darren thomas
North by North West Poetry Slam (Wigan)
I’m not a slammer. Perish the thought. However, I know a man who is.
Enter stage right Mr Peter Crompton, slammer extraordinaire. Now, before you drop your shoulders with the weight of familiarity, lets just look at the evidence. In fact, let’s not. Why not just comment on last night’s North by North West poetry slam at Wigan’s Tudor House instead?
So, how hard can it be? Winning consecutive slams? What with the lumps of Hebden Bridge still sitting in the seat of his trousers, Crompton stepped up to the pie eating plate of poetic slam and furnished the room with his loquacious bubbles of rant and animation. Out of a Wigan dozen poets, he was perhaps the only one that did blow bubbles of a size required to win such an event. With the exception of Louise Frazackerly and Michael Wilson. Ooh, and Sean Kavanagh too. In fact those four, who by coincidence made it to the dizzy heights of finalists, were the shining glints of gilt in a coal seam of averageness. I don’t want to sound too harsh, but the overall standard of ’performance’ was pretty much the Bernard Cribbins in a world of thespians. Leaving the four finalists aside, Wigan’s slam was there for the taking. Eight of the contestants lost their words in a sponge of crushed blue velvet curtains. They were as animated as the original Felix the Cat cartoons but with less dimension. They made magnolia look like high definition pictures of the cosmos taken through the Hubble telescope. They made starfish look like party animals. They bored the large flaccid and increasingly sagging buttocks right off the bones of my arse.
If the enticement of fifty real pounds sterling cannot stimulate the effervescent bubbles into a performance poet's glass, then what can? The kudos and gong of winning the North by North West poetry slam was obviously too much for many to wear around their hairy chests of indifference. So, it was left to the four finalists to reaffirm an audience belief in poetry slammin’. Was it?
Louise performed with conviction and without the aid of notes. On more than one occasion I saw her bounce her eyebrows and she had a stage presence that married with her performance. She came second by the smallest of margins. I felt that if she waved her arms around in a frantic manner then she may, quite possibly, have come first. Sean Kavanagh is a seasoned performer. He had the opportunity of lining the pockets of his ill fitting trousers with fifty pounds. Instead, he seemed satisfied with the consolation prize of a bottle of Wigan’s finest plonk. A seasoned plonk no less, matured and cultivated in the vineyards of Higher Ince. Michael Wilson was almost unrecognizable without his RAF Thunderbird jacket, but his poetry was intense and performed with the sincerity of ‘Alan‘, the puppet character in Thunderbird 5 who spends his time in space, illegally monitoring and acting upon random radio transmissions from people in distress. (I wonder if he received my surreptitious pleas for salvation?) I suspect he didn’t.
So, it was left to Pete Crompton to simply perform what he does best. Until performers realise that he IS the bar as far as Wigan/Bolton and Leatherhead poets’ are concerned, then I’m afraid that the seemingly tiresome event of presenting him with ready cash every few months is likely to continue. If you finish above Crompton, then you win a slam - it’s as simple as that. In fairness, I‘ve seen Pete perform better at open mic events. He did enough to win and no more. He’s a sly old fox.
Which raises the question - who can beat him? Well, last night the scoring was consistent with no obvious rouge marking. It was there for the taking - and he took it. Those that dwell on the fact that they could have quite easily have won too may be kicking themselves this morning. It would afterall, save a hung over judge the effort of doing it for them.
Overall, the standard hovered on the cusp of averageness and pretty much shite. Which is a Wigan adjectival colloquialism for mediocrity. One consolation was, it was Monday night and normally on a Monday night I would be inserting cocktail sticks into my eyeballs or boiling myself in heavy duty engine oil. Recreational pastimes which share more than a passing familiarity to a Wigan poetry slam.
Incidentally, the beer last night was unfeasibly strong. Traces of which are still coursing through my, rather worryingly, sticky - out veins.
Double incidentally, I performed a drunken version of 'A load of Bishops' which faltered like a Montgolfier brothers balloon in a high wind.
Enter stage right Mr Peter Crompton, slammer extraordinaire. Now, before you drop your shoulders with the weight of familiarity, lets just look at the evidence. In fact, let’s not. Why not just comment on last night’s North by North West poetry slam at Wigan’s Tudor House instead?
So, how hard can it be? Winning consecutive slams? What with the lumps of Hebden Bridge still sitting in the seat of his trousers, Crompton stepped up to the pie eating plate of poetic slam and furnished the room with his loquacious bubbles of rant and animation. Out of a Wigan dozen poets, he was perhaps the only one that did blow bubbles of a size required to win such an event. With the exception of Louise Frazackerly and Michael Wilson. Ooh, and Sean Kavanagh too. In fact those four, who by coincidence made it to the dizzy heights of finalists, were the shining glints of gilt in a coal seam of averageness. I don’t want to sound too harsh, but the overall standard of ’performance’ was pretty much the Bernard Cribbins in a world of thespians. Leaving the four finalists aside, Wigan’s slam was there for the taking. Eight of the contestants lost their words in a sponge of crushed blue velvet curtains. They were as animated as the original Felix the Cat cartoons but with less dimension. They made magnolia look like high definition pictures of the cosmos taken through the Hubble telescope. They made starfish look like party animals. They bored the large flaccid and increasingly sagging buttocks right off the bones of my arse.
If the enticement of fifty real pounds sterling cannot stimulate the effervescent bubbles into a performance poet's glass, then what can? The kudos and gong of winning the North by North West poetry slam was obviously too much for many to wear around their hairy chests of indifference. So, it was left to the four finalists to reaffirm an audience belief in poetry slammin’. Was it?
Louise performed with conviction and without the aid of notes. On more than one occasion I saw her bounce her eyebrows and she had a stage presence that married with her performance. She came second by the smallest of margins. I felt that if she waved her arms around in a frantic manner then she may, quite possibly, have come first. Sean Kavanagh is a seasoned performer. He had the opportunity of lining the pockets of his ill fitting trousers with fifty pounds. Instead, he seemed satisfied with the consolation prize of a bottle of Wigan’s finest plonk. A seasoned plonk no less, matured and cultivated in the vineyards of Higher Ince. Michael Wilson was almost unrecognizable without his RAF Thunderbird jacket, but his poetry was intense and performed with the sincerity of ‘Alan‘, the puppet character in Thunderbird 5 who spends his time in space, illegally monitoring and acting upon random radio transmissions from people in distress. (I wonder if he received my surreptitious pleas for salvation?) I suspect he didn’t.
So, it was left to Pete Crompton to simply perform what he does best. Until performers realise that he IS the bar as far as Wigan/Bolton and Leatherhead poets’ are concerned, then I’m afraid that the seemingly tiresome event of presenting him with ready cash every few months is likely to continue. If you finish above Crompton, then you win a slam - it’s as simple as that. In fairness, I‘ve seen Pete perform better at open mic events. He did enough to win and no more. He’s a sly old fox.
Which raises the question - who can beat him? Well, last night the scoring was consistent with no obvious rouge marking. It was there for the taking - and he took it. Those that dwell on the fact that they could have quite easily have won too may be kicking themselves this morning. It would afterall, save a hung over judge the effort of doing it for them.
Overall, the standard hovered on the cusp of averageness and pretty much shite. Which is a Wigan adjectival colloquialism for mediocrity. One consolation was, it was Monday night and normally on a Monday night I would be inserting cocktail sticks into my eyeballs or boiling myself in heavy duty engine oil. Recreational pastimes which share more than a passing familiarity to a Wigan poetry slam.
Incidentally, the beer last night was unfeasibly strong. Traces of which are still coursing through my, rather worryingly, sticky - out veins.
Double incidentally, I performed a drunken version of 'A load of Bishops' which faltered like a Montgolfier brothers balloon in a high wind.
Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:24 am
What an interesting point of view you have, Darren. There can be no argument that Peter Crompton rocks when it comes to performance poetry. We’re in agreement there.
Now lets look at the North by Northwest Poetry Slam from another perspective.
Mine :-)
For me, a poetry slam should provide an interesting and entertaining evening of performance poetry. And the twist? It’s made all modern and exciting and a bit common, by the element of COMPETITION and CASH PRIZES!
INTERESTING? ENTERTAINING? PERFORMANCE?
All the poets were either interesting or entertaining at the very least. And I think most were interesting and entertaining. Your main gripe seems to be the performance element. I agree that from a performance perspective every single poet could have improved the way they presented their work on that stage. Pete included. If you want people to ‘perform’ their work, to animate it in a way that’s true to themselves they’re going to need some help.
Poetry is a solitary, insular dirty little habit done in bedrooms and on public transport. And we all know some stuff works better on the page than on the stage. So if we want local poets to achieve world domination we need to put on workshops that help develop that skill.
The other point I’d like to make is that 3 out of the 8 performers had never been to a poetry slam before- never mind been one of the ‘acts’. And let’s face it, everyone has to start somewhere. Poetry slams are all on-the-fringe and cool at the moment and the downside of being relatively embryonic is that people are in training for greatness. Particularly in this part of the world. I’m not sure if people know what they should be aiming for.
In conclusion however I’d like to say I’m very glad there’s a dissenting voice in the background (i.e. you) because we need that or the bar won’t get raised and everyone will continue to be all middle-class and polite and clap each other on the back saying ‘you aaaaaare brave’ etc etc. And it’s good to have some friction between the judges and some stingy voting- nothing wrong with a bit of a ‘Pop Idol’ thing going on- Simon Cowell’s got nothing on you ‘Dastardly Darren’.
Now lets look at the North by Northwest Poetry Slam from another perspective.
Mine :-)
For me, a poetry slam should provide an interesting and entertaining evening of performance poetry. And the twist? It’s made all modern and exciting and a bit common, by the element of COMPETITION and CASH PRIZES!
INTERESTING? ENTERTAINING? PERFORMANCE?
All the poets were either interesting or entertaining at the very least. And I think most were interesting and entertaining. Your main gripe seems to be the performance element. I agree that from a performance perspective every single poet could have improved the way they presented their work on that stage. Pete included. If you want people to ‘perform’ their work, to animate it in a way that’s true to themselves they’re going to need some help.
Poetry is a solitary, insular dirty little habit done in bedrooms and on public transport. And we all know some stuff works better on the page than on the stage. So if we want local poets to achieve world domination we need to put on workshops that help develop that skill.
The other point I’d like to make is that 3 out of the 8 performers had never been to a poetry slam before- never mind been one of the ‘acts’. And let’s face it, everyone has to start somewhere. Poetry slams are all on-the-fringe and cool at the moment and the downside of being relatively embryonic is that people are in training for greatness. Particularly in this part of the world. I’m not sure if people know what they should be aiming for.
In conclusion however I’d like to say I’m very glad there’s a dissenting voice in the background (i.e. you) because we need that or the bar won’t get raised and everyone will continue to be all middle-class and polite and clap each other on the back saying ‘you aaaaaare brave’ etc etc. And it’s good to have some friction between the judges and some stingy voting- nothing wrong with a bit of a ‘Pop Idol’ thing going on- Simon Cowell’s got nothing on you ‘Dastardly Darren’.
Tue, 29 Jul 2008 07:48 pm
Pete Crompton
Oy Oy Loiuse!
I agree hes the dastardly Darren!
hes the no bull machine.
I don't have the guts to say the things he does.
I just cant handle the anticipation of the confrontations it potentially causes
He writes record reviews in record times and he has the honest touch
i tend to be in sugar coated sweetness half the time.terrible.
Slams will be the debate of WOL until the slammers come home
Lot of luck involved too with all this.
I mean if alabaster de la plume turned up, I would have said he would have done really well, he has some fab performance stuff.
I enjoyed each and every poet, I enjoyed the rush, the hit, the excitement of it all, its nerve wrenching rack attack the friendship the not so friendship, all of it i guess, tellin mum I won..I dunno ..what I'll do is the next local slam, ill go to London on same night and be doin a slam as you guys do one up here and we can compare notes, ill let you know if I win in London.
the scores were close and thats good when it gets that way.
turnin poetry into pop idol...hmm there goes the slam debate again!
as an antidote ill go write some serious page stuff if I can .....
Louise you did great especially with no script, not like me, I have yet to fully memorise one poem confidently and I'm workin on that next.
Oh I don't know, I just want to play on the stage
its not really poetry its messin around.
its all theatrics....or is it??
is there any time to catch my words if im bleating them out, check the debate on SLAMS on another thread
thanks for your comments Louise as ever!
Im now off to put a Bee Gees record on called 'I started a Joke' heard it on Steve wrights (radio 2) today and loved the sentiment and melodies
I agree hes the dastardly Darren!
hes the no bull machine.
I don't have the guts to say the things he does.
I just cant handle the anticipation of the confrontations it potentially causes
He writes record reviews in record times and he has the honest touch
i tend to be in sugar coated sweetness half the time.terrible.
Slams will be the debate of WOL until the slammers come home
Lot of luck involved too with all this.
I mean if alabaster de la plume turned up, I would have said he would have done really well, he has some fab performance stuff.
I enjoyed each and every poet, I enjoyed the rush, the hit, the excitement of it all, its nerve wrenching rack attack the friendship the not so friendship, all of it i guess, tellin mum I won..I dunno ..what I'll do is the next local slam, ill go to London on same night and be doin a slam as you guys do one up here and we can compare notes, ill let you know if I win in London.
the scores were close and thats good when it gets that way.
turnin poetry into pop idol...hmm there goes the slam debate again!
as an antidote ill go write some serious page stuff if I can .....
Louise you did great especially with no script, not like me, I have yet to fully memorise one poem confidently and I'm workin on that next.
Oh I don't know, I just want to play on the stage
its not really poetry its messin around.
its all theatrics....or is it??
is there any time to catch my words if im bleating them out, check the debate on SLAMS on another thread
thanks for your comments Louise as ever!
Im now off to put a Bee Gees record on called 'I started a Joke' heard it on Steve wrights (radio 2) today and loved the sentiment and melodies
Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:20 pm
Some interesting points raised. I'm not qualified to comment on the quality of either my own writing or performance but I think Darren's comments might seem a bit harsh on other people.
Overall I thought it was a good evening and I totally agree that the top four selected by the judges certainly deserved to be the top four and the fact the scores were incredibly close was thoroughly justified as was the victory for Peter. Louise really did push very close and was really impressive.
And of course I think the slam was a WOL event and it did have some of the WOL attitudes whereby poets are supported etc. Surely that was one of the reasons why three (or more) of us decided it would be a good place to have a first experience of a slam.
I for one will look forward to competing in another slam in the future. Of course I hope to refine my delivery (being able to open my mouth properly in a few weeks might help) and work on the performance side.
Like anything new there is a time where you learn and develop and eventually reach your potential. During that process there are times when you will get badly beaten, make mistakes, go the wrong way and pick up criticism which may not be immediately welcome, but from which we may still learn. However for those with the competitive nature those are all part of the development process and strengthen the competitor.
I also know from wide experience of competition (and coaching) in other areas that there are some who will enjoy competing but never really push it all the was to potentially win - but without those the winners never look so good. There are also some who enjoy an activity and have a go at competing and maybe find that it isn't their thing - those people often get hurt be it in a physical sport or mental challenge and they tend to move back out of the competitive arena - but I admire those also because at least they gave it a try.
So you've been warned - some of us will come back next time stronger and keener, and getting closer to the bar that is currently Peter Crompton.
Seamus
Overall I thought it was a good evening and I totally agree that the top four selected by the judges certainly deserved to be the top four and the fact the scores were incredibly close was thoroughly justified as was the victory for Peter. Louise really did push very close and was really impressive.
And of course I think the slam was a WOL event and it did have some of the WOL attitudes whereby poets are supported etc. Surely that was one of the reasons why three (or more) of us decided it would be a good place to have a first experience of a slam.
I for one will look forward to competing in another slam in the future. Of course I hope to refine my delivery (being able to open my mouth properly in a few weeks might help) and work on the performance side.
Like anything new there is a time where you learn and develop and eventually reach your potential. During that process there are times when you will get badly beaten, make mistakes, go the wrong way and pick up criticism which may not be immediately welcome, but from which we may still learn. However for those with the competitive nature those are all part of the development process and strengthen the competitor.
I also know from wide experience of competition (and coaching) in other areas that there are some who will enjoy competing but never really push it all the was to potentially win - but without those the winners never look so good. There are also some who enjoy an activity and have a go at competing and maybe find that it isn't their thing - those people often get hurt be it in a physical sport or mental challenge and they tend to move back out of the competitive arena - but I admire those also because at least they gave it a try.
So you've been warned - some of us will come back next time stronger and keener, and getting closer to the bar that is currently Peter Crompton.
Seamus
Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:10 pm
Peter,
I love the Man Alone poem but am a little confused about one small point.
Maybe someone can explain to me what's wrong with mopping around the legs of the furniture? How would dust get onto the floor under the feet of the sofa, the table etc?
I love the Man Alone poem but am a little confused about one small point.
Maybe someone can explain to me what's wrong with mopping around the legs of the furniture? How would dust get onto the floor under the feet of the sofa, the table etc?
Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:16 pm
Pete Crompton
Hi Seamus
I agree that this was a friendly slam I reckon there should be a first timers slam, it seems unfair as I have done a lot of slams so its not really an even field, however you never know who's going to turn up and that.
Im a bit confused about it all emotionally.
right Seamus young man!!
mopping round the table legs and around the toaster / furniture etc is a man thing to do but wrong. dust gets anywhere that air does
that means under tables.
if one is going to clean a surface the surface should be clear of obstacles, fully wiped down and then everything put back!
but its lazy time for the man alone.................so he mops around things. not the right way to do it.
the point being the male knows this and 'feels' mothers eyes upon him and rebels by taking short cuts.
we did not get the chance to have a decent chat seamus, i missed that. I wanted to thank you for your support and kind words on some of my recent poems. It helps to listen what people say. as always im a fan of your standby poem
regarding the slam, i have a long long way to go and a hell of a lot to learn. Could not have done it without all the poets and the organisers of WOL
the prize money went to RSPCA its for the new cattery project.
have a look at this link and donate if you feel flush!
http://www.justgiving.com/rspcasouthportskydive?from=UKSponsorExit
I agree that this was a friendly slam I reckon there should be a first timers slam, it seems unfair as I have done a lot of slams so its not really an even field, however you never know who's going to turn up and that.
Im a bit confused about it all emotionally.
right Seamus young man!!
mopping round the table legs and around the toaster / furniture etc is a man thing to do but wrong. dust gets anywhere that air does
that means under tables.
if one is going to clean a surface the surface should be clear of obstacles, fully wiped down and then everything put back!
but its lazy time for the man alone.................so he mops around things. not the right way to do it.
the point being the male knows this and 'feels' mothers eyes upon him and rebels by taking short cuts.
we did not get the chance to have a decent chat seamus, i missed that. I wanted to thank you for your support and kind words on some of my recent poems. It helps to listen what people say. as always im a fan of your standby poem
regarding the slam, i have a long long way to go and a hell of a lot to learn. Could not have done it without all the poets and the organisers of WOL
the prize money went to RSPCA its for the new cattery project.
have a look at this link and donate if you feel flush!
http://www.justgiving.com/rspcasouthportskydive?from=UKSponsorExit
Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:48 pm
darren thomas
Seamus - you make very valid points in your reasoning for and why people participate in poetry slams. Maybe saying that Wigan’s slam was ‘shite’ was a just a little too blunt? I haven’t been to too many slams, so, my yard stick as a level of measurability is not as long as I would like. However, I’m aware that of the other slams where I’ve attended, they did seem to have a far more competitive edge. In that sense Wigan was an ideal place to start and cut your slammin’ teeth. The crowd was a little on the sparse side, which is always a disappointment. As for those who do stand up and be counted - let’s not kid ourselves. We all have our motives about why we do it. Exposing our souls to strangers and friends alike, for just a few minutes can either make us feel fantastic or reinforce our insecurities ten fold.
Every poet who read the other night had something to say and felt confident enough to get up there and say it. Nerves and anxiety are a natural process when we expose ourselves in these situations. There was some very intense poetry from people who will no doubt feel that they can only improve on their first performance/slam - and that is what it’s all about.
If I was a stranger in town who was familiar with the concept of poetry slams and stumbled across this gig I would have been disappointed but encouraged with the standard of some of the poets. Disappointed because I have seen and heard far stronger poets and encouraged because it would prompt me into thinking ‘I could do that’. I’m sure that there were members of the audience there who have mulled over the idea of entering slams but may have been discouraged by the standard of the leading poetic lights. Wigan, as always, brings the reality into performance poetry. People who perform are just like you and me. They have the same emotive creativity and when they realize that they can use performance as a conduit for this creativity that’s when they ‘fill their boots’. Like anything in life - some appear more comfortable with just getting up there and doing it. Others appear to find it more of a challenge - but a challenge none the less. If it was easy, we’d all be doing it.
I respect those who perform and those who sit and watch which allows those people to perform to some kind of an audience. The minute you stand on that stage and expose yourself - then you’re subjecting yourself to opinion of others. Some people can cope with this -- and again, others cannot. It’s what prevents some people getting up there and doing it. When in actual fact, it shouldn’t matter what other people think. If you want to get up there and perform/ recite, then get up there. It doesn’t matter what half wits like me have to say. You’ll find that the more you do it. The easier and more enjoyable it becomes. Which applies to most things in life. The paradigm of learning.
At the moment, I’m at a stage where I feel I am consciously incompetent with my own performance(s), which is good because that is where we should all be starting from.
So, on that note, there were some performances that I thought were shite. While this description is perhaps a little vague, it is a word recognised in certain copies of the OED and select areas of Wigan and the North by North West.
*I have used the second person personal pronoun ‘you’. These comments are not directed at you Seamus - more, in general.
Every poet who read the other night had something to say and felt confident enough to get up there and say it. Nerves and anxiety are a natural process when we expose ourselves in these situations. There was some very intense poetry from people who will no doubt feel that they can only improve on their first performance/slam - and that is what it’s all about.
If I was a stranger in town who was familiar with the concept of poetry slams and stumbled across this gig I would have been disappointed but encouraged with the standard of some of the poets. Disappointed because I have seen and heard far stronger poets and encouraged because it would prompt me into thinking ‘I could do that’. I’m sure that there were members of the audience there who have mulled over the idea of entering slams but may have been discouraged by the standard of the leading poetic lights. Wigan, as always, brings the reality into performance poetry. People who perform are just like you and me. They have the same emotive creativity and when they realize that they can use performance as a conduit for this creativity that’s when they ‘fill their boots’. Like anything in life - some appear more comfortable with just getting up there and doing it. Others appear to find it more of a challenge - but a challenge none the less. If it was easy, we’d all be doing it.
I respect those who perform and those who sit and watch which allows those people to perform to some kind of an audience. The minute you stand on that stage and expose yourself - then you’re subjecting yourself to opinion of others. Some people can cope with this -- and again, others cannot. It’s what prevents some people getting up there and doing it. When in actual fact, it shouldn’t matter what other people think. If you want to get up there and perform/ recite, then get up there. It doesn’t matter what half wits like me have to say. You’ll find that the more you do it. The easier and more enjoyable it becomes. Which applies to most things in life. The paradigm of learning.
At the moment, I’m at a stage where I feel I am consciously incompetent with my own performance(s), which is good because that is where we should all be starting from.
So, on that note, there were some performances that I thought were shite. While this description is perhaps a little vague, it is a word recognised in certain copies of the OED and select areas of Wigan and the North by North West.
*I have used the second person personal pronoun ‘you’. These comments are not directed at you Seamus - more, in general.
Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:57 am
Darren, I agree with pretty much everything you said and having lived in the North West for about 21 of my years (rather less than half) I am sufficiently familiar and comfortable with the term "shite" even though my spellchecker isn't.
Fortunately I don't mind any criticism and think that we can learn from most of it. OK if someone said I was shite and nothing else I wouldn't learn much but I wouldn't mind too much. If someone said I wasn't animated enough then I'd have something to think about.
One of the things about most creative people is that we are never happy that we are doing as well as we could.
Talk to those four poets who made the final and I know that they all think they needed to do better, they want to push themselves further. Even when they win like Peter did they are not fully satisfied. And because of that they'll continue to get better and the bar is raised - as opposed to the bar getting razed by all the disillusioned punters after a truly boring slam.
Does anyone know just how bad the poetry on the pier at Weston Supermare was?
Fortunately I don't mind any criticism and think that we can learn from most of it. OK if someone said I was shite and nothing else I wouldn't learn much but I wouldn't mind too much. If someone said I wasn't animated enough then I'd have something to think about.
One of the things about most creative people is that we are never happy that we are doing as well as we could.
Talk to those four poets who made the final and I know that they all think they needed to do better, they want to push themselves further. Even when they win like Peter did they are not fully satisfied. And because of that they'll continue to get better and the bar is raised - as opposed to the bar getting razed by all the disillusioned punters after a truly boring slam.
Does anyone know just how bad the poetry on the pier at Weston Supermare was?
Wed, 30 Jul 2008 06:05 pm
Ha
Darren, I thought your initial comments would lead to much response, and it has.
In some ways I agree with you, but unsure whether you should have put it in print quite as bluntly.
Had I been available I would have been up there too, and wouldn't have cared if I had officially come last.
However for someone to have said I was shite would have pissed me off, given that I had taken the time to write a poem, and had the guts to get up.
Without the shite ones (or at least those of us that don't really expect to win) you would only have had three or four contestants.
Then the whole ambience and/or success of the evening would have been 'shite' too. I'm led to believe that was not the case, due in no small measure no doubt to those who at least tried.
I've said to you before that I don't consider myself a poet, with which you disagree. Am I a writer until I'm published? But having had little bits of feedback and encouragement in the
past may make me reconsider my status, but being called shite would not.
I am not necessarily disagreeing with your comments, as my slam yardstick is even smaller than yours. Perhaps WOL could see its way to funding a couple of 'real' slammers to attend the next one, so us beginners can see what it's really all about. Obviously Pete would be on the payroll, speaking of whom, well done mate.
Baz
Darren, I thought your initial comments would lead to much response, and it has.
In some ways I agree with you, but unsure whether you should have put it in print quite as bluntly.
Had I been available I would have been up there too, and wouldn't have cared if I had officially come last.
However for someone to have said I was shite would have pissed me off, given that I had taken the time to write a poem, and had the guts to get up.
Without the shite ones (or at least those of us that don't really expect to win) you would only have had three or four contestants.
Then the whole ambience and/or success of the evening would have been 'shite' too. I'm led to believe that was not the case, due in no small measure no doubt to those who at least tried.
I've said to you before that I don't consider myself a poet, with which you disagree. Am I a writer until I'm published? But having had little bits of feedback and encouragement in the
past may make me reconsider my status, but being called shite would not.
I am not necessarily disagreeing with your comments, as my slam yardstick is even smaller than yours. Perhaps WOL could see its way to funding a couple of 'real' slammers to attend the next one, so us beginners can see what it's really all about. Obviously Pete would be on the payroll, speaking of whom, well done mate.
Baz
Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:51 pm
darren thomas
Baz, as I've said before, I have every respect for those who get up and perform/recite and those who attend such an occasion.
The word 'shite' is recognized as another term for the word 'shit' which are both defined as 'British vulgar slang'. They have their origins from old Germanic language and as such, I've as much right to use this word as I have any other that nestles in the corals of the OED. Some poets used language that is arguably more vulgar than 'shite' in their perfomances on the night. I would never call anybody or anything 'shite' without trying to substantiate my comments. Unless of course, I was steaming drunk. In that case I wouldn't really care if they were shite or not.For the record Baz. I didn't compete in the slam, but I did read a poem. Guess what? I was 'shite'. Double Shite. Triple shite wearing a big hat shite. Maybe it was Wigan's 'festival of Shite' and all things shitty. I dunno?
C'mon - you were in the RAF. You must be at ease with the word 'shite'? That is, afterall, where I first became familiar with its usage for adjectival puposes.
As this site is all about 'encouraging performance AND participation in poetry performance' then I accept that my comments may cause some people to reconsider their decisions of maybe having a go at performing for the first time.
If you rub the inside of your cheek with the tip of your tongue. Gently does it. Now, push the tip softly into the warm fleshy tissue. Repeat process until bored, or until you have finished writing about a poetry slam held in Wigan.
The word 'shite' is recognized as another term for the word 'shit' which are both defined as 'British vulgar slang'. They have their origins from old Germanic language and as such, I've as much right to use this word as I have any other that nestles in the corals of the OED. Some poets used language that is arguably more vulgar than 'shite' in their perfomances on the night. I would never call anybody or anything 'shite' without trying to substantiate my comments. Unless of course, I was steaming drunk. In that case I wouldn't really care if they were shite or not.For the record Baz. I didn't compete in the slam, but I did read a poem. Guess what? I was 'shite'. Double Shite. Triple shite wearing a big hat shite. Maybe it was Wigan's 'festival of Shite' and all things shitty. I dunno?
C'mon - you were in the RAF. You must be at ease with the word 'shite'? That is, afterall, where I first became familiar with its usage for adjectival puposes.
As this site is all about 'encouraging performance AND participation in poetry performance' then I accept that my comments may cause some people to reconsider their decisions of maybe having a go at performing for the first time.
If you rub the inside of your cheek with the tip of your tongue. Gently does it. Now, push the tip softly into the warm fleshy tissue. Repeat process until bored, or until you have finished writing about a poetry slam held in Wigan.
Thu, 31 Jul 2008 01:58 pm