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What is the maximum time limit of a slam poem at the National College poetry slam?
A poetry slam is like a series of high-energy, three-minute one-person plays, judged by the audience. Anyone can sign up to compete in the slam for the $75 grand prize and $25 second-place prize. To compete in the slam, poets will need three original poems, each lasting no longer than three minutes.
What city is the original home of slam poetry?
The concept of slam poetry originated in the 1980s in Chicago, Illinois, when a local poet and construction worker, Marc Kelly Smith, feeling that poetry readings and poetry in general had lost their true passion, had an idea to bring poetry back to the people.
How long time should a slam poem be for a competition?
Most slams have a three-minute maximum per poem (there’s no minimum). You are responsible for knowing how long your poem is, and the host can’t tell you, so we recommend you time yourself at home to avoid receiving the dreaded Time Penalty.
What is the history of slam?
The movement began in 1986, hosted by Marc at the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge in Uptown Chicago. He believed that “the very word ‘poetry’ repels people… we need people to talk poetry to each other”. Slam was his solution. It brought the art of performance and poetry back together again, and ‘gave it back to the people’.
What type of poetry is slam poetry?
Put simply, slam poetry is not concerned with academia or publishing. Slam poetry is stage-based, and it incorporates several key elements: spoken word poetry, performance, audience participation, and competition. The competitive aspect of a poetry slam event is key.
How are poems judged in slam?
A poetry slam is a competitive performance poetry event in which poets perform their own original work and are judged by members of the audience. We have selected 5 random judges from the audience and asked them to score the poems on a scale of 0-10, using decimal points, based on the poet’s content and performance.