Slam dunk at Hebden this Sunday. Sign up now

Saturday 30th June 2012 8:30 pm

Poets will be be pouring in to sign up for the slam at the town that has been dunked in the rising waters of the Calder in this week's floods. Hebden Bridge Arts Festival - reported elsewhere in our news section - has
Radio 4 Saturday Live regular Kate Fox, pictured, performing a short set at the Stubbing Wharf on Sunday 1 July at 8pm then opening up the floor for a poetry slam - sign up on the night. Watch out for surprise guest appearance from the Arts Festival's pop up poet, Winston Plowes! £3 entry for slammers! Of course, it is no longer a surprise now we've told you, but Writer Out Loud Winston's always worth watching.

More info: helen@hbaf.co.uk

Comments

Isobel

Sun 1st Jul 2012 19:05

That sounds like daylight robbery. £3 to entertain yourself or £5 to listen to someone elses offerings? A slam normally involves competition and a prize of some sort...

steve mellor

Sun 1st Jul 2012 12:32

Me again
As I was writing my previous comment, I received an email from Helen at hbaf, who advises me that the evening is a "low key open mic rather than a full tilt slam"
£5 entry (plus the cost of getting there) for a 'low key open mic'??????????? Come on
Why advertise it as a 'slam'?

Can you tell I won't be going?????????

steve mellor

Sun 1st Jul 2012 12:28

Julian
I've tried contacting Helen and also Kate Fox, but no reply from either.
I actually went to a 'slam' last year, and it turned out to be just a read-around
It should be so simple to say exactly what is expected!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's not rocket science

Julian (Admin)

Sun 1st Jul 2012 12:08

you make good points Steve. slam organisers really should explain what exactly their take is on how it works so that contestants know what to expect, how many poems to take, so forth. Best to coudl email Helen: helen@hbaf.co.uk.

Isobel

Sun 1st Jul 2012 10:34

Steve - don't know if this is the same as other slams I've been to, but...

Normally there are 2 to 3 rounds so you need to have that many poems in case you go all the way. You have 3 minutes to perform your poem in and they are very strict about time. You are judged out of ten by a panel of judges. It's as simple as that.

Get you - and you used to tell us you weren't that much into performance poetry :)) Good luck! xx

steve mellor

Sun 1st Jul 2012 10:22

Is there anyone out there who can inform us what the Slam format is, or what the rules of engagement are?
If I'm driving for 45 minutes I'd like to know what's going on before I set off.
The HB Arts Festival web site tells us nothing other than how much it costs to get in

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