Slam poetry is where available mic becomes a competition. Contestants have three minutes with no more to execute a initial work. Props, costumes and musical accompaniment are not allowed. Exceeding three full minutes earns time penalty. The reader is then judged for a scale of zero to ten by five judges selected from the audience. Both quality for the writing and performance are considered. The high and scores that are low trashed. The remaining three are totaled to make the reader’s score for that round.
With respect to the size for the industry, the scoring competitors that are lowest may be cut. Only the high ratings will advance to the round that is next. In a competition that is large there could be three rounds. Whoever finishes aided by the highest score that is combined a cash reward. Where I’m from, that’s $50. 2nd and place that is third up with a gag prize worth a telegraph dating tips money or two.
Primary, very first place gets three points, 2nd gets two and 3rd gets one. At the end for the period, authors because of the point totals that are highest compete to do at the nationals. No matter what the pay is, that is serious promotion for some guy or chick complaining about an ex-lover in a cafe.
It Ain’t Poetry
I’m not saying it’s better or worse. It’s just different. That’s the thing that is first realize about composing for this purpose.
Poetry is just a art form that is written. The visitors have terms for a page and really should require nothing else. They understand punctuation and where in fact the relative lines end. They can reread and remember to soak up what they have read. They ought to learn more once they approach the writing for the 2nd or third time. Then the poem has failed if the author must be present, delivering the words with his or her own inflection.
Slam poetry is something different. It’s a misnomer. I don’t like utilizing “poetry,” “poet” or “poem” at these activities. I think “script” is more accurate.
You will get one opportunity to get your impression across. No body sees everything you have actually written. Your sound is really a device. So can be your body language. This will be performance art. That is acting.
How Do You Write For This?
Keep it simple. Once more, nobody can reread this. Complex form that is verse wasted here. Double entendre, toying with homophones along with other term play shall be lost. The viewers must get it one the first pass. Don’t have too deep. Be authentic and personal.
Have image that is central metaphor. Two at most. Set up a theme that is clear stick with it. If you should be writing about ladies being like great books, don’t stray from that imagery. Don’t get too elaborate or you will keep the individuals saying, “Huh?” Make sure they are able to feel, smell and taste your terms.
Use sound. When poetry that is writing I almost never use rhyme. When writing a script for a slam, we almost always do. This is an a cappella performance. You will need to move the audience, but be subdued with it. I vary the size of my lines ( even when they can’t read them) or in other words, We differ the time and range terms between rhymes. I personally use near rhyme. We develop a rhythm but you will need to wander away from it before finding its way back like good jazz.
Start and finish strong. This will be real for many writing, but I’ll put the “duh” in redundant right here. Primacy and recency. They’ll keep in mind 1st and very last thing they heard. You’ll want to get their attention together with your very first terms. You’re most likely in a club, not just a class room. Their meals, drinks, next-door neighbors and phones are contending for attention. You will need to end by having an twist that is impressive. This is the final thing on the minds associated with judges while you are being scored.
Write something it is possible to remember. During the ordinary degree, people usually read from paper or phones. At the highest level that is competitive memorization is compulsory. We try to read from memory. This really is performance art. Performing while reading from the sheet or screen is impossible, and so I use sound bonding not only for the audience but in addition for myself. I want a certain rhythm and repetition and so I can remember.
How to Memorize
Ahead of my first slam competition, I really could recite 10 or 20 lines of personal writing and which was it. I didn’t think I possibly could be good at memorizing, although I’d never truly tried.
Fortunately, slams in my area happen about twice 30 days. I have fourteen days to memorize brand new work and exercise old stuff. We make an effort to keep my composing it often with me, in my pocket or mind, and recite. It’s merely a couple minutes. I could run it through my head throughout a commercial break. I will recite it to my windshield while driving.
