Christchurch Poetry Slam - Da Rulz

Kia ora.  We have had to postpone the big night for one week but in the meantime here is a handy run-down of the official NZ Poetry Slam rules which we'll be using at the Christchurch heat.

See you next week!

Christchurch Poetry Slam
Tuesday 30th Sept, 7pm
Darkroom 336 St Asaph St
Free entry!  Koha welcome for the ChCh winners to travel to Wellington.

 

Rules for NZ National Poetry Slam 

• 3 minutes or less with no minimum time (10 second grace period before point’s 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 after 10 seconds. 
• Original 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 for the Regionals and NZ Slam there will be three rounds…