The Seattle Poetry Slam’s competition schedule is as follows:

Sep 5: Open Slam // Sep 12: Open Slam // Sep 19: Open Slam //
Sep 26: Open Slam

Oct 3: Open Slam // Oct 10: Open Slam // Oct 17: Open Slam //

Oct 24: SEMIFINAL #1 (top 8 scoring poets from previous 7 slams only)
Oct 31: DEAD POETS SLAM - Specialty Slam -
ALL SLAMMERS MUST READ THE WORK OF A DECEASED POET - COSTUMES ENCOURAGED

Nov 7: Open Slam// Nov 14: WOWPS Prelim//
Nov21: HAIKU D’ETAT - Specialty Slam -
ALL SLAMMERS WILL COMPETE HEAD to HEAD - HAIKUs ONLY//
Nov 28: Open Slam//

Dec 5: WOWPS Prelim // Dec 12: Open Slam //
Dec 19: WOWPS FINALS // Dec 26: NO SLAM

Jan 2: NO SLAM // Jan 9: Open Slam // Jan 16: Open Slam //
Jan 23: Open Slam // Jan 30: Open Slam

Feb 6: SEMIFINAL #2 (top 8 scoring poets from previous 7 slams only)
Feb 13: DUET SLAM - Specialty Slam -
ALL SLAMMERS MUST COMPETE AS PART OF A DUET //
Feb 20: Open Slam // Feb 27: Open Slam

Mar 5: Open Slam // Mar 12: Open Slam //
Mar 19: ROSIE THE RIVETER SLAM - Specialty Slam -
THIS SLAM IS OPEN TO WOMEN ONLY //
Mar 26: Open Slam

Apr 2: Open Slam // Apr 9: Open Slam //
Apr 16 : SEMIFINAL #3 (top 8 scoring poets from previous 7 slams only)
Apr 23: WILDCARD SLAM

GRAND SLAM - Sunday April 27th 7pm at Chop Suey

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 their city at one of three National Poetry Slam competitions:

The National Poetry Slam: this is a team competition taking place in Aug ‘08 in Madison, Wi. Seattle’s team will be decided at our Grand Slam. To qualify for the Grand Slam, poets earn points by winning 1 of the top 3 place in an OPEN SLAM. Open Slams are “open” to anyone who wants to sign up.

They have three elimination style rounds:
8 poets in the 1st, top 5 scorers moving on to the 2nd and the top 3 moving to the 3rd. The top 8 point earners from the open slams will compete in a Semi-Final Slam - the top 2 will 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.

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 2 preliminary (Nov 14 & Dec 5) women-only slams, and a finals this fall. WOWPS Championships will take place in Chicago in March ‘08.

Individual World Poetry Slam (IWPS): Also an individual competition but open to anyone - Seattle’s rep will be decided thru a series of open slams and a finals during the ‘08 summer season. IWPS will be held in October ‘08 in Columbus, Ohio.