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.

UNDERAGE SPLAM! rules and regulations:

Contestants must be 13-20 years old. There are three volunteer judges (two of which must be teenagers) who rate each individual performance on a scale of 1 - 10. There are three rounds through which the group of poets is whittled down to one final SPLAM! CHAMP. 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. Before the show begins, each poet draws a line of poetry out of a hat. He or she will have the remainder of the evening to write a minimum 20 line poem beginning with that line. This poem will be used if the contestant should make it to the final round. 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 HAIKU SPLAM). Please call our office at (253) 735-MEAT for further information regarding these and other spokenword events.

Winter/Spring 1998 Tentative SPLAM! schedule: