Table of Contents

Introduction
Where Is Slam?
What the Slam Can Do for You
What You Can Do for the Slam
A Note from the Publisher
Acknowledgments

Chapter 1: Digging the Roots of Spoken Word Poetry
Spoken Word Poetry's Long Tradition
Battling Bards
Coming of Age in the 21st Century
Who Inspired This Madness? and Why?
Slam Poetry Goes National
Slam Poetry Goes Global
Slam Poetry Here and Now
If you remember anything, remember…

Chapter 2: Soaking in the Spirit of Slam
The Big Definition of Slam
Poetry and Performance
Staged Bouts for Audience Appeal
"The Points Are Not the Point"
Sowing the Seeds of Slam
Striving for the Best of Both Worlds
Relearning the Art of Listening
Boo! Hiss! Audience with Attitude
Other Strategies Audiences Employ
Who's the Best and Who Cares
Performance Poet as Audience Servant
"As Dr. Willie Used to Say"
Behind the Slam Curtain
Breaking Down the Color (and Collar) Barriers
The Culture of Democracy
If you remember anything, remember…

Chapter 3: Slam Competition—Rules, Regulations, and Other Formalities
It's a Game, Stupid!
A Familiar Format
The First Slam Competition
Who Says Who Wins?
The Basic Rules of Slam Engagement
Perform Your Own Work
Three Minutes Is All We Can Stand
No Props, Costumes, Trombones, or Other Carry-On Luggage
Scoring: 0 to 10 (or Down to Minus Infinity)
Make the Process Fun
Signing 'Em Up
Picking the Judges
Alternative Styles of Judging
Famous Slam Disclaimers
The Mean Chicago Rules
The Official Emcee Spiel Used at the National Poetry Slams
It's Your Thing, Do What You Want to Do…To a Point
Slams Are Open to All
All Styles, Forms, and Subject Matter Are Welcome
The Prize Is Not the Point
The All-Important Audience Should Always Be in Control
If you remember anything, remember…

Chapter 4: Should I Become a Slammaster?
Do You Have the Itch?
Taking Inventory—Do You Have What It Takes?
Are You Doing This for Yourself?
Do You Have a Vision?
Do You Have a Support Network?
Do You Have the Time and Energy?
Are You a Show Maker?
Are You as Crazy as the Rest of Us?
Tallying Your Talents and Resources
Been There, Seen That
Been There, Done That
Anticipating the Obstacles Ahead
The Hoity-Toity Establishment
Cash Flow Problems
Shifting Sands—Unforeseen Changes
Pettiness and Social Hostility
If you remember anything, remember…

Chapter 5: Sharpening Your Vision
Finding Form in Your Musings
Look Inside: Identify Your Personal Needs
Look Around: Discover Your Community's Needs
Look Back: At What You've Seen & Heard
Sampling the Many Flavors of Slam
The Original Format
The Unseen Slam
Theme Slams
Pong Jam Slam—Music to the Poetic Ear
Other Slam Spin-Offs—An Ever-Evolving Art
Heading for the Nationals—Serious Slammin'… Sort of
If you remember anything, remember…

Chapter 6: Plotting Your Show: All Aboard Slampapi's Entertainment Express
The Entertainment Express—Scheduling Departure and Arrival Times
The Main Station Stops
Greetings
Open Mic
Special Acts and Guest Performers
The Competition
Adding Some Bulk to Our Bare Bones Schedule
Detailing Your Trip Tick
Lace the Evening with Ceremony and Ritual
Bring It On—Heckles, Jekylls, and Hydes
Jacks in the Box
To Spin or Not to Spin?
Fleshing Out Our Sample Slam Journey
Final Considerations
Pace
Marketing Power
Leave 'Em Wanting More
If you remember anything, remember…

Chapter 7: Scoping Out the Right Venue
Compose a Venue Wish List
Size Matters
Think Small—Small Enough to Create a Happening
Think Bigger…When Necessary
Going Colossal
Ambience Is Everything
Designed for Comfort
Dripping with Character
Supportive Service Staff
Enthusiastic Clientele
Conducive Background Music
Consistency
A Supportive Owner
Frame the Picture
What about the Stage?
Checking for Essentials: Necessary Services
Location, Location, Location
Write All This Down
At the Sound of Ohhmmm, Begin the Search
Finger Walking
The Net Search
Hit the Pavement
Hook Up with Your Connections
Judgment Day
What Night's Right?
The Initial Reconnaissance
Don't Jump before You Have To
Closing the Deal
Money Talk
Who Does What?
Hey! I Can't Find a Venue!
If you remember anything, remember…

Chapter 8: All the Slam's a Stage .
Poet-in-a-Box: The Black Box
Above the Crowd on the Bandstand
The Spartan Stage: Cleared Space
The Great Hall
The Big-Time Stage: The Proscenium
Bring on the Bells and Whistles
Bigger's Not Always Better
The Outdoor Stage: Help!
Speak Up, They Can't Hear Ya!
Think Big
The Rickety Rent-a-Stage
What? No Stage?! No Cleared Space?!
Worse Than Nothing: Bad Scenes
If you remember anything, remember…

Chapter 9: Let's Get Technical
Tuning In Sound Systems—Can You Hear Me Now? . . . .
Omni- or Unidirectional Microphones
Microphone Stands
Four-Channel Mixer
Graphic EQ Settings
Speakers & Speaker Location
Monitors
Light 'Em If They Got 'Em
Lights Up, Lights Down
Homespun Lighting Systems
Top-Shelf Lighting
Puttin' Out the Glitz
Dressing Up the Poets & Stage
Back-Up Beats, Styles, & Rhythms
Slide Shows
Props and Drops
If you remember anything, remember…

Chapter 10: Choosing & Organizing Your Crew
Flying Solo
Whipping Up a Preshow Checklist
Creating Your Showtime Checklist
Drafting Your Postshow Checklist
Partnerships, Committees, Co-ops, & Chaos
A Partnership of Two or Three
By Committee
Cooperatives
The Three Tier Model—Combining the Best of All Worlds
Help Wanted—Key Positions to Fill…If You Can
Marketing
Cyberspace
Archives
Scouting and Booking Talented Performance Poets
Scouting Talent
Booking Talent
Emcees Wanted—Charisma Required
Auditioning Emcees
Relief Pitchers—Cohosts Need Charisma, Too
Offstage Support
Sound and Light Technicians
Door Person
Scorekeepers/Timers
Merchandise Sellers
Judges
In-House Ensembles
Trustworthy and Reliable Assistants
If you remember anything, remember…

Chapter 11: Getting the Word Out: Publicizing Your Show
Know What You're Promoting
Form Follows Function—Marketing Materials
Branding Logo
Cheap, but Effective: Flyers and Postcards
Not as Cheap, but Very Effective: Posters
Generating Feature Stories, Interviews, and Media Attention
Step 1: Write a Press Release
Step 2: Send the Press Release
Step 3: Call 'Em
Work Your Angle
Press the Airwaves
More Methods for Getting the Word Out
Free Listings
Managing Mailing (and Emailing) Lists
Paid Ads
Establishing a Web Presence
Blog
Launch a Website
Populate Your Website or Blog with Content
Promote Your Website or Blog
Explore Social Networks
Share Podcasts of Show Highlights
Post Video Clips on YouTube
Never Underestimate Word of Mouth
Press the Flesh
Cool Calls
How Much Promoting…and to Whom?
How Many People Do You Need to Reach?
Motivating Yourself with Deadlines
The Push
If you remember anything, remember...

Chapter 12: Expanding Your Market: Special Shows
Courting the Institutions
Types of Institutions
Getting Your Iambic Toe in the Door
Book Fairs and Festival
Corporate Conventions and Programming
Benefits and Their Paybacks
Shaping Your Show for the Expanded Market
Motorcycle Slam
Celebrity Slam
Slam Dunk Poetry Day
Other Twists
The Youth Slam
The Music + Poetry + Slam Slam
Bah! Humbug! The Holiday Slam
From Nothing Something Slams
Fat Tuesday Celebration of the Seven Deadly Sins
Chi Town Classic
Slammin' across America
Your Overall Strategy
If you remember anything, remember…

Chapter 13: Taking Ownership of Your Show
When All Is Said and Done…Do More
Greeting Your Guests with Grace and Grin
Introducing Guest to Guest
Acting as the Maître D'
Setting a Stage, Not a Pedestal
Watch the Clock—Starting on Time
Fueling Audience Frenzy
Making the Most of a $lam $ituation
Preserving the History
Creating Anthologies
Burning Compilation CDs
Designing T-Shirts and Souvenirs
Establishing Profitable Partnerships
Absurd Ambitions and Other Worldly Temptations
If you remember anything, remember…

Appendix A: Slammers:
Performance Poetry
Poetry Collections
Audio & Video Recordings
Anthologies
Publishers of Slam Poetry
Agents

Appendix B: Books on Poetics & Performing

Appendix C: PSI—Certified Slams

About the Authors

About the Author

Marc Smith began the poetry slam over twenty years ago at the Green Mill in Chicago. He is the co-editor of The Spoken Word Revolution and The Spoken Word Revolution Redux. Joe Kraynak has written or co-written dozens of books ranging from computer basics to poetry.