Ozark Poets & Writers Collective

Slam: It Is.

We'll introduce to to our Slam buddies, but you can learn more at its MySpace space (caution: audio).

Ozark Poetry Slam indeed has moved: Smiling Jack's, 262 N. School Ave. Regular slams start there at 7 p.m. -- a new, earlier hour -- every second Tuesday of the month. Any exceptions to time, date and place will be noted below in italics. Ages 18 and over are welcome. Admission is $5.

We welcome veteran and virgin competitors at our slams. Step up to the mic and mainline adrenaline, y'all. All types of poetry are encouraged. We greatly encourage costumes for all events.

Slam: When, Who, a glimmer of Why.

• May 12 : TBA.

Slam: How It Is.

A slam is a boisterous competition of performance poetry, judged by random audience members using Olympic-style scoring. Anyone can play; anyone can judge; everyone has fun. Cover (for expenses) for audience and participants alike is $5. There's no additional charge to compete. The rules are simple:

1. Poets must perform, or read, their own work.
2. The poem must be unaccompanied -- no props, costumes or musical instruments.
3. The poem must be presented in three minutes or less (poets lose points if longer).
4. Poets must bring at least two poems as there are multiple rounds.

Slam: What The.

In 1994, OPWC sponsored the first Slam in Arkansas. ... And in 1995, in conjunction with local NPR affiliate KUAF-FM, we held our first "on-air" Radio Slam. In 1996 the OPWC had a slam off starting in January and went until May, where we had a grand slam, and our team was thus created. In 1995, OPWC sent its first team to compete in the National Poetry Slam. In 2003, the area slam group went indie, but the door's always open, kids.

In June 2003, the Ozark Slam Team got stranded in New Orleans. In July they got arrested in Oklahoma City. In August they drove to Nationals in Chicago and returned home safely with no major incidents. Anchor poet Clayton Scott placed 64th out of 273 poets, and the team overall placed low enough to stop counting.

Read what Gary Mex Glazner, one of the founders of the American Slam Movement, did while he was in Arkansas in March, around the time he performed at the Ozark Poetry Slam.

Read about Doug Shields of the Ozark Slam Team.

Read about the 2005 semifinals (top item).

Contact: The Slam's info source. Or Ozark Slam Team's Doug Shields. Or phone (479) 872-2675.

Slam: Linkage

• Poetry Slam Inc., "The Points Are Not the Point," lots of links, lots of tips, organized.
• University of Arkansas clutches gold at College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational 2003.

Updated: April 26, 2009

These materials are not endorsed, approved, sponsored, or provided by or on behalf of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

Remember the souls in the last town we blessed.
-- James T. Whitehead, 1936-2003
Co-founder, Creative Writing Program, University of Arkansas

Ozark Poets & Writers Collective

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