What is a poetry SLAM?

Poetry slams were invented in Chicago in the 1980's to lure people into bars and cafes to listen to poetry. Guess it worked, because poetry slams are now held WORLD-WIDE! Slams are live competitions in which poets are judged on poetic skill, stage presence, and original performance. The idea is to get the poetry off the page, out of the basement, and have a good time with it!

The main difference between a "regular" reading and a SLAM is in the performance. No props are allowed, but almost anything else goes. This makes for a whole new medium for artistic expression.

New Teen Slam! rules and regulations:

Contestants must be 13-20 years old. There are five volunteer judges who rate each individual performance on a scale of 0 - 10. There are three rounds through which the group of poets is whittled down to one final SLAM! CHAMP. In the final round contestants read a 20 line poem written that night starting from a line they pulled from the magic bag o' poetry as the sign up. The champs at each SPLAM! compete for cash and prizes in the semi-final and final SPLAM! competitions at the end of each season.

What do I have to do?

Each contestant should bring a minimum of three poems, each poem being no longer than three minutes. All poems must be original. Memorization is not necessary, but definitely enhances one’s performance. In the case of a tie, there will be a spontaneous poem competition between the final two contestants.

On occasion there will be special SPLAM events (such as the Dead Poets Slam the last Friday in October). Please call our office at (253) 735-MEAT for further information regarding these and other spokenword events.

2000/01 Slam schedule:

The '00-'01 season will begin at SPLAB! on Friday, October 6 and will culminate in a Grand Slam at SPLAB! in March '01 with the top five finalists that night representing the Seattle area at the National Teen Poetry Slam Championships in Ann Arbor, Michigan in April 2001. Slams will take place at SPLAB!, in Redmond, on Vashon Island and other locations to be announced. Information will be posted at this site.

SPLAM has been made possible by a grant from the

KING COUNTY COMMUNITY ORGANIZING PROGRAM and the KENNETH & MARLENE ALHADEFF CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

Last updated Sunday, July 16, 2000 09:35:40 PM