A LIFE SAVER
I began writing spoken word poetry by accident in lockdown 2020 and it ended up being my lifeline.
I was struggling dangerously with my mental health while simultaneously questioning my sexuality. This was a very lonely place. I had many friends, but only knew 2 other queer women, one 20 years younger than me and one 20 years older. I was approaching 40 and felt lost at sea.
Since an early age, something felt different from how society said I 'should' be (this was the 1990's) but I often put this down to a lack of self-confidence or inherited anxiety.
I had written poetry when I was a child, but dance was my true love because it felt more expansive. Writing poetry, in my young opinion was for stuffy school classrooms studying anthologies. It didn't have the movement towards freedom that I craved.
With my dancing not being up to professional standard, I decided that I wanted to be an actor, and I graduated from Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama in 2005. I worked in Theatre-In-Education, facilitating and teaching as well as hundreds of hospitality jobs, but crumbled in auditions because of my debilitating lack of self-belief. I went back to drama school - the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts, to focus on honing my craft, for which I received a DADA (Dance And Drama Award) to attend, and although since graduating there in 2013, I have worked with the likes of Zawe Ashton on her debut short 'Happy Toys' for BBC Films, covered for Wendy Peters on a production of 'Sleepy Hollow' during panto season, and played the lead in short film 'Grimsby Girl' winning the Earls Court Producer's Choice Award, I have not been able to make a living from it or feel the sense of fulfilment I have been yearning for. The longing to fully express was always present. A longing to find my own voice.
This niggling feeling had burrowed itself deep inside, a belief that I was not worthy of being heard, that I wasn't good enough to make my passion my work, that there was something wrong with me. I felt stunted and muted until...I stumbled onto an online queer writing group hosted by theatre maker Charlie Josephine in 2020, dialogue finally flowed from my pen. Not for fiction, but for the authentic rhythm of what it means to fully crack into and out of your own heart. My words danced to the beat that had always been mine. These words saved my soul. And continue to do so. The connections created through sharing them, and the impact on those who have heard them; the joy I feel creating and performing them, have taught me that this is my calling.
Because I know how painful it can be to live without an authentic voice, I am fiercely passionate in raising mine to elevate others.
Audience reaction to my performance at Queer Edge Live in September 2024:
SPOKEN WORD SO FAR:
In 2022, I started to share my poetry online, in 2023 I began attending open mics in London, and more recently have performed a set at Petersfield Shakespeare Festival and at QE Live ~ a platform for elevating queer artists. I was finally able to speak openly about being Gay last year, and have since been featured on BBC Uploads with a poem I wrote when I was struggling with my mental health. Many people have told me since that they 'needed to hear it'. You can view it on the below link:
I was also featured on BBC Radio London with another poem 'Be More Panther', and spoke openly about my journey with my sexuality.
Earlier this year I wrote a poem called 'Lesbians Love To Layer' which I first performed at Eastcheap Records at a charity event. I performed it more recently at an LGBT Open Mic and then at QE Live, and it reflected to me the importance of Queer Spaces which in my opinion is vastly underrated and much needed. Especially now with the political landscape being what it is.
Here's an extract:
Giving my experience of what it means to be alive, a voice and rhythm that is intimately personal, has highlighted how many experiences are ultimately universal.
Through my words, I have been able to heal myself and in turn wish to share that healing with others. I have spent 40 years of my life feeling like something was blocking me, and now I want to fully embrace this gift of mine - using all of my past experience to fuel my poetry and performance to the next level.
Comments from audience members -
'Wow, I could listen to this a thousand times and it'll never be any less captivating and beautiful'
'Resonates so much it hurts. Beautiful! Gorgeous.'
'Your articulation of truth is Spellbinding'
So far, I have been paid for one appearance.
Earlier this this year I lost a friend to suicide, I also had my teaching work cut due to a lack of funding at my place of work, this and my coming out have all made me stop and take stock. Of what is truly important.
Thanks to my own savings, and with the financial help of a dear friend I have taken these first steps towards realising my dream; gigging and building connections, curating my websites, crafting a plan and goals to aim for. Now, this money is running out and it's time to turn to you ~
MY NEXT STEPS:
I have been working on getting my websites amyallenpoet.com & reversevoices.com up and running, and aim to have these launched within the next 6 weeks.
I am wanting to book a venue for my debut London Gig - a night of my spoken word poetry to be performed with music. I will be collaborating with queer musicians and DJ's on this as I perform my live poetry to an underscore of acoustic guitar and/or DJ beats.
I am wanting to book performance slots at festivals to perform at in the summer so that I can reach more audiences.
I am also wanting to publish my debut poetry book which currently has a working title of 'From The Silly Little Girl Who Hated Long Words'.
MY ULTIMATE VISION:
I want to Perform my Spoken Word with music & dance, on stages around the globe, this will be an interactive experience between myself and the audience where we can connect through words that reflect what it means to be human.
RE VERSE VOICES:
In addition to this I want to set up the company ReVerse Voices that will offer open mic nights, workshops, events, retreats, 1:1 coaching and collaborations.
ReVerse Open Mic Nights
Will have an emphasis on elevating voices of folks who identify as LGBTQ+ and female allies. I am particularly interested in empowering people who are new to sharing their words out loud. There is something magical about getting on the mic for the first time and using your voice to say what is on your heart. I'd love to witness in others the freedom this has given me.
I have had over 20 years worth of facilitation experience working with 1000's of humans, and am naturally caring, so I know that I can create a warm, safe and elevating environment in what can be a very vulnerable space.
Workshops, Retreats in nature and Collaborations with artists and companies who align with mine are also something I am interested in for the future.
HOW WILL I USE THE MONEY RAISED?
* To complete the development of my websites and launch them by the end of 2024
* To hire a venue so that I can put on my debut gig in London in spring 2025
* To research and hire queer friendly venues for my first open mic and workshops to launch in late Jan/Feb 2025
* To retreat to nature for 2 weeks in Jan 2025 so that I can write and create without distraction ~ set list and book content
* To try out my poems at a variety of open mic nights so that I can refine the set list
* To pay the musicians who I am collaborating with for rehearsal and performance
*To hire PR to help with promotion and press attendance at my gig and book launch
* To collate and prepare my debut poetry book. Either working with a publisher, or self-publish if necessary. Prospective release date: Late Autumn 2025
If there is money left from the above I will use it to -
* Research and hire a venue to host my first retreat
* Record my debut album
* Develop a podcast with poet/spoken word artist Tstarnay (@iamtstarnay on instagram), where we will be hosting an interactive podcast which will encourage our audience to write with us, and introduce a featured LGBTQ+ poet to share their words.
THANK YOU
To show my gratitude for your support, I have put together some special rewards. Asking for help has always been something that I have found hard to do, so please know that any donation regardless of size holds a huge place in my heart.
I'll be posting updates about my projects on my social media, so please do follow me on @amyallenpoet on instagram and tiktok if that's your jam.
I can't wait to share my words with you live and in print soon!
Love & deep thanks,
Amy xx