See the info below for details about how the season of slam competition works.

9/3/2008 1st OPEN SLAM of Season
9/10/2008 Open Slam 2
9/17/2008 IWPS Finals
9/24/2008 Open Slam 3
10/1/2008 Open Slam 4
10/8/2008 Open Slam 5
10/15/2008 WOWPS Prelim 1
10/22/2008 Open Slam 6
10/29/2008 Dead Poet Slam (Specialty Slam)
11/5/2008 SemiFinal 1
11/12/2008 WOWPS Prelim 2
11/19/2008 Open Slam 1
11/26/2008 Haiku D’ETAT (Specialty Slam)
12/3/2008 WOWPS Prelim 3
12/10/2008 Open Slam 2
12/17/2008 WOWPS FINALS
12/24/2008 NO SLAM
12/31/2008 NO SLAM
1/7/2009 Open Slam 3
1/14/2009 Open Slam 4
1/21/2009 Open Slam 5
1/28/2009 Open Slam 6
2/4/2009 Semifinal 2
2/11/2009 DUET SLAM or BAD LOVE POEM SLAM (Specialty Slam)
2/18/2009 Open Slam 1
2/25/2009 Open Slam 2
3/4/2009 Open Slam 3
3/11/2009 ROSIE THE RIVETER SLAM (Specialty Slam)
3/18/2009 Open Slam 4
3/25/2009 Open Slam 5
4/1/2009 Open Slam 6
4/8/2009 IRON POET SLAM (Specialty Slam)
4/15/2009 3rd semifinal
4/22/2009 WILD CARD SLAM

Sunday 4/26/09: GRAND SLAM ‘09 w/ Featured Poet Patricia Smith at Neumo’s on Capitol Hill

4/29/2009 TEAM 09 celebration

WHAT does all this stuff mean?

Poets who compete in the slam don’t just win bragging rights and prizes. They are also competing for a chance to represent Seattle at one of three national/international poetry slam competitions: Nationals, IWPS and WOWPS.

The National Poetry Slam: To earn a spot on the Seattle National Slam Team, poets must compete in a series of Open Slams which have three rounds: 8 poets in the 1st, top 5 scorers moving on to the 2nd, and the top 3 moving to the 3rd. Third round poets get points, 1st (3pts) 2nd (2pts) and 3rd (1pt) towards the Semi-Finals. Poems used in the 3rd round cannot be repeated again until the Semi-Final.

The top 8 point earners from the Open Slams compete in a Semi-Final Slam - the top 2 will then advance to the Grand Slam.

There will be 3 Semis thru the season and a WILDCARD SLAM: 16 poets are taken into this slam by signup. The top 2 competitors go directly to the Grand Slam.

NOTE: The last requirement to qualify for the Grand Slam is participation in AT LEAST ONE of the themed/specialty slams during the season.

Women of the World Poetry Slam (WOWPS): this is an individual competition of the best female poets in the country. Seattle’s rep will be decided by 3 preliminary (Oct 15, Nov 12 & Dec 3) women-only slams, and a finals (Dec 17). The Prelims will be three rounds bouts: 1st round- 4 min. time limit, 2nd round- 2 min time limit, 3rd round-1min. time limit.

WOWPS Championships will take place in Detroit in March ‘09.

Individual World Poetry Slam (IWPS): Also an individual competition but open to anyone - Seattle’s rep will be decided thru 4 prelim slams during the ‘08 summer season culminating in a finals (Sept 17). IWPS will be held in December ‘08 in Charlotte, NC.