EVENT DETAILS

The slam takes place at Dickens Pub.

Doors open at 6:30PM
Sign up opens at 7:00PM
Show starts at 7:30PM

Tickets are at the door, cash only!

General Admission - $10
Student or low income - $5

Slam FAQs

What is a poetry slam? 

Slam poetry is a type of competition where people read their poems without props, costumes, or music. After performing, they receive scores (0-10) from 3 randomly selected judges. The slam is broken down into 3 rounds, with the top scoring poets from each round moving forward into the next. The judges can be anyone: they don’t even need to be poets! Scores are awarded based on how much each judge likes a poem. The purpose of this judging process is to make poetry participatory for everyone. Slam poetry doesn’t need to be a specific form of poetry.

What are we competing for?

For fun and poetry! But on the practical side, it allows us to send a representative to the Canadian Individual Poetry Slam that takes place during the Verses Festival in Vancouver. If you win a slam, you're invited to compete in our finals in August to be Calgary's representative.  

How do I sign up for a slam?

Sign up sheets are released the night of the event, at 7PM. To sign up, simply put your name down on the list when you arrive, make sure you're early though, the sign up sheet fills up fast! 

What do I need to bring?

• $10 entrance fee

• 3 poems, each less than 3 minutes

• Friends! The bigger the audience, the better the show!

What are the rules?

• No props, no costumes, no animal acts, no nudity

• No booing

• Keep your poem under 3 minutes and 10 seconds or you'll loose points