Here are the official rules of the Christchurch Poetry Slam as per the NZ Poetry Slam.
Sign-up is on the night only - places are limited so get there early.
Please note: to be in the Grand Slam, poets must enter the Preliminary round and make it into the top 10.
Rules for NZ Poetry Slam
- 3 minutes or less with no minimum time (10 second grace period before points deduction).
- Time starts when poet speaks, however while poets can have time to settle and adjust microphone etc, this time is not limitless; ideally a poet should start before 10 seconds.
- Original (i.e. your own) poems only.
- No props no music no costumes (i.e. clothing related to the content of your poem).
- In the case of a tie a slam-off will be required.
- Random draw, for performance order.
Judging and scoring:
- 5 Audience Judges (chosen by MC and/or organiser) display score cards 0-10 (Decimal points allowed).
- Top and bottom scores drop off and total of remaining 3 scores is the total.
- If Poet goes over grace period MC or Timekeeper to ask scorer to mark down points after the judges score… (Half a point penalty for every 10 seconds over time).
- After 4 minutes the MC can shut down the poet.
- 'Sacrificial Poet' (non-competing) to start the night, to help calibrate scores.
- Slams are equally about writing, performance and audience response.
- Slammers should have at least 3 poems, as there will be three rounds for the Regionals and NZ Slam.
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As always, remember: the point is the poetry not the points!
