In a word...superb.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=5226&id=1811493559&l=9c335448bf

Bloody ell Darren, you put a lot of thought into that one.
But I agree. Magnificent turnout and atmosphere.
Even the regulars were impressed

Good slam, packed venue, another victory for the Wigan Poetry Scene.!!!!

I'm not so sure that the timekeeper made an error though as I keep goin thru my 2nd poem and cant get it anywhere near 3 mins? fast, slow, medium its always around 2.10, 2.20 in fact I was so sure when practising yesterday afternoon that I was going to read 2!

I'm wondering if I gave a big intro into it, but I can only recall saying that it was a war poem.

am I missing something?

the bloody horn was duff as well!!!!!!

Confused.com

Pete, you did maybe a 10-15 second intro but I thought it didn't seem 3 mins at the time, but then again time does fly by when you're enjoying yourself!

Enjoyed your stuff last night and the whole night apart from my memory lapse.

John

Had a brilliant time last night at the Slam-great fun to participate!-On the subject of the horn though-It did seem that some were sounded off too early whilst a couple carried on even though it had been sounded!-
Or maybe that's because the red wine I was drinking impaired my judgement?

yes, the winner refused to stop at the end and I seem to remember Paul Blackburn pursuing him around the stage with the mic stand :-)

John

I think the timekeeper started the clock the second I walked on stage which is not per the rules and unfair really.

I still think I would have come third or at push tie-break with Mike, but it would have been nice to finish the poem as the last lines tie it up nice. I posted the poem, read it back so what times you get back.

I have done say, what, 20 or 25 slams, only ever gone overtime once at Hebden and that was with a really long (mental Health) poem.

I know Pete, I was agreeing and sympathising with you - didn't seem like 3 minutes at the time

I think poss.the rules need to be tightened up a bit as some poets messed around a bit on stage before starting to speak also,and yet I don't think the clock started for them til they actually started their poem.

The same goes for poets puposely going over their alotted time.

Still enjoyed the evening though.Brilliant pics too from Darren Thomas!

An enjoyable evening.

The time-keeping was erratic, though, for sure.

And we could have done with MORE HORN!!

Fnnarrrr!

I really enjoyed my first slam.
Gutted that I had to go first but hey-it has to happen sometime!

I do think that the rules may want to be a bit better defined regarding timing for some of the performers.

Thanks for letting me read a bit extra too!

:)

Yes time keeping was erratic.
I feel that the Clock started for me as I walked on, so as Paul was sorting out the previous scores clock was ticking.

as you know points are deducted if you run over time
dont take much to work out the rest.

If you are going to have a slam at least do it properly else you are handing prize money out on false pretences.

as mentioned I have participated in many slams all of which had fair time keeping, this was the first time i noticed times vary.
Everyone has said to leave it but when something makes you annoyed you at least want to let that be known.

takes quite a lot to piss me off.
as far as im concerned it was null and void.

And you lot are worried about the timekeeping!!
What about the bloody judging?
Terrible.
I managed to come last when it was patently obvious I should have come first....if not higher.
Everyone said so. Well, a few people. Ok.....one person.
But he was my mate.
Next time he's judging.
Thing is, who gives a shit. It was a bloody good night, and congrats to the winner.
Which should have been me.

Bloody judges. Mutter, whinge etc.

Hey peeps,
I was the time keeper at the slam and the clock was always started on the poets first word not when they stepped on stage. I have done over 120 slams now and know the system. The horn I was trying to use to show when performers ran over was broke so that was a bit rubbish, but hey ho. And yes the last performer (who won the slam) did run over by around ten seconds. I feel that he should have been deducted points as per slam rules and come in second. But that's just me.
Another point that annoys me about slams is that the Judges are allowed to drink. They are supposed to be fair and level handed throughout. I don't see how this is possible if they are drinking. Anyone else find this strange?

Well, you may have a point there Scott. Especially if you consider that a large majority of those who are voting in this year's 'X- Factor' must be as drunk as sitting at home on a Saturday night allows.

How this affects 'Slams' though, I have no idea. Usually, the best poet/performer wins. I can't recall one instance where the likes of say, me? have won a Slam when competing against the likes of those who take it seriously.

If I remember correctly, your scoring at a recent Liverpool event was the only one that brought a person's level of sobriety into question. Maybe Judges SHOULD be made to drink!?

It''s not life or death - and 'no'... it's NOT more important than that. It's a bit of fun.

If slams arent taken seriously at a high level, the UK championship, World slam championship, National US Slam, Spoken Word Olympics, where judges can still drink, then it is going to be hugely damaging. Slams are going to be part of the performance poetry circuit whether we like it or not and if they are bad platforms for poets it will lead to frustration and the loss of talented artists. Slams at grass roots should be fun and WOL slams should certainly be welcoming but if the 'top level' slams are unreliable it will cripple the circuit long term. Why should the poet on last win because those scoring have had an extra pint? Don't you agree, Darren.
I also disagree with you Darren I think the best poet rarely wins and I feel slams are breeding a certain kind of performer who panders to a crowd.

Scott - we could argue all your points on this forum - but the last time we 'crossed swords' - you asked for your ball back! ( 8^{-)

Put simply - no. I don't agree.

Nice deflection, Darren. I don't remember that, I guess my memories going, I am in my forties after all.

where?