Spring is in the air, and slams are gambolling everywhere!
Slam poets have an embarrassment of events to choose from over the next month with 12 listed on the gig guide (see list, below)
Not everyone’s cup of tea, slams can be divisive or great fun, depending on your point of view. Having made a bob or two from them I support slams for seasoned, thick-skinned tired old poets like me, but not for tyros. They are good for giving folks something to aim for as well as introducing poetry as entertainment to new people, those who might not otherwise go to something labelled ‘poetry’, or who have only been to one of the “please don’t clap until I have read all my poems” events.
Mostly poets get three minutes at the mic and are gonged off or similar if they over-run. Judging can be anything from one judge who awards marks out of ten, to an audience vote – trial by Boddington’s. Fairness and standards are often lacking. But someone has to win, and it could be you, so get your best poems rehearsed for the following Springtime slams.
Note: Entry prices vary widely, and few seem to publish the prize money, so do enquire from the contacts listed (click the blue links for full details):
York Poetry Slam champion, 2011 - Friday March 18th
Buxton - WORD WIZARDS - Tuesday March 29th
London - Farrago Spring Slam - Thursday March 31st 2011
Ayr - Stand Up Poets GRAND SLAM - Thursday March 31st 2011
And Hammer and Tongue slams at:
London (Hackney) - Monday April 4th 2011
Oxford - Wednesday April 6th 2011
Brighton - Thursday April 7th 2011
London (Camden) - Monday April 11th 2011
Cambridge - Tuesday April 12th
London - Slam Poetry Night with Rowan Arts - Friday April 15th 2011
