Sponsored by the RIVERSIDE WRITERS CHAPTER, VWC
Salem Church Library, Meeting Room A
2601 Salem Church Rd, Fredericksburg, VA 22407
9:30-10:00 Registration
10:00-10:30 Open Mike Poetry Reading
10:30-10:45 Discussion of Poetry Slams and Instructions
for the Slam
10:45-12:00 Poetry Slam (Bring two poems.)
12:00-1:00 Lunch Break
(Please call Larry Turner, 540-710-2518,
to make reservations for lunch.undefined$10)
1:00-1:20
1:20-2:30 Open Mike Poetry Reading
2:30-4:00 Featured Poet Michael McCarthy, “Don’t Grow Up: Imagination, Play and Other Toys in the Poet’s Sandbox
Michael McCarthy is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of English, Linguistics and Communication at the University of Mary Washington in
This talk will explore how poets can revisit the ways of the child to inspire ideas, conjure up fresh metaphors, simplify language and establish an emotional bond with readers.
For More Information Contact Larry Turner,
Driving Directions The library is about a five-minute drive from Exit 130B on I95. Go west on Plank Road (Virginia Route 3) about 1.7 miles, and turn left on Salem Church Road. Drive south about 0.8 miles and arrive at the library on your left. The library is a two-story building that looks like a one-story building.
Parking: Parking is available in the library parking lot.
Rules for a Poetry Slam
Poetry and Performance:
1) All poetry must be the original work of the slammer.
2) Slammer cannot use props or musical accompaniment (other than that which they can make with their own body). Slammers cannot employ costumes, nudity, or animal acts.
3) Any subject matter or style is acceptable.
Rounds:
1) A slam is typically 1 or 2 rounds. The first round in a two round slam can be an elimination round.
2) Each slammer has 3 minutes to perform during a round. There is also a 10 second grace period. A deduction of .5 points occurs for every ten seconds (or fraction thereof) that the slammer goes over 3 minutes, ten seconds. At 4 minutes, the slammer is cut off.
Judging:
1) 5 judges are randomly picked from the audience. Judges cannot be directly connected to any of the slammers.
2) Judging is done Olympic style, 0-10 with one decimal place. The high and low score are dropped and the remaining scores are added together. The highest score during a round wins the round.
3) A calibration poet will be provided for judges to “practice” judging. The calibration poet’s score should be used as a benchmark (anything better should be scored higher; anything worse should be scored lower).
4) Giving a perfect “10” is a privilege, not a right.
Audience:
1) Judges SHOULD NOT be influenced by the audience.
2) The audience SHOULD try to influence the judges.
.png)