Hi!
MiddSlam is hosting 2 slams in the first weeks of Spring. Start writing now!!
There will be 2 preliminary bouts on February 17th (time and location TBD).
A “priliminary bout” is a round of poetry where 4-10 poets compete ( a little wiggle room on those figures) individually and receive scores from 5 randomly selected audience members. Poets will perform ONE ORIGINAL POEM that is 3:10 or less. Anything more, points will be deducted. Memorization is HIGHLY encouraged. Your score will suffer if you are reading off of a piece of paper.
Bout A and Bout B will have a randomly selected group of poets. They will compete against one another and the poets with the TOP SCORES from the two preliminary bouts will then compete in GRAND SLAM the following week on February 24th (time and local also TBD).
The poets with the TOP FIVE scores will qualify for MiddSlam’s TEAM which will go to NATIONALS IN CALIFORNIA. ALLLSO, we will go to a slam at SUNY NEW PALTZ which will also be baller.
Nationals, or CUPSI, is an event that gathers 3-50 schools from around the country and puts on a giant poetry competition. It is 3 or 4 days of intense workshops, bouts, slams, parties, third rounds, bonding time, naps, laughs, car rides, meals, love nests, etc. etc. etc. IT IS THE MOST FUN. You want to come to this thing. The organizing force behind MiddSlam will vouch that CUPSI last year was one of the most amazing experiences we’ve ever had while attending Middlebury.
SO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO PREPARE:
Write and practice some poems. Know them like the back of your hand. Be confident. Contact middslam@gmail.com if you have any questions or concerns, or if you wanna PRACTICE!
This requires a good deal of commitment in regards to time and passion. We want people to be excited about slam poetry, and we want it’s presence on campus to grow. If you think you’ve got the guts, the time, the love, please sign up. Even if it’s scary and weird– cause we know! Getting on stage and sharing rhythmic rhyming personal stories and opinions can be TERRIFYING, but you never know unless you try.
Join our slamily. xoxo MiddSlam