Victoria Poetry Slam

Vic Slam Indie Champ - Matthew Christopher Davidson

2011-12-15T23:35:00.000-08:00

And the winner, going on to compete at the Vancouver Individual Slam Poetry Championship is Matthew Christopher Davidson!

It was a tight competition with an amazing line-up of our best Victoria poets - as judged by you, the audience - and I'd like to thank everyone who competed and made it such a great night.

Here are the scores:
Name Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Total
Matthew D. 26.0 27.3 28.0 28.3 109.6
Skawt Chonzz 26.7 25.9 27.6 28.5 108.7
Jacob Arts 26.8 26.1 27.8 27.7 108.4
Scott Thompson 26.3 25.9 26.7 29.0 107.9
Jeremy Loveday 26.8 26.5 27.6 26.7 107.6
Mak Konwick 26.6 26.0 27.0 26.8 106.4
Justin McGrail 24.9 25.2 26.6 28.0 104.7
Keenan Proud 26.2 25.9 24.8 26.6 103.5

See you at the next slam - the Youth Slam Dec 22 at Solstice Cafe!

Season Standings

2011-11-21T15:32:00.001-08:00

As next month is the Indies, and the end of 2011, I thought it might be useful to check on our season standings.

First, I'd like to thank everyone for supporting the slams this fall. It was the first time we've started this early in the season, and I think with 11 poets over 3 slams making the second round it's been an unqualified success!

So, without further ado - the standings so far:
Jacob Arts with 4.5
Tied for SECOND: Mak Konwick, Matthew Christopher Davidson and Jeremy Loveday with 4.0
Skawt Chonzz with 2.5
Keenan Proud with 2.0
Tied for FOURTH: Dave Morris, Marie Specht, Kaizan and Rick Lief with 0.5

That's a lot of ties, and a good reminder that the more you slam, the more you make the second round, the higher your standing will be. So start practicing.

And reminder that the Indies DO NOT count towards your standings. It is a separate and invitation only event.

November Slams - Scores

2011-11-20T21:08:00.000-08:00

Huge thanks to guest host and veteran spoken word artist Shayne Avec i Grec for rocking out the show, and to all the new poets who braved the stage this month. Hope to see you again in January. And huge congrats to Matthew Christopher Davidson for winning the slam this month and advancing to the Indies.

Quick reminder before we get to the scores that next month, December is the Invitational Indies and not a regular slam. So come out and cheer as 8 poets battle for the title. December 15th - check out the facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/247752698613774/

And now to the scores:
Marie Specht R1: 24.5
Katie Penty R1: 24.5
Scott Chonzz R1: 26.1 R2: 26.4 Total: 52.5 Place: 5 Points: 0.5
Mak Konwick R1: 25.2
Sam Glieve R1: 25.9 R2: 27.2 Total: 53.1 Place 3 Points: 1
Alex Nelson R1: 24.1
Denny Salvadore R1: 24
Alchemy Roseblade R1: 24.3
William Brown R1: 21.6
Kaizan R1: 26.8 R2: 25.9 Total: 52.7 Place: 4 Points: 0.5
Jeremy Loveday R1: 26.7 R2: 27.3 Total: 54.0 Place: 2 Points: 2
Matthew Christopher Davidson R1: 26.2 R2: 27.9 Total: 54.1 Points:4

See you for the Indies next month!

Indies: The Rundown

2011-11-18T09:41:00.000-08:00

Vic Slam's second annual Invitational Indies are coming up December 15th and there's a lot on the line. The winner will take home the title, the $200 in cash AND get a spot on the national stage at the Vancouver National Individual Slam Championship in April.

So Who Got Invited?
We invited everyone in Victoria who has been on a slam team for the last 3 years, as well as the winners from the 2011 Sept, Oct and Nov slams.

This means that every poet who on stage will have been veted as a winner by YOU, the audience in the past.

Who's Competing?
We had 8 amazing poets accept the challenge and they are already training hard. They are (in no particular order):

Keenan Proud, Slam Team Member 2011
Justin McGrail, Slam Team Member 2011
Scott Thompson, Slam Team Member 2011
Matthew Davidson, Slam Team Member 2009-11

Jeremy Loveday, Victoria Indie Slam Champ 2010
Skawt Chonzz, Slam Team Member 2009
Mak Konwick, Vic Slam September 2011 Winner
Jacob Arts, Vic Slam October 2011 Winner

What Poems Can They Do?
Poets can use ANY poem they want, including repeats of poems from the regular season. But it must be their original work - all the slam rules still apply: no costumes, music or nudity (that's another show!).

What is the Format?
There will be 4 bare-knuckle rounds of competition. No elimintion, which means that everyone will compete in every round.

Rounds:
4 minute round
1 minute round
INTERMISSION
2 minute round
3 minute round

10 second grace for all rounds, with standard penalties for going over time. Poets do not need to use the full time (as per a regular slam) but there will be standard penalties for going over time.

Vic Slam Invitational Indies
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Cabin 12, 607 Pandora
Doors @7:30, $5 @ the door

Check out the event on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=247752698613774

Grrr- Slam with Bite!

2011-10-25T16:20:00.000-07:00

How about these awesome posters from Evan Pine at Metropol eh? For those of you collecting buttons, be sure to get your lion button Nov 17.

Oh yeah, there'll be kickass poetry too, but limited edition art buttons? Those don't come around every day.

:-)

See you at the next slam - November 17 @ Cabin 12.

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=125563384217546

Vic Slam - October 20

2011-10-20T22:48:00.000-07:00

A huge thank you to Dave Morris for hosting the slam this month. And great to see so many new faces on the slam stage. Keep it up poets! We've got a great season ahead of us.

Congratulations to first-time winner Jacob Arts!

Here are the scores:
Mack R1: 25.8
Russ R1: 24.0
Steve Ray Orr R1: 25.0
Sam Hall R1: 25.1
Rick Leif R1: 26.4 R2: 27.6 Total: 54.0 Place: 5th Points: 0.5
Tom Fowler R1: 26.0
Esge R1: 24.5
Jacob Arts R1: 28.6 R2: 28.4 Place: 1st Points: 4
Scott Jones R1: 28.4 R2: 28.3 Place: 2nd Points: 2
Keenan Proud R1: 27.7 R2: 28.8 Place: 3rd Points: 1
Lisa Vauldain R1:23.6
Miss Marie R1: 26.7 R2: 27.6 Place: 4th Points: 0.5

See you at the next slam, November 17.

Scores - September Slam

2011-09-15T22:18:00.000-07:00

What a season opener - a full house, a full slate of poets and my head is full of poetry tonight! Congratulations to Mak Conwick for taking home the title (his first win!). And congrats to all the new poets on stage tonight, it's really daunting to get judged, and you all rocked the mic.

Here are the scores for tonight's Slam:
Samantha Hall R1: 23.4
Marie Specht R1: 24.6
Tom Fowler R1: 19.8
Jeremy Loveday R1: 27.5 R2: 28.4 Total: 55.9 Place: 2 Points: 2
Levon Geyer R1: 24.0
Jacob Arts R1: 26.3 R2: 24.3 Total: 50.6 Place: 5 Points: 0.5
Scott Thompson R1: 24.9
Mak Conwick R1: 27.2 R2: 29.0 Total: 56.2 Place: 1 Points: 4
Ezzi Mutla R1: 23.1
Matthew Christopher Davidson R1: 23.6
Dave Morris R1: 28.2 R2: 25.1 Total: 53.3 Place:4 Points: 0.5
Keenan Proud R1: 27.4 R2: 26.6 Total: 54.0 Place 3 Points:1

Congrats again to all the poets - see you October 20th!

New Season Reminders

2011-09-13T15:15:00.001-07:00

Hello old and new and yet-to-be slammers!

For the first time ever, Vic Slam is starting in September (September 15), which means twice as many slams in the regular season to try to make that Finals stage. Here are some changes and reminders for competition:

1) No Repeat rule still stands - No repeats through the regular season (September-May). This is to encourage you as artists to write new stuff! You CAN repeat poems from last season. And of course anything goes Finals Night.

2) All Random Draw - due to demand (and pushing and shoving and gnashing of teeth) ALL 12 spots will be random draw to start the season (last season 5 were guaranteed). This format will be reviewed if necessary in December.

3) Be Part of the Community - We need volunteers! If you'd like to help out on door, or sound, or help organize, we'd love to have you on board. Talk to Missie or Keenan at the Slam.

All other rules stay the same from last season - to review check out this link:
http://vicpoetryslam.blogspot.com/2010/11/2011-slam-rules.html

Happy Slamming!

CFSW 2011

2011-08-23T15:13:00.000-07:00

Here's the first press release from CFSW 2011 in Toronto - great line-up of features and events!

Next fundraiser to help the Vic Slam Team get to the festival is September 1 - Instant Slam.

The 2011 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word in Toronto October 11 to 15

TORONTO - Toronto Poetry Project and Spoken Word Canada (SPOCAN) are proud to present the 2011 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word (CFSW) taking place Oct 11 to 15 in various venues in downtown Toronto. This annual festival features the top talent in the national spoken word community.

Poets from Victoria to Halifax will take part in Toronto for he country's largest spoken word festival. In the evening, 20 poetry slam teams will compete in spoken word competitions known as poetry slams. Daytime events will include workshops and showcases ideal for anyone interested in literary arts.

“Spoken word is one of the most popular literary art forms in the world, for a reason,” notes David Silverberg, artistic director of the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word and producer of Toronto Poetry Slam. “This kind of poetry is visceral and hits you right in the heart. Toronto is very lucky to host the CFSW this year, because for a full week talented poets from coast to coast will give us their best work.”

The week kicks off in style with The Legends Showcase, at the Drake Hotel Underground in honour of pioneers of spoken word who helped transform the art form. The Oct 11 opening showcase will feature performances by dub poet Lillian Allen, spoken word educator Andrea Thompson, the "Mama of Dada" Sheri-D Wilson, beatboxer/poet Eddy Da Original One and Vancouver slam legend RC Weslowski.

On Wednesday evening and beyond, the competition begins with bouts at downtown Toronto performance venues Trane Studio and 918 Bathurst, and will progress to a semi-finals competition at the Royal Cinema. The Finals on Oct. 15 will take place at Metropolitan United Church and will include special performances by Poets of Honour Robert Priest and d’bi young.
Late night events include HipHop Karaoke, Haiku Head-to-Head Battle, Poetic Music Showcase and a massive after-party on Oct. 15.

Thousands of people are expected to take in the CFSW festivities throughout the week, making this festival one of the most exciting spoken word events in the country.

For more information on the 2011 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word, call 416-312-3865. Interviews and photography can be arranged upon request. Ticket information is available by emailing info@torontopoetryslam.com

Upcoming Shows: September

2011-08-22T10:46:00.001-07:00

For the first time ever (in Victoria) we're starting the Slams up in September. So that means there's a lot of poetic happenings, well, happening.

Here's what up this month:
September 1 - Instant Slam, The Well
Fundraiser for the Vic Slam Team. Fun and silly show, write and perform a poem all in one night.

September 15 - Vic Slam, Cabin 12
First slam of the new season! Bring your best and dress to impress (it rhymes).

September 22 - Vic Slam Team feature at Tongues of Fire, Solstice Cafe
The 'Dudes' will be showing off what they've been working on all summer. Check them out!

September 26 - The Best of Poetry in the Raw
The final nude poetry show - not to be missed. Also a fundraiser for the Vic Slam Team.

Find all the events info on the Vic Slam facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=249895818376272

Sign Up Change

2011-08-22T09:36:00.000-07:00

So last season we had the happy problem of too many poets and not enough spots. We adopted the sign up system followed in Van of the first 5 spots guaranteed and the rest random draw.

However - there was a lot of unsportsmanlike pushing and shoving and gnashing of teeth - so in an effort to make Slam safe and fun for everyone all the time, we'll be doing random draw for all 12 spots.

Slam starts again September 15!

Recap: Slam Fundraiser

2011-07-27T15:26:00.001-07:00

Just a quick note to say thanks for all the support at the Recording Party last week. Despite technical difficulties, we're looking forward to getting a recording of the show into your hands asap.

It was a great intimate evening, with relaxed poets on their game, and we even got to see the first team piece! Thanks to Cabin 12 for hosting us.

Stay Tuned for more Slam Team goodness.

Meet the Slam Team

2011-07-21T09:45:00.001-07:00

From left to right: Jeremy Loveday, Keenan Proud, Justin McGrail, Matthew Christopher Davidson and Scott Thompson.

Fun Fact: This is the first ever all-dude Vic Slam Team.

And you can see them tonight at the Vic Slam Team Recording Party: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=209197019117086

Vic Slam Team - Membership

2011-06-28T10:45:00.000-07:00

Update: Two of our winning poets Anne Petitclerc and Megan Ann Ward, have had to step off the team to pursue other opportunities. Both poets are touring the country this summer and moving to Montreal in the fall and we wish them all the best!

Filling the 2 vacant spots Matthew Christopher Davidson moves from alternate to core, and is joined on the team by Keenan Proud. Jeremy Loveday becomes the alternate.Come see the (new) new team perform at their first official fundraiser July 21.

Your Vic Slam Team:
Justin McGrail
Scott Thompson
Keenan Proud
Matthew Christopher Davidson
Jeremy Loveday

Missie Peters
Vic Slam Master

Vic Slam Recording Party

2011-06-17T12:25:00.001-07:00

It's the first official fundraiser for the Vic Slam Team - and they need your help to get them to Nationals in Toronto.

Come out and be part of the live audience as they record an album - and you'll get to take home a copy too!

Vic Slam Team Recording Party
Thursday, July 21
Cabin 12, 607 Pandora
8pm, only $10 @ door

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=209197019117086

Recap of Finals Night

2011-06-17T12:18:00.000-07:00

Standing room only in the Victoria Event Centre as the sacrifical poet Tom Fowler (and this is a poet who likes sacrifices...) takes the stage. And does dada. And the crowd loves it, but the judges do not.

And we're off. Poem after poem of blood, sweat and tears left on the stage and the top tweleve poets gave everything they had the crowd went wild. Tough competion and some early favourites didn't make it to the second round: Miss Marie (2x winner), Jeremy Loveday (2x slam team member) and shaye avec i grec (veteran poet).

Young fresh faces filled the second round, with a show-stopping performance from youth slam champion Savannah Rain-McDermott, for a photo-finish for the alternate spot ultimately going to Matthew Christopher Davidson.

Megan Ann Ward took the Slam Champion spot, head and shoulders above the rest in points - although Scott Thompson almost caught up... It was a night of smiles, of cheers and of community.

Well done to ALL the poets in the Finals. Thank you - and see you next year!

Missie Peters
Vic Slam Master

Introducing the Vic Slam Team

2011-06-17T00:22:00.000-07:00

Your Victoria Slam Team: Matthew Christopher Davidson, Anne Petitclerc, Justin McGrail, Scott Thompson and your Slam Champion MEGAN ANN WARD!

Here are tonight's scores (checked and double-checked - wink):
Scott Thompson R1: 24.4 R2: 26.5 R3:27.4 Total: 78.3 Place: 2
Matt McKenzie R1: 25.2 R2: 23.9
Jacob Arts R1: 22.9
Justin McGrail R1: 24.3 R2: 25.2 R3: 25.6 Total: 75.1 Place 4
Jeremy Loveday R1: 24.0
Miss Marie R1: 23.4
shayne avec i grec R1: 23.6
Keenan Proud R1: 24.5 R2: 23.2
Anne Petitclerc R1: 25.0 R2: 25.3 R3: 25.5 Total: 75.8 Place: 3
Megan Ann Ward R1: 26.2 R2: 27.7 R3:28.1 Total: 82.0 Place: 1
Matthew Christopher Davidson R1: 24.4 R2: 24.9 Total: 49.3
Savannah McDermott R1: 25.3 R2: 23.3

Recap to be posted tomorrow.

Night all.

Vic Slam Finals - June 16

2011-05-20T09:04:00.000-07:00

Wow - This has been THE best slam season ever. More poets than you can shake a stick at. More cheering fans than we have seats and more new beautiful poems.

It was well worth it.

And now we've done the maths (twice, because we're poets and not so good at the maths) and determined the top 12 poets advancing to the VIC SLAM FINALS.

And on June 16 five of them will rise to the top to become the Vic Slam Team.

Who will they be? That's for you to decide.

Vic Slam Finals
June 16, 8pm
$10/$7 students
Victoria Events Centre
1415 Broad St

Event on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=227543953928472#!/event.php?eid=227543953928472

2011 Slam Season Standings

2011-05-19T23:32:00.000-07:00

Slam Standings - you can see there is a tie for 12th place.

According to Rule 14 (http://vicpoetryslam.blogspot.com/2010/11/2011-slam-rules.html) we then go to average cumulative score, and Todd has (49.3+53.4= 51.35) to Anne (55.7+22.6=39.15). Todd Palmer is the 12th poet.

All 12 poets will be invited to Finals. Poets must confirm they are competing. If a poet declines, the place will be offered to the next on the list. Anne is therefore first on the waitlist.

Miss Marie – 6.5 points
Megan Ann Ward - 6 points
Jeremy Loveday - 4.5 points
Scott Thompson - 4 points
Matt McKenzie - 4 points
Shayne Avec I Grec - 3 points
Justin McGrail – 2.5 points
Mother Tareka - 2.5 points
Matthew Christopher Davidson - 2 points
Henry Barron – 2 point
Keenan Proud - 1.5 point
Todd Palmer - 1 point

Anne P. - 1 point
Savannah - 0.5 points
Jacob Arts – 0.5 points

Scores - May Slam

2011-05-19T23:24:00.000-07:00

Well it was a last chance slam to remember - and sorry to everyone who wanted to, but couldn't get on the stage tonight. Please head to Tongues of Fire next week and spit the fire that's in your heart there. Thank you for loving poetry.

Scores:

Justin McGrail - R1: 26.3 R2: 23 Total: 49.3 Place: 5 Points: 0.5
Keenan Proud - R1: 25.7 R2: 24.2 Total: 49.9 Place: 4 Points: 0.5
Henry Barron - R1: 25.7 R2: 25.7 Total: 51.4 Place: 3 Points: 1
Megan Ann Ward - R1: 27.2 R2: 27.4 Total: 54.6 Points: 2
Jeremy Loveday - R1: 27.1 R2: 27.9 Total: 55.0 Points: 4

Updated standings will be posted shortly...

Finals are June 16

Updated: Standings

2011-04-26T11:26:00.001-07:00

Alright - just a quick post with the updated standings for all y'all that hate math:

Miss Marie – 6.5 points
Megan Ann Ward - 4 points
Scott Thompson - 4 points
Matt McKenzie - 4 points
Shayne Avec I Grec - 3 points
Matthew Christopher Davidson - 2 points
Justin McGrail – 2 points
Mother Tareka - 2 points
Keenan Proud - 1 point
Todd Palmer - 1 point
Henry Barron – 1 point
Anne P. - 1 point
Savannah - 0.5 points
Jacob Arts – 0.5 points
Jeremy Loveday - 0.5 points

That means there's 15 poets on the board right now - but only 12 spots for finals. And only one more slam to secure a spot. Hope to see everybody out for this one - May 19.

Last Chance Slam - May

2011-04-26T10:42:00.001-07:00

Poets. This... is... your... LAST CHANCE!

To make Finals, that is. There's still room at the top for those lucky enough to make the top three this month - and spots in Finals to claim.

But how do you make it? By coming out with 2 poems to the slam and kicking butt.

Many are called, but few are chosen. See you in a few weeks.

Confirm your attendance now: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=119724668106703

Scores - April Slam

2011-04-21T23:09:00.000-07:00

Wow - what a night.

You know, this year Vic Slam wanted to focus on encouraging new poets and strengthening our scene, and tonight proved it. Despite the fact that 5 veterans were out of town for the Vancouver Interational Poetry Festival - there was stiff competition and a first-timer, Matt McKenzie, killed it and took the title by 0.1!

And it was well worth it.

Here are the scores - and the points:
Matt McKenzie - R1: 26.5 R2: 29.4 Total: 55.9 Points: 4
Justin McGrail - R!: 27.1 R2: 28.7 Total: 55.8 Points: 2
Henry Barron - R1: 27.4 R2: 27.0 Total: 54.4 Points: 1
Miss Marie - R1: 27.1 R2: 26.0 Total: 53.1 Points: 0.5
Jacob Arts - R1: 26.4 R2:25.9 Total: 52.3 Points: 0.5

See you May 19 for the LAST SLAM OF THE SEASON BEFORE FINALS!

Season Standings

2011-04-04T15:55:00.000-07:00

Seeing as we're halfway through the season, I thought it might be worth it to post an update on the standings. Remember we give points for placement (we don't add up scores because the judges change each night).

So far we have 11 poets in the running for finals (and spots for 12):

Miss Marie - 6 points
Megan Ann Ward - 4 points
Scott Thompson - 4 points
Shayne Avec I Grec - 3 points
Matthew Christopher Davidson - 2 points
Mother Tareka - 2 points
Keenan Proud - 1 point
Todd Palmer - 1 point
Anne P. - 1 point
Savannah - 0.5 points
Jeremy Loveday - 0.5 points

Remember - slamming and making the second round at more than one slam is the best way to secure a spot in the finals. So - see you on April 21?

I thought so.

Next Slam April 21

2011-04-04T15:45:00.000-07:00

Well, we've sent Jeremy Loveday as our city rep to the Vancouver International Poetry Festival, plus a few other Victorian poets will be storming the stage trying to claim the National Indie title - so that means there's room at the top this month baby!

Plus, remember that there's only 2 more slams before the finals, so if you want a chance at making the team, this is the month to try it.

See you there!

Vic Slam

Thursday, April 21

Cabin 12, 607

Pandora 8pm Show, Sign up at 7:30

Only $5

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=207925442569037

Scores -- March Slam...

2011-03-17T23:03:00.000-07:00

Hello! Skawt Chonzz here, Fill-in Slam Master for the March Edition of VicSlam. Missie's away in Berlin. Gosh, but that was a St Paddy's Day poetic throwdown not to be missed. I'm all over-stimulated now. What? Oh right, the scores. Here they be, lads n lassies! Loveday and Mother Tareka tied for 5th in the first round, so we had 6 poets go through to round 2, but the final four ended up lookin like ah-so...

Jeremy Loveday R1: 25.4 R2: 28.2 Total: 53.6 Place: 4 Points: 0.5
Anne Petitclerc R1: 28.2 R2: 27.5 Total: 55.7 Place: 3 Points: 1
Shayne Avec I Grec R1: 29.2 R2: 27.2 Total: 56.4 Place: 2 Points: 2
Scott Thompson R1: 27.6 R2: 29.2 Total: 56.8 Place: 1 Points: 4

Congratulations to all the fine performers tonight! It's you and your words and the way that you say them that make VicSlam what it is (ie. awesome)... I was pleased and humbled to help facilitate the space -- physical, mental, spiritual -- that is our beautiful poetry scene! Thanks, too, to all our volunteers and the good folk at Cabin 12 for hosting us. See you next month for VicSlam - April on Thursday the 21st! Missie will be back... I expect sighs of relief, people!

shove and defection...

skawt chonzz

Victoria Poets head to VIP in April

2011-03-08T10:52:00.000-08:00

Well, we knew that Victoria was sending Jeremy Loveday as our Indie Champ to the Vancouver International Poetry Festival (VIP) in April. But we've just found out he's not the only one going from the island...

Both Matthew Christopher Davidson and Megan Ann Ward have been accepted as storm poets in the competition. For the full list of storm poets: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150411123660051&id=747354602

Matthew Christopher Davidson is a member of the 2010 and 2011 Slam Teams and the future artistic director of Tongues of Fire.

Megan Ann Ward is a member of the 2011 Slam Team and the Volunteer Coordinator for Tongues of Fire.

We wish them both, and the Loveday the best of luck!

For more on VIP visit www.vancouverpoetryfestival.com/

Guest Host for March Slam

2011-02-18T09:47:00.000-08:00

Vic Slam Master Missie Peters is off performing in the Berlin International Improv Festival, so we've asked Tongues of Fire Artistic Director and 2009 Slam Team member Skawt Chonzz to host the Slam.

If you were there at the February Slam where he threw down the most sacrilegious sacrificial poem yet - you'll know the man has chops. It'll be a slam to remember, for sure.

And remember - we only have 12 spots - sign up starts at 7:30. First 5 spots are guaranteed, the rest are by random draw. See you at the slam!

Vic Slam

March 17, 8pm

Cabin 12, 607 Pandora

$5 at the door

Confirm your attendance on our facebook event:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=112554442153457

Victoria Spoken Word Festival February 24-26

2011-02-18T09:40:00.000-08:00

Following the unbelievable success of the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word that Tongues of Fire hosted in 2009, there's gonna be a brand-new festival in town - the Victoria Spoken Word Festival.

Highlights:

11 poets from across Canada in the Festival Ensemble
Vancouver poet Chris Gilpin featuring at Tongues of Fire
Poet of Honour RC Weslowski performing Saturday night

There are three shows - but all tickets are at the door - so come early!

Tongues of Fire ft. Chris Gilpin
Thursday, Feb 24, $5
Solstice Cafe, 7:30pm

Awesome Shit Showcase
Friday, Feb 25, $10
Intrepid Theatre Club, 8pm

On the Edge (Festival Ensemble)
Saturday, Feb 26, $10
Intrepid Theatre Club, 8pm

Plus! A special post-festival show hosted by Achievers' Agency featuring Halifax's Tanya Davidson and Edmonton's Mary Pinkowski - Sunday at the Solstice Cafe.
Check out the facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=105894356155183

For more info on the festival visit:
http://www.victoriaspokenwordfestival.com/

Scores - February Slam

2011-02-17T22:41:00.000-08:00

Another amazing night of poetry, another full roster of poets, another full house of inspired audience members.

There was a tie this month for second, so both poets will be taking second place points. Here are the scores:

Todd Palmer R1: 26.8 R2: 26.6 Total: 53.4 Place: 4 Points: 0.5
Shayne Avec I Grec R1: 27.9 R2: 27.1 Total: 55.0 Place: 3 Points: 1
Matthew Christopher Davidson R1: 27.2 R2: 28.2 Total: 55.4 Place: 2 Points: 2
Miss Marie R1: 26.9 R2: 28.5 Total: 55.4 Place: 2 Points: 2
Megan Ann Ward R1: 27.7 R2: 28.1 Total: 55.8 Place: 1 Points: 4

Next week is the Victoria Spoken Word Festival!

Next Slam: March 17. See you there.

Celebrity Judge at Feb Slam

2011-02-15T14:08:00.000-08:00

We've invited Monday Magazine's new Editor, and international best-selling thriller author Grant McKenzie to come and be a celebrity judge at this week's Vic Slam - so come out and give it your best shot. Let's show Grant what a vibrant and exciting community of spoken word we have here in Victoria.

Oh yeah, and there's cash prizes.

Vic Slam

Thursday, Feb 17

Cabin 12, 607 Pandora

$5 @ the door, 7:30 doors

To find out more visit our facebook event page:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=103660369710922

Scores - January

2011-01-20T22:59:00.000-08:00

Wow - what a night of brand-new poets on the mic. Thanks everyone for coming out and giving it your best. We had some great contestants in the second round, and the scoring was incredibly close.

The scores are as follows:

Savannah McDermott R1:24.7 R2: 23.7 Total: 48.4 Place: 5 Points: 0.5

Todd Palmer R1: 24.6 R2: 24.7 Total: 49.3 Place: 4 Points: 0.5

Keenan Proud R1: 24.3 R2: 25.6 Total: 49.9 Place: 3 Points: 1

Mother Tareka R1: 24.9 R2: 25.1 Total: 50.0 Place: 2 Points: 2

Miss Marie R1: 24.5 R2: 26.3 Total: 50.8 Place: 1 Points: 4

See what I mean? Close.

See you next month, Feb 17, for the next slam!

Podcast!

2011-01-17T14:27:00.000-08:00

Listen in to Vic Slam Master Missie Peters and 3-time Slam Team member Jane Bee as they talk with CFUV's Women on Air about what is Slam?, how competiton makes us better poets and tips on strategy to get the maximum out of your performance.

Podcast:

http://dailysplice.com/play?s_id=47057&ep_id=730228

Vic Slam January 20

2011-01-04T09:09:00.001-08:00

We're starting 2011 off with a bang - well a slam really - with our first slam of the season. And you're invited.

If you've ever thought about maybe getting up on the stage and having random audience members judge your poetry - this is the year you should take that leap, jump on stage and rock the house.

Why? Because this year Vic Slam is giving away cash prizes to the top three poets of each night.

Vic Slam
Thursday, January 20
Cabin 12, 607 Pandora
Doors @ 7:30, $5 at the door

For more details check out the event on facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=130761476987063

And the Winner Is...

2010-12-16T23:06:00.000-08:00

Victoria's new Individual Poetry Slam Champion, and our representative to the National Indie Slam in Vancouver in April is...

JEREMY LOVEDAY!

After 4 rounds of brilliant poetry from 7 of Victoria's finest spoken word artists in a standing-room-only room, it was Jeremy who came out on top.

And now the scores:

Round 1 - 1 Minute Poems
Steve Thompson - 17.8
Dave Morris - 24.6
Jeremy Loveday - 25.1
Megan Ann Ward - 23.9
Skawt Jones - 22.2
Jane Bee 22.0
Matthew Christopher Davidson - 22.3

Round 2 - 4 Minute Poems
Jeremy - 27.0
Dave - 25.2
Megan 24.4
Matthew - 24.9
Skawt - 22.9
Jane - 26.4
Steven - 24.7

Round 3 - 2 Minute Poems
Jeremy - 26.9
Dave - 23.1
Jane - 23.7
Megan - 25.0
Matthew - 25.2
Scott - 24.5
Steven - 22.7

Round 4 - 3 Minute Poems
Jeremy - 27.7
Megan -25.2
Dave - 26.0
Matthew - 25.5
Jane - 27.0
Skawt - 25.2
Steven - 25.5

Final Scores:
Jeremy Loveday - 106.7
Jane Bee - 99.1
Dave Morris - 98.9
Megan Ann Ward - 98.5
Matthew Christopher Davidson - 97.9
Skawt Chonzz - 94.8
Steven J. Thompson - 90.7

Thanks to everyone who came out and cheered, spit a poem, volunteered - you are all a ten.

See you in January for the start of the regular slam season!

Victoria Indies December 16

2010-11-23T15:02:00.000-08:00

So, here's the deal: Vancouver is holding the Canadian Indie Slam as part of their Vancouver International Poetry Festival in April (http://vancouverpoetryhouse.com/vancouver-international-poetry-festival/) and Victoria is sending a representative.

To decide who that representative will be we're holding a very special, pre-season, invitational Slam on December 16 at Cabin 12. And we're inviting all the team members of the 2009 and 2010 teams to compete for the title.

The Poets:

Skawt Jones

Megan Ann Ward

Dave Morris

Jeremy Loveday

Matthew Christopher Davidson

Jane Bee

Steven J. Thompson

Four Rounds of Madness

Just as at the national competition, we're going to be making our poets compete through not 1, not 2 but 4 rounds of madness with 1-2-3-4 minute poems. Every poet, every round. It's more poetry than you can shake a stick at.

So come on down and celebrate the close of 2010 and the start of Slam with this very special event. All proceeds from the show will go directly to the winner to fund their trip to the festival.

Now that's a good prize.

For more info, and to confirm you'll be there cheering in the front row visit our facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=169699893059983&index=1

SpoCan Code of Honour

2010-11-09T11:20:00.000-08:00

SpoCan has created a new Code of Honour that all poets at the national level are required to abide by.

We liked it so much that we're going to make it part of our Victoria Slam. Competing poets will have to sign that they agree to the following:

As a participant in Vic Slam, a SpoCan event, I understand and agree:

1. To revel in an environment in which freedom of speech, self-determination, and pursuit of creative excellence are inalienable rights.

2. To participate in a way that encourages, illuminates and supports established standards of good sportsmanship.

3. To refuse to allow the competitive challenge of the game to lead me to violence, interference, direct or indirect threats.

4. To allow all participants to pursue their craft peacefully and without censure, regardless of present associations or past personal history.

5. To comply with local, provincial and federal laws pertaining to individual civil rights and physical or sexual harassment.

6. To abide by all SpoCan rules, regulations, procedures and policies, including this Code of Honour, knowing that consequences for breaking the rules/code exist and will be upheld.

Of course, Rule Number One (http://vicpoetryslam.blogspot.com/2010/11/2011-slam-rules.html) will ALWAYS be adhered to. Free speech is an important part of the slam. We just want to encourage good sportsmanship as well.

If you have any questions or comments contact Vic Slam at vicpoetryslam@gmail.com

Pre-Season Meeting Minutes

2010-11-09T09:27:00.000-08:00

Ok- I know it sounds boring - but these are the decisions that will shape our community for the next year and make or break the poetic hearts of slammers in Victoria. So, it's important yo.

1) CFSW Update /SpoCan Board
Victoria Slam Team placed 12th (out of 18) at this year's Canadian Festival of Spoken Word.
The 2011 festival will be held in Toronto.

Victoria Broad Reps:
Megan Ann Ward - Tongues of Fire
Missie Peters - Victoria Slam

2) New Slam Master
Missie Peters was confirmed as Slam Master for 2010 by vote of present Tongues of Fire members.
Duties and Responsibilities for the Victoria Slam Master were also confirmed - see the post for full details: http://vicpoetryslam.blogspot.com/2010/11/slam-master-duties-and-responsbilities.html

Missie's stated goals as Slam Master for the 2011 season:

Consistent and clear organization over the season
Encouraging more/new slammers to participate

3) The Slams
Cabin 12 is our slam venue this year - thank you Cabin 12 (follow them on Twitter @Cabin12Victoria).
Tongues of Fire will be purchasing sound equipment for Vic Slam (Cabin 12 doesn't have any).
Finals Night has been booked at the Victoria Event Centre.

There will be 5 regular season slams - monthly Jan-May with Finals in June.
The slams will happen on the 3rd Thursday of every month.

A slam 'kit' has been created with all the neccessary equipment and paperwork to run the slam. This will hopefully make it easier to run a slam, and provide one place where all the scores and standings and records are kept in hardcopy.

We will only need 1-2 volunteers a night to run the door and help bout manage. Megan Ann Ward, Volunteer Coordinator for Tongues of Fire will ensure volunteers at the slams.

We have decided to offer cash prizes this year as a way to encourage new slammers. Cash prizes will be given to the top 3 poets.

Any earnings from the slam season will go to 1) supporting the slam team to go to Toronto for CFSW 2) ensuring enough funds to support the next slam season.

4) Promotions
Posters and flyers are being created for the entire season prior to January by a volunteer design student. The flyers will be used to distribute to schools, at other shows (like the Emcee Night at Vic High) and to friends.

We will create a Vic Slam Fan Page and Facebook Ads encouraging new slammers. We will try to drive traffic from the Vic Slam Team Pages to the new Vic Slam Page.

We will create special buttons for slammers only, to create a recognition program.

The Nexus has already agreed to do a feature on Vic Slam to help spread the word. We will try to sell the concept to the Martlet as well.

5) Code of Honour
SpoCan has instituted a Code of Honour this year and a discipline policy attached to it for both offending poets and slam scenes. Therefore, and in order to promote good sportsmanship Victoria Slam will require all competing poets to sign the Code at each slam. Check out the post on the Code: http://vicpoetryslam.blogspot.com/2010/11/spocan-code-of-honour.html.

6) The Rules
The rules have been updated and amended from last year, specifically to provide more clarity on how the slam team will be chosen. Updates include:

No repeats (Rule 7)
No team pieces (Rule 13)
Points for standings to determine finalists (Rule 14)

To see the full posting of the rules see this post: http://vicpoetryslam.blogspot.com/2010/11/2011-slam-rules.html

7) Vancouver Indies
Vancouver is holding an individual slam festival April 18-24. Each slam scene may send a representative, and chose that rep any way they want.

Victoria will be holding a by-invitation-only slam on December 16 at Cabin 12 to determine the Victoria Slam City Rep. More details on both the festival and the slam to follow soon.

If you have any questions about these minutes, the slam season, or slam in general, please contact us at vicpoetryslam@gmail.com.

2011 Slam Rules

2010-11-09T09:03:00.000-08:00

These rules apply to the Victoria slam season specifically and to slam events generally. Discrepancies can be brought to the attention of the Slam Master for clarification.

1) Poems can be on any subject and in any style.

2 ) Each poet must perform original work that s/he has created.

3 ) No props. Prop: an object or article of clothing introduced into a performance with the effect of enhancing, illustrating, underscoring, or otherwise augmenting the words of the poem. Generally, poets are allowed to use their given environment and the accoutrements it offers - microphones, mic stands, the stage itself, chairs on stage, a table or bar top, the aisle, and audience members - as long as these accoutrements are available to other competitors as well. The rule concerning props is not intended to squelch the spontaneity, unpredictability, or on-the-fly choreography that people love about the slam; its intent is to keep the focus on the words rather than objects.

4 ) No musical instruments or pre-recorded music.

5 ) No costumes.

6 ) Sampling: It is acceptable for a poet to incorporate, imitate, or otherwise "signify" on the words, lyrics, or tune of someone else (commonly called "sampling" in his own work. If he is only riffing off another's words, he should expect only healthy controversy; if on the other hand, he is ripping off their words, he should expect scorn and ridicule.

7 ) Repeats: No repeats of poems during the regular slam season. No repeats is only within a season, poets may perform pieces they have competed with in past years. Poets may perform any of their original poems at Finals.

8) The Three-Minute Rule: No performance should last longer than three minutes. The time begins when the performance begins, which may well be before the first utterance is made. A poet is certainly allowed several full seconds to adjust the microphone and get settled & ready, but as soon as s/he makes a connection with the audience ("Hey look, she's been standing there for 10 seconds and hasn't even moved"), the timekeeper can start the clock. The poet does not have an unlimited amount of "mime time." Poets with ambiguous beginnings & endings to their performances should seek out the timekeeper at each venue to settle on a starting & ending time. After three minutes, there is a 10-second grace period (up to and including 3:10.00).

Starting at 3:10.01, a penalty is automatically deducted from each poet's overall score according to the following schedule:

3:10 and under no penalty
3:10.01 - 3:20 -0.5
3:20.01 - 3:30 -1.0
3:30.01 - 3:40 -1.5
3:40.01 - 3:50 -2.0
and so on [-0.5 for every 10 seconds over 3:10]

The announcement of the time penalty will be made by the emcee or scorekeeper after all the judges have reported their scores. The judges should not even be told that a poet went overtime until it is too late for them to adjust their scores.

Maximum Time Limit: After four minutes, only the emcee may stop a poet from continuing to perform.

9) Judging: All efforts shall be made to select five judges who will be fair. Once chosen, the judges will have a private, verbal crash course by the emcee or house manager on the do's and don'ts of poetry slam judging (where they can ask questions).

10) Scoring: The judges will give each poem a score from 0 to 10, with 10 being the highest or "perfect" score. They will be encouraged to use one decimal place in order to preclude the likelihood of a tie. Each poem will get five scores. The high and the low scores will be dropped and the remaining three scores will be added together.

11) Emcees: The emcee will announce to the audience each poet's name. They will also require that all judges hold their scores up at the same time and that no judge changes his score after it is up. They are expected to move the show along quickly and keep the audience engaged and interested in the competition. Since they must be completely impartial, any witty banter directed at individual poets, poems, teams, or scores is inappropriate. Even genuine enthusiasm has to be carefully directed. The safest thing to do is encourage the audience to express their own opinions.

12) Sacrificial Poet: Because no poet wants to go first in the slam, and because some judges, score keepers and time keepers need practice, each slam begins with a "sacrificial poet" or calibration poet. This poet performs a piece and is scored as if they were competing in the slam.

13) Team Pieces: No team pieces are allowed at regular season slams or the Finals.

14) Qualifying for the Slam Team: The top 12 poets from the regular season shows (Jan-May) are invited to the Finals in June to compete to be on the Victoria Slam Team.

Poets in the second round are given the following points for their standings:
1st- 4 points
2nd- 2 points
3rd- 1 point
4th and 5th – 0.5 points each

Points are added together at the end of the season and the 12 poets with the highest scores are invited to Finals. If there are not enough poets with scores to fill the spots at Finals the remaining poets will be determined by averaged cumulative score.

Finals Night will feature 3 rounds of competition, with the 3rd round between the slam team members to determine the Victoria Slam Champion. The scoring is cumulative over all three rounds, and order in the first round is chosen at random.

First Round – 12 poets
Second Round – 8 poets (bottom 4 eliminated)
Third Round – 4 poets (5th is alternate)

Slam Master Duties and Responsbilities

2010-11-09T08:59:00.000-08:00

Victoria Slam is a Tongues of Fire program, and receives its budget from the Tongues of Fire board.

The Tongues of Fire board is responsible for appointing the Slam Master. The board has the ability to remove the Slam Master by vote for breach of below duties. The Victoria Slam Master is a volunteer position.

Vic Slam will support the Slam Master to attend the National Competition (CFSW) in their role as Slam Master and therefore they cannot compete to be on the slam team.

Duties and Responsibilities:

To organize and lead the slam season and all participating events.
To host or find a suitable host for each monthly slam.
To ensure effective promotion Victoria Slam to audience and poets.
To clearly communicate all the rules prior to the start of the slam season.
To provide clarification and make decisions on the rules.
To make scores and standings publicly available in a timely manner.
To sit on the SpoCan board as a city slam rep if possible.
To promote good sportsmanship within the slam community.

Pre-Season Meeting November 8

2010-10-30T15:39:00.001-07:00

We're gearing up for the 2011 season, and if you'd like to get involved in helping organise then come to our pre-season meeting on November 8th, 7:00 at the Moka House in Cook St.

We'll be talking about goals for this season, venues, advertizing, season rules and the new Code of Honour from SpoKan, our special slam to chose a Vic Rep for the Van Indies and much much more.

And don't worry, if you can't make it, we'll be posting the minutes from the meeting right here.

Vic Slam Team takes 12th at CFSW 2010

2010-10-19T13:58:00.000-07:00

Wow. We're home again after a whirlwind week at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word (CFSW) in Ottawa (www.cfsw.ca).

CFSW Expands
This was the first time in CFSW history that there have been 18 teams competing from all over the country, including new teams from Guelph, Edmonton, Burlington and Petersborough. That meant that there were two venues for Ottawa fans to choose from.

We counted that we've each seen roughly 200 poems this week. That's a lot of inspiration. My personal favourite was the Saskatoon Love Poem by Saskatoon's Slam Master Charles Hamilton.

Victoria Slam Team
Our team pulled first in the first bout Tuesday night - a tough spot. But they had the perfect poem - a team piece called, "We didn't come here to win" that woke everybody up and got a lot of laughs. Matthew Christopher Davidson also dropped a brand new poem, "Believer" about struggling with your faith that brought tears to my eyes. Although the team finished in 4th place (out of 4) that bout, they did very well.

Their second bout out Victoria brought it with well-polished and beautifully crafted poems, including two team pieces "a DJ saved my life" by Steve Thompson and "Soldier" by Matthew Christopher Davidson. The team cleaned up taking a 2nd and losing to the veteran team Up From the Roots who went on to be in the semis.

Victoria finished 12th out of 18 teams - another strong finish for Victoria.

Experience
My favourite moment was definitely the Geek Showcase where all participants shared their nerdiest poems and we all laughed so hard we cried. I think the best part of CFSW is not the competition it's the community.

Next year CFSW will be held in Toronto. Can't wait!

Poetry in the Raw IV

2010-09-22T14:36:00.000-07:00

It's time again for our award-winning and provocative fundraiser Poetry in the Raw. 100% of the money raised goes directly to getting the Vic Slam Team to the Nationals in Ottawa.

And this year we're moving. Moving up with guest performances from Ingrid Hansen of SNAFU Dance, Rod Peter Jr of Atomic Vaudeville and Sasha Langford and Johnny McRae from the Vancouver Slam Team as well a whole host of local stars.

And of course our friends Solstice Cafe will be on hand with body-themed treats and coffee, and DJ Dodd will be spinning in his b-day suit. If there is one poetry event you go to all year... well, this had better be it.

Did we mention we'll be naked?

Get your tickets at Solstice Cafe $15 or $18 at the door. But hurry up, we sell out every year!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=148395335193466

Vic Slam Team feature at Tongues of Fire

2010-09-22T14:22:00.001-07:00

For all those of you who made it out to the Vic Slam Team's recording party - now's the time to get your copy of their live CD.

Plus, Tongues of Fire has promised to match the door money to help send the team to the Nationals in Ottawa - so bring your friends!

Tongues of Fire featuring...
The Victoria Slam Team
7:30pm Solstice Cafe
Thursday, September 23
$5 @ the door

For more info check out the Facebook event:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129961727049894

Slam Team Recording Party

2010-08-23T14:07:00.000-07:00

The Vic Slam Team held their recording party last week as their first official show as the 2010 team, and as their first fundraiser, frankly rocked the house.

Matthew started the night out with some of his serious side, the Steve dropped a brand-new piece, Megan brought back some old favorites, Dave got dirty and sinful and Jeremy brought it home Canada.

The night was packed with talent, and a special thanks goes out to Gumshoe and the Banshee for gracing us with their haunting music. And HUGE props to the Victoria Events Centre for their support in donating the space (they've been a huge supporter of spoken word in this town).

And thanks to everyone who came out to the show - you can pick up your free CD at the Vic Slam Team's next appearance at Tongues of Fire on September 23.

And don't forget about the fourth (and maybe final?) Poetry in the Raw on September 27. It's the Victoria Slam Team's big fundraiser and word is some Van Slam Team members might join in the fun...

Missie Peters
2011 Slam Master

Introducing the 2010 Victoria Poetry Slam Team!

2010-06-10T07:50:00.000-07:00

If you were there for Finals Night earlier this week, I don't have to tell you: the judges were stern, the atmosphere electric, the sweat copious and the poetry truly epic! And after two crushing rounds where it was, quite literally, anybodies game, four poets emerged triumphant to form the team that will represent our town at the National Slam this October in Ottawa! They are...

Dave Morris
Megan Ann Ward
Matthew Christopher Davidson
Jeremy Loveday and
Steven J Thompson (alternate)

Dave and Matthew were members of the 2009 team. Jeremy and Steven were on the 2008 team, but Jeremy had to drop out thanks to work commitments in Korea, so we are happy to see him on the team for another crack at the Nationals! And Megan! Megan was a tornado at Finals and a fresh new face for Victoria! She also ensures that the team is not a complete sausage festival. Thanks Megan!

Stay tuned to this space for more Vic Slam Team '10 news, upcoming shows and fundraisers, and watch the fazboog for the Team group/fan/like/whatever page... who knows what they're doing over there on the fazboog, anyway? Seems they can't make up their collective mind. Still! The '10 Team will be there. Join them!

Below please find complete scoring for all three rounds of the Finals, as compiled by official scorekeeper Sasha Prynn and timekeeper Cameron Lauder.

* * * * *
-- 10 poets competing, 3 lowest scoring competitors dropped from each round, cumulative scoring across three rounds, team decided from round two with third round "glory round" to decide champion...

Round One

Dave Morris -- 27
Megan Ann Ward -- 25.4
Steven J Thompson -- 25.4 with a time of 3m23s penalty = 24.4
Jennifer Jones -- 24.4
MCD -- 24.3
Jeremy Loveday -- 23.9
Kristy Westendorp -- 23.3
Jane Bee -- 23.1 /CUT/
Wes Lord -- 22.8 /CUT/
Derek Ford -- 21.7 /CUT/

Round Two

MCD -- 27.4 with a time of 3m18s penalty = 26.9
Jeremy Loveday -- 26.9
Dave Morris -- 26.3
Megan Ann Ward -- 26.8 with a time of 3m24s penalty = 25.3
Kristy Westendorp -- 25.5
Steven J Thompson -- 25.2
Jennifer Jones -- 25.0

Cumulative Scoring to decide 4 team members plus alternate as follows...

Dave Morris -- 27 + 26.3 = 53.3
MCD -- 24.3 + 26.9 = 51.2
Jeremy Loveday -- 23.9 + 26.9 = 50.8
Megan Ann Ward -- 25.4 + 25.3 = 50.7
Steven J Thompson -- 24.4 + 25.2 = 49.6 /alternate/
Jennifer Jones -- 24.4 + 25 = 49.4 /CUT/
Kristy Westendorp -- 23.3 + 25.5 = 48.8 /CUT/

Round Three -- Glory Round to decide Champion!

Jeremy Loveday -- 27.8 with a time of 3m54s penalty = 25.3
MCD -- 26.8 with a time of 3m32s penalty = 25.3
Megan Ann Ward -- 26.5
Dave Morris -- 26.2

Cumulative Scoring across all three rounds to decide Champion and ranking as follows...

Dave Morris -- 27 + 26.3 + 26.2 = 79.5 CHAMPION
Megan Ann Ward -- 25.4 + 25.3 + 26.5 = 77.2 SECOND
MCD -- 24.3 + 26.9 + 25.3 = 76.5 THIRD
Jeremy Loveday -- 23.9 + 26.9 + 25.3 = 76.1 FOURTH

Applaud the poets and their poetry, not the scores (which are, after all, arbitrary and somewhat random... yes, it's a flawed system, but like many flawed things in this world, it does carry within it a seed of beauty... *ahem*) ... Thanks to all the poets, the judges, the volunteers and of course, the audience! See you next season!

The Finals...

2010-05-24T23:23:00.000-07:00

Hello! Well, it's all come down to this, folks. The finals. THE FINALS! The last slam of the season and the slam that decides the Victoria team for 2010, who will represent our town at the National Slam, held this year in Ottawa during the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word in October.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

a) if a poet placed first or second during a second round at any slam, they qualified for finals...
b) due to a low turnout of poets during the first 3 months of the slam (Jan-March), it was decided that if a poet got into the second round at any slam, they also qualified for finals...

FINALS CONTESTANTS

In descending order, from highest scoring to lowest, the poets who qualified to compete in the finals are as follows:

Jeremy Loveday
Justin Illien
Dave Morris
Megan Ann Ward
Jen Jones
Jane Bee
Kristy Westendorp
Steven J Thompson
Matthew Christopher Davidson
Derek Ford
Brad B
Garth von Buchholz
Wes Lord

Contestants will be contacted and informed of the rules, as well as the responsibilities and requirements that membership on the Slam Team entails.

FINALS FORMAT

The finals decide the Victoria Slam Team for 2010. That's four poets, plus one alternate.

First Round

12 poets - random order

Second Round

Top 8 poets - random order

Third Round (bonus round to decide "champion")

Top 4 poets - random order

The alternate will be the fifth ranked poet coming out of the second round.

FINALS RULES

A competing poet may use all and any original work, including any piece(s) they have slammed with during the regular season.

That's it for now from all of us here at VicSlam Central! See you out on June 8 for one of the best nights of spoken word on the Island! 'S gonna be a heartbreaker!

Slam Scores for May!

2010-05-12T08:15:00.000-07:00

Well damn, son. Another 11 poets competed last night at VicSlam and with the randomly selected judges proving themselves both brutal and consistent, the competition was tight! The show was so exciting, in fact, that the host became moderately flustered; the feature Electric Jon was a pleasantly schizophrenic whirlwind of sound n fury; and the top performers walked away with outmoded entertainment media storage devices (movies on VHS tapes! Score!). Here are the top 5 poets who made it into the second round, in order of their awesomeness.

1st place: Jane Bee 54.9
2nd place: Jeremy Loveday 52.7
3rd place: Matthew Christopher Davidson 51.3
4th place: Dave Morris 48.2
5th place: Garth von Buchholz 48.0

Over the next few days, we will be crunching ALL the numbers from the season and compiling the list of performers for the Finals in June. Watch this space for that and other VicSlam related goodness!

Slam Scores for the Season So Far!

2010-04-21T21:37:00.000-07:00

Hello all. Skawt here, with the scores for the current season of Vic Slam! As you may know already, we are only one slam away from the Finals. Basically it's the May Edition and then in June, the Finals. That's it. Two more slams. Goes fast, don't it? So, in the interest of re-establishing some kinda current feel to the blog (we know it's been sketchy lately, update-wise and for that, our apologies) and to foster a degree of excitement in competitors and audience alike, here, quite literally, is the score(s)...

VIC SLAM

January Edition
Jeremy Loveday: 55.5
Jane Bee: 55.2
Dave Morris: 53.9
Justin Illien: 53.2
Jen Jones: 53.0

February Edition
Kristy Westendorp: 55.9
Steve Thompson: 52.6
Megan Ann Ward: 52.1
Brad B.: 48.7
Jen Jones: 46.9

March Edition
Dave Morris: 52.0
Jeremy Loveday: 50.6
Justin Illien: 50.6
Megan Ann Ward: 49.8
Jen Jones: 44.0

April Edition
Dave Morris: 53.4
Justin Illien: 50.8
Megan Ann Ward: 50.4
Derek Ford: 49.7
Wes Lord: 47.6

For the Finals in June, placement will be established in this manner: if during the regular season (January through May) you took either first or second place at any slam, you will be in the Finals. However, considering the relatively low turn-out of competing poets and the dominating juggernaut that is a few of those poets (looking in your direction Morris, Loveday, etc.), this will likely not give us the 12 competitors we need for Finals. So, to fill out the competition, we will then be ranking poets according to their accumulated scores over the season.

Questions, comments, concerns?
Feel free to hit us up wit dat via electronic mail!
tonguesoffire@shaw.ca

2010-01-25T08:37:00.000-08:00

1 ) Poems can be on any subject and in any style.

2 ) Each poet must perform work that s/he has created.

3 ) No props. Prop: an object or article of clothing introduced into a performance with the effect of enhancing, illustrating, underscoring, or otherwise augmenting the words of the poem. Generally, poets are allowed to use their given environment and the accoutrements it offers - microphones, mic stands, the stage itself, chairs on stage, a table or bar top, the aisle - as long as these accoutrements are available to other competitors as well. The rule concerning props is not intended to squelch the spontaneity, unpredictability, or on-the-fly choreography that people love about the slam; its intent is to keep the focus on the words rather than objects.

4 ) No musical instruments or pre-recorded music.

5 ) No costumes.

6 ) Sampling: It is acceptable for a poet to incorporate, imitate, or otherwise "signify" on the words, lyrics, or tune of someone else (commonly called "sampling" in his own work. If he is only riffing off another's words, he should expect only healthy controversy; if on the other hand, he is ripping off their words, he should expect scornful contumely.

7 ) The Three-Minute Rule: No performance should last longer than three minutes. The time begins when the performance begins, which may well be before the first utterance is made. A poet is certainly allowed several full seconds to adjust the microphone and get settled & ready, but as soon as s/he makes a connection with the audience ("Hey look, she's been standing there for 10 seconds and hasn't even moved"), the timekeeper can start the clock. The poet does not have an unlimited amount of "mime time." Poets with ambiguous beginnings & endings to their performances should seek out the timekeeper at each venue to settle on a starting & ending time. After three minutes, there is a 10-second grace period (up to and including 3:10.00). Starting at 3:10.01, a penalty is automatically deducted from each poet's overall score according to the following schedule:

3:10 and under no penalty

3:10.01 - 3:20 -0.5

3:20.01 - 3:30 -1.0

3:30.01 - 3:40 -1.5

3:40.01 - 3:50 -2.0

and so on [-0.5 for every 10 seconds over 3:10]

The announcement of the time penalty will be made by the emcee or scorekeeper after all the judges have reported their scores. The judges should not even be told that a poet went overtime until it is too late for them to adjust their scores.

Maximum Time Limit: After four minutes, only the emcee may stop a poet from continuing to perform.

8 ) Judging: All efforts shall be made to select five judges who will be fair. Once chosen, the judges will have a private, verbal crash course by the emcee or house manager on the do's and don'ts of poetry slam judging (where they can ask questions).

9 ) Scoring: The judges will give each poem a score from 0 to 10, with 10 being the highest or "perfect" score. They will be encouraged to use one decimal place in order to preclude the likelihood of a tie. Each poem will get five scores. The high and the low scores will be dropped and the remaining three scores will be added together.

10 ) Emcees: The emcee will announce to the audience each poet's name. She will also require that all judges hold their scores up at the same time and that no judge changes his score after it is up. She is expected to move the show along quickly and keep the audience engaged and interested in the competition. Since she must be completely impartial, any witty banter directed at individual poets, poems, teams, or scores is inappropriate. Even genuine enthusiasm has to be carefully directed. The safest thing to do is encourage the audience to express their own opinions.

11 ) Sacrificial Poet: Because no poet wants to go first in the slam, and because some judges, score keepers and time keepers need practice, each slam begins with a "sacrificial poet". This poet performs a piece and is scored as if they were competing in the slam.

12 ) Team Pieces: Any group of individuals who wish to do group pieces in the regular season or the summer season may do so. However, said group piece will receive a two point deduction from the poem’s total score and said group piece will not be used towards qualifying for finals at the end of the season.

Additionally, any individuals involved in a group piece is unable to compete in any other piece (be it group pieces or solo work) for that evening. Should the team performing said group piece make it to the 2nd round they would have to involve all the same group members in their 2nd round piece and would take the two point penalty in that round as well.

How the Victoria Slam Team is Chosen

If you are interested in qualifying for the Poetry Slam Finals you must place in the overall top 12 poets. The five top scoring poets at the finals night will become the Victoria Slam Team.

Victoria Poetry Slam Returns Early!

2009-12-10T10:36:00.000-08:00

So last you heard we were going to be starting up regular slams in January.

Problem is, we couldn't wait till then! We're too excited about performance poetry and judging and being judged that there was just no way we we could hold off until after the holidays. So, for those of you who are as impatient as the rest of us we've thrown together a pretty wicked kick-off to the new poetry slam season. We're talking about a licensed venue, we're talking about a rowdy crowd, we're talking hilarious stand-up poet Mike McGee as feature. You like what you're hearing? (Hearing in this case can be substituted with the word reading.) Yes, you do. You actually love it. Ok, so first things first...who is Mike McGee? You don't know? Well we think you might be lying but we'll hook you up with his bio anyway. If reading about him isn't enough to get you out on a frosty December night you might want to check out some video of the man in action.

Alright, so now you're sold on the feature but don't forget there will also be local poets battling it out for supremacy and your job is to come out and let them know what you think. The audience is what Slam is all about so we need a good audience. Obviously, a good audience includes you so here are the details. Victoria Poetry Slam: Tuesday, December 15. Cabin 12 at 607 Pandora. (If Lower Johnson is the shopping district these days, we're turning lower Pandora into the poetry district!) Just $5 at the door. Doors will open at 7 for the show to kick off at 7:30. Come out and be prepared for awesome!

CFSW is Over - Now What?

2009-11-25T09:57:00.000-08:00

CFSW blew my mind.

And I wasn't the only one. All of the visiting teams said how incredibly welcome and appreciated they felt, and I met more than a few spoken word converts from the Victoria audience.

I mean, 5 days of intense competition, artistry, mayhem and general awesomeness - I can't wait for Ottawa next year!

How can Tongues of Fire ever thank you? You - the volunteers, the audience, the supporting artists? Well, I guess by continuing to create space for you to create! So remember we hold regular shows:

Tongues of Fire - every 2nd and 4th Thursday @ Solstice Cafe
This is a great opportunity to try out a new piece or be inspired on our Open Mic. Plus, many of the best you saw at CFSW feature at this show throughout the year.

Victoria Slam - monthly slam starting in January
This is for all those ready and willing to test their poetic metal through competition and a rocking night for the audience!

CFSW Speaks Out: Sheri-D Wilson

2009-11-09T15:28:00.000-08:00

Last year she ran the whole show, this year she's one of the top features. We sat down with the Mama of Dada herself, Sheri-D Wilson, and got her to share a few thoughts about the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word...

CFSW: Last year CFSW was in Calgary and you were the festival director. How does it feel coming to be a feature performer this year?
SD: Great! And I look forward to seeing everyone.

CFSW: You are hosting/festuring at CFSW's first-ever Erotica Show. What can people expect from you in terms poetic sexiness?
SD: If expectations are necessary – then I think, expect the ridiculous, the absurd…there’s nothing more erotic than humour.

CFSW: You're a mover and shaker in the world of Canadian Spoken Word, how would you describe the importance of CFSW to the evolution and community of Spoken Word?
SD: The CFSW brings the Slam Community together to share – poetry and ideas in a peaceful forum – supportive - and to learn.

This is rare
And will continue to expand
The possibilities of Spoken Word
As the oldest tradition and the newest form
Of poetry and performance

This form has a life of its own
Always changing
Transforming

CFSW: You've been called the mama of dada. How would you describe your performance style?
SD: In a state of discovery.

CFSW: Finally, the Dating Game question: If your poetry was a chinese fortune cookie, what would the fortune be?
SD: Eros with a Beat.

Sheri-D Wilson will be hosting the Erotica Show Wednesday night at the Victoria Event Centre, and performing in the women's showcase on Thursday at 3:30. For information about all shows at CFSW 09 visit our website www.cfsw09.com.

CFSW Speaks Out: Scruffmouth

2009-11-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

Today we shine the CFSW spotlight on Vancouver spoken word artist Scruffmouth. This former Van Slam team member is featuring at the Pan-African Showcase on November 13^th 3:30 at the Victoria Event Centre.

Read on to found out why Scruffmouth loves Choose-Your-Own Adventures....

CFSW: Your stage name is Scruffmouth - care to elaborate?
SM: My brother gave me the nickname Scruffmouth to describe my scruffy facial hair in high school. When I began writing and performing spoken word and dub poetry, it seemed like a natural stage name over "peach fuzz" and "chicken scratch".

CFSW: Your work is often at the intersection between the personal and the political. Do you see your work as a vehicle for social change?
SM: Yes, my work is a vehicle for social change as much as it is a vessel for inner change.

CFSW: You've performed in Victoria before, what do you like best about the Vic vibe?
SM: I like the laid back island vibe and the greenery.

CFSW: You were on the Van Slam Team last year, what's your best memory from CFSW 08?
SM: Choose Your Own Adventure on finals stage. Van Slam!

CFSW: What can people expect when you step on stage this year as a feature at the Pan-African Showcase?
SM: 1)PROPS 2)AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION 3)THE BLACK PIONEERS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

CFSW: Finally, the Dating Game question: If your poetry was the cover of a vinyl album, what would it look like/be titled?
SM: It would be a big tree. The face in the trunk would be me, the roots would be my beard spelling SCRUFFMOUTH, the branches would be my afro, and there would be stuff in the tree like children playing in a tree house, birds, fruits, afro picks and whatnot. The title would be embossed in gold and it would read AURIGINAL.

Scruffmouth features at the Pan-African Showcase on Friday Nov 13. Admission is by donation. Check out www.cfsw09.com for more details.

CFSW Speaks Out: Barbara Adler

2009-11-02T10:48:00.000-08:00

These days, she most often seen cradling a vintage accordion or touring her unique brand of storytelling around B.C.’s North. But Barbara Adler’s also a member of the famed Canadian storytelling rock bad The Fugitives (headlining the Late Night Cabaret on Nov 13).

CFSW 09 caught up with her to get her take on homey goodness of CFSW, singing better and Werner Herzog.

CFSW 09: Barbara, you are long-time Alumni of CFSW. What is so special about CFSW to the Canadian spoken word scene? Do you have a favourite memory of past festivals?

BA: My favorite special thing about CFSW is how it has managed to keep its home-y, friendly quality, while becoming the biggest thing in the Canadian Spoken Word scene. Even though there are more teams than ever competing, the festival is personable, supportive, and a little bit folksy. I mean, I think it's great that the competition isn't as intense as in the National Poetry Slam, and that winning CFSW isn't some kind of super-star moment. I'm not sure I know who the best slam strategist at CFSW is, and I think that rocks.

My favorite memory comes from my first festival, where somehow the organizers in Ottawa managed to scramble together enough soup and sandwiches to feed everyone. There was this genuine sense that we were all going to take care of each other. I think there should always be free food, even if it's ,like, a pickle.

CFSW 09: Your personal style has evolved over the years. How would you describe the work that you are doing now?

BA: Ha ha...how would I describe it... Erm, well, on one front I've become very interested in harnessing longer format storytelling to some of the tricks that performance poetry does really well: language that sounds good, rhythm, imagery that knows how to jump. But if I were to be really honest, I'd have to admit that I'm spending most of my time trying to figure out how to play the 120-button piano accordion well enough to mash it together with pseudo-rap. My favorite things right now are M.I.A and Geoff Berner, and Veda Hille. I think it's starting to show.

CFSW 09: The Fugitives just cut an album this year. What direction did the band take with this project?

BA: Ah-ha! We learned how to sing better and paid much more attention to the instrumentation. The new EP, Find Me, is much more orchestrated and lush to the ear. There is less focus on Brendan and I having poetry moments, because we are pulling more of our weight in the harmonies and instrumentation. We are really proud that the reviews of the EP have all mentioned the strong singing.

Actually, what's funny is that some of the reviewers have actually seemed offended that we are "ruining" perfectly good roots-folk harmonies with weirdo poetry. As a writer, I take it as kind of a back-handed compliment: I'm ruining music! I'm in a band that makes music! Cool!

CFSW 09: You guys are playing the late-night carbaret on Friday night. What can the audience expect from your show?

BA: High energy crescendo; personable banter and warm hearts; theatrics involving banjo, accordion and acoustic guitar; another viable way to take spoken word, kicking and screaming, into the bars.

CFSW 09: Finally, the Dating Game question: If the Fugitives msuic was a short film, what would it be like?

BA: Oh man, when I first read this question, I thought it meant you were going to get us dates. Shoot.

What's that one by that French guy, the one everyone sees in first year film... Oh, forget it, I'm not impressing anyone.

Listen, we wouldn't be a short film. We'd be Fitzcarraldo, by Werner Herzog. It's the one where the main character drags a ship over a mountain so that he can build an opera house in the jungle. Herzog was accused of enslaving the native population to make the film, because he ACTUALLY dragged the ship over the mountain. People DIED! The scene in the film where they show the boat going up the mountain only lasts, like 20 seconds. A moment of impassioned, debaucherous hyperbole, for no reason except that it's awesome. That's us. Come see the show. We will drag a ship over a mountain (but we won't enslave anyone).

The Fugitives rock the late night stage 11pm Friday, November 13– Tickets are $10 at Solstice Cafe and Lyle’s Place. Check out The Fugitives for yourself http://www.fugitives.ca/

CFSW Speaks Out: Zaccheus Jackson

2009-10-28T09:16:00.001-07:00

He’s larger than life and twice as fast – Vancouver’s Zaccheus Jackson is a modern storyteller with a hiphop twist, and he’s featuring at CFSW 09.

We checked with him to get his take on spoken word in Canada, family storytelling and why poetry is like video games.

CFSW 09: You are known for 2 things: your mile-a-minute delivery and your crazy stories. How would YOU describe your work?

ZJ: I've always considered my work to be real Life, w/ a little bit of rhythm. The majority of my writing is non-fiction, socially based, and opinionated - but also as universally appealing as possible. The years I spent on the streets of North America taught me that a person's time and energy is one of the most valuable things they can share w/ you; and as such I have always been of the opinion that if people are going to listen, then the performer has a responsibility to say something worth hearing.

As far as the mile-a-minute delivery, well, that I can only blame on the ADHD.

CFSW 09: You are an incredibly engaging storyteller. Who told you stories while you were growing up? Was there an influential storyteller in your life?

ZJ: Growing up on the Haisla Reserve in Kitima'at, BC, it was my Grandfather, Tom Nyce Sr., who would tell stories as he carved canoes in the yard; keeping the oral tradition of our people alive. He was already quite old by the time I started paying any attention to my Grandpa's stories, but my father had the presence of mind to haul 8-year-old me, along w/ one of those old classroom tape recorders, over to Baba's house every Sunday where we would spend three hours recording whatever stories the old carver wanted to tell. Sometimes my father would ask for specific stories and other times we would just sit there and let Grandpa speak.

I can't claim to remember many of the stories he told us in any great detail, but I know as a fact that sitting there listening to my Grandfather tell stories to my father and I - and my father collecting each and every one like some endangered species - taught me the importance and social benefit of story-telling.

CFSW 09: What's inspiring you these days? What is the next project on your plate?

ZJ: For the most part my inspiration comes from the immediate world around me. I try and stay as socially aware and informed as possible, and when I come across a topic that I feel needs to be addressed I will usually try and juxtapose it w/ a story from my own past. I have found that this helps me internalize the topic, while adding a layer of personal intimacy that appeals to the naturally voyeuristic edge of Humanity.

I just got back from the Individual World Poetry Slam and whenever I come back from a poet gathering I am always over-flowing w/ inspiration. My next release will be a 13-track disc called "Dimes, Elephants and Airplanes", composed of material I've written since the release of my first disc "huManifesto" in November 2007; but currently I'm working w/ JakubEvolved and a few other East Van cats on a Hip Hop project that should see the light of day in mid 2010.

CFSW 09: You're one of two Aboriginal features at CFSW Open Mic on Wednesday. Without giving too much away, what can people expect from your performance?

ZJ: Being one of the features at the Aboriginal Showcase is a great honour for me, and while I am obviously proud of my full-blooded heritage, Native issues have been a difficult subject for me to write on. As a Southern Albertan Blackfoot raised in Northern BC I have seen many aspects of my peoples existence, both negative and positive, and have seen the impact that reserve Live, apathy, and the systematic assimilation of our culture have had on my People.

Personally, I am a proponent of the repatriation of Tribal lands, but also the structured removal of any and all government support for Aboriginals; which is obviously not a popular opinion. Many of my people are set in their ways, and the removal of federal support is sure to result in the decimation of three generations of First Nations people; but I believe that after that - weak-kneed and unsure of ourselves, but full of destiny - the Aboriginal peoples of Canada will once more begin to stand, proud and strong.

CFSW 09: You've been to CFSW before as part of the Van Slam Team. What was that experience like? What advice would you give to first-time competitors?

ZJ: I have competed at CFSW three times since 2005 and every single year I have seen the event expand and develop. Canada has such a rich and storied past, and such a proud and varied population that we consistently pull together some of the greatest performers from across the greatest country on Earth, and spend a week together growing and adding to the terra firma of Canadian creationism.

Having represented Western Canada at iWPS for the last two years has also given me a larger appreciation of Canadian performance poetry as a whole. I find that our poets are very edgy and honest and willing to take chances that some of our American counterparts may not. I'm sure this has to do w/ the fact that (unless you're Dwayne Morgan, *grin*) it's damn near impossible to make a decent living off of Poetry in Canada, whereas in the States there is such a prevalence of mass media that damn near everyone is on a constant look-out for their 15 minutes.

I love being surrounded by hundreds of poets at national gatherings in the States, but be it Halifax or Victoria, CFSW has always felt like home.

CFSW 09: Finally, the Dating Game question: if you're performance was a video game, what kind of video game would it be?

ZJ: If my performance was a video game it would probably be Dance Dance Revolution, for centipedes.....

Zaccheus Jackson features 3:30pm, Wednesday November 11 at the Victoria Event Centre.

CFSW Speaks Out: Steve Thompson

2009-10-26T09:04:00.000-07:00

The Canadian Festival of Spoken Word is two weeks away and Victoria is getting ready to host a mind-blowing week of spoken word, art, and inspiration.

But what is exactly IS CFSW 09? We sat down with festival director and former Victoria Slam Team member Steven J. Thompson to get the low-down.

CFSW 09: Ok, seriously - what's the difference between spoken word and poetry?
ST: Well for starters, Spoken Word can be much more than just a poem. Spoken Word can also be story telling, monologue and some people even consider some forms of stand-up comedy to be part of the genre.

However in comparing spoken word poetry to say traditional poetry; I'd say that the idea of spoken word is to find the best way to orally connect with the audience. Sometimes that can incorporate oral sounds and emphasis on cadence. Generally the voice plays a greater role.

CFSW: This is the 6th year of the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word. Can you explain exactly what happens at the festival?
ST: It varies from year to year. Each city puts their own spin on the production. However it has always been anchored by the National Slam competition.

This year there are twelve teams competing from cities across Canada. If you're going to get in to spoken word, that would be a good place to start. Furthermore, this year we have a ton of day events from open mics to showcases featuring Aboriginal performers, Female performers, Pan African performers and Queer/Transgender performers.

CFSW: You've said that this year's CFSW is West Coast vibe - what do you mean by that?
ST: We have performers coming from all across the country. Some have never even been to Victoria before. So we want to show them some of what the west coast is all about. For example one of the morning events that we are doing is called 'Yoga Poetry'. To me, that just screams west coast.

Also, whether it's deserved or not, the west coast has a reputation for being a bit more socially and environmentally conscious. This year we are setting new presidents with the festival by doing little things from not selling bottled water, to making ethical choices in terms of sponsorship.

CFSW: You've really beefed up activities and shows at the festival - what kinds of things are you doing at this year's festival that have never been done before?
ST: Again, I believe that we're setting many new presidents for the festival. For starters we have a slew of late evening events from the erotica show, to a poetry decathlon and finally a late night cabaret featuring spoken word/musical fusion group 'The Fugitives'. As far as I know the late night events have never been done before.

We also have a number of what we are calling 'value added' surprises. Without giving away the surprises let's just say that when your mind isn't being blown by what's on stage, it'll be blown by what's happening around you.

CFSW: You've been to CFSW twice as a competitor. Any advice for this year's teams?
ST: At the risk of giving the cliched athlete answers; Like any competition, play hard, but don't take it too seriously. The old slam adage is "The points are not the point, the point is poetry." And when you step up to that microphone...bring it!

CFSW: Finally, the Dating Game question: If this year's festival was a flavour of ice cream, what flavour would it be?
ST: What does adrenaline taste like?

To find out more about CFSW 09 and to view the full schedule visit http://www.cfsw09.com/

Tickets on sale at the Solstice Cafe and Lyle's Place.

Vic Slam Team Brings the Verse

2009-10-14T15:35:00.000-07:00

The Victoria Slam Team is featuring at Tongues of Fire October 22.

This is their last show before they compete in the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word November 10-14.

So if you want a taste of Slam - come and check them out!

Surf's Up!

2009-08-11T11:46:00.001-07:00

Victoria Slam Team continue their summer of love with a performance at the One Wave Festival.

Come celebrate the unique and beautiful cultures of the Pacific with a rich collaboration of local artists, traditional South Pacific music and dance and delicious Pacific treats.

One Wave Festival

Friday August 28

7:00pm

Solstice Cafe

Better Than Your Mom's Valium

2009-07-12T11:36:00.000-07:00

We know it's summer, but we couldn't resist bringing you Chris Masson's solo show "Pathos, Punchlines and Painkillers".

Chris Masson is the reigning Montreal Slam Champion, and one of the stand out performers from the Calgary CFSW Nationals last year. Now he's got a one-man show and we're bringing it to you.

Inside joke- just for you. At the Calgary festival the graphic designer forgot to change the name of the jpeg, and on the flyer he was listed as 'Reach Crop' (see photo). Now he's known informally across Canada by this nickname.

Check out this video of a live performance. Then mark July 29th on your calendar and get down to see Reach Crop!

Love Like Normal

Pathos, Punchlines and Painkillers
7:00 July 29
Victoria Events Centre

Vic Slam Team Gig the First

2009-06-08T20:24:00.000-07:00

You thought we were taking the summer off?!

Ha! We're here with a vengeance and we're sharing the stage with some illustrious fellows with AWESOME FACEs: RC Weslowski and Chris Gilpin. Also featuring is Victoria's own Joe McDougall.

Thursday June 25
Solstice Cafe 7:30
$15 @ the door

This is part of Festival of the Folk- a weekend long celebration of local folk! So, come on down and see your slam team in action for the first time when they're not being judged!

Reflection on Slam Season

2009-06-08T20:17:00.000-07:00

So the slam season is over now. Speaking as a fully-fledged member of the Victoria Slam Team, it was sure an exciting one. Thanks for judging me ;-)

We went from one slam a month last year to two a month this year! And the calibre of poets that graced our stage- wow. I'm pleased in the growth of our scene for sure. I really can't wait to see everybody back in September with a fistful of new poems.

Thanks so much to Kristy for being our slam master with the green hat, and everyone who worked the door/set-up/sound. It's really a community effort eh?

Considering how much fun these last few months were I can't wait to have the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word (CFSW) here in November.

Thanks for listening.

m

And the winners are...

2009-05-22T10:10:00.000-07:00

Dave Morris, Skawt Chonnz, Matthew Christopher Davidson and Missie Peters! Congrats to Jane Bee for making alternate.

HOORAY (great cheering and flag waving and much crying with joy)

So what now?

Well, your first chance to see this good-looking and great-sounding group is June 25th at the Solstice Festival of the Folk! http://www.myspace.com/solsticecafe

Thank you to each and every one of you who helped set up, do sound, door, posters, judging, cheering, performing and beering drinking all season. You are all a TEN!

Oh Snap! Victoria's Top Eight Poets Go to Finals

2009-05-08T15:54:00.000-07:00

And what a night it was! With Slam-master Kristy Westendorp in her fuzzy green hat of impartiality and tweleve bright-eyed poets eager to Slam glory.

We heard poems without similes from Matthew Christopher Davidson, a message from the future from Skawt Chonz and a diatribe to shitty love songs from Dave Morris. It was a night of laughter, tears and cheers.

And who ended up on top at the end of the night? Here's your top eight:

Missie Peters
Dave Morris
Skawt Chonz
Jane Bee
Vicky Philbert
Matthew Christopher Davidson
Marla O'Marla
Kat Eschner

Come on May 21 armed with fan signs and lungs ready to cheer, because only five of these poets will make it onto the Victoria Slam Team!

See you at the Finals.

Semi-Final Competitors

2009-05-01T15:38:00.000-07:00

Here are your 2009 Semi-finalists:

Anushka-in-Repair
Brett
Dave Morris
Kat Eschner
Marla O'Marla
Matthew Christopher Davidson
Meisha Lily
Missie Peters
Ryefield Ford
Skawt Chonzz
Tom Fowler
Vicky Philibert

What was the critieria for qualifying?
Slam winners were automatically advanced to the Semi-Finals. There were 4 competitors who won slams in the regular season.

The other 8 competitors were decided based on 1)making it into the second round in at least 1 slam 2)having competed in at least 2 slams.

See you next Thursday for the Semis!

Slam Semi-Finals May 7!

2009-04-24T14:54:00.000-07:00

I think this speaks for itself. Stay-tuned for who the lucky 12 competitors are!

Last Chance Slam Scores

2009-04-16T22:19:00.000-07:00

This is it- the last game before the playoffs- I mean semi-finals (we don't watch hockey do we?).

Here are your scores for the April 16 Slam:
4th- Tom 52.7
3rd- Jane Bee 53.4
2nd (3-way tie!)- Ryefield, Meisha Lily and Mily 54.1
1st- Missie Peters 54.9

Great job everyone. We'll let you know who's in the semi-finals soon.

Slam Standings April 2

2009-04-05T20:13:00.000-07:00

Here are the scores for the April 2 Slam:

5th Place- Victoria 51.5
4th Place- Ted 52.3
3rd Place- Marla O'Marla 52.4
2nd Place- Matthew Christopher Davidson 52.7
1st Place- Skawt 53.7

Also, Victoria's Poet Laureate graced us with her presence and helped judged. Thank you to her for participating!

Next slam April 16 @ Solstice Cafe.

Why do we compete?

2009-03-24T12:00:00.000-07:00

For all those of you who wonder, "Why would you ever want your poetry judged? It just seems so harsh." Here are the reasons why I compete:

A poet is accountable to their community, to their audience. A poet should be saying what an audience needs to hear and wants to hear. If you are too far ahead of the curve or preaching to the choir, then the judges (audience members) won't give you the high scores. Meet the audience where they are at, and take them somewhere new.

Competition brings out the best performances. There is that extra pressure in competition that builds anticipation in the audience and drive in the performer. It's the difference between a pick-up game of b-ball behind the school and the championship game.

Finally, the points are not the point. I slam because I love to. Story: Mighty Mike McGee didn't get into the second round for two years. And he's Mike McGee.

That's why I slam. Why do you compete?

Missie Peters

2-1 Entry to Celebrate Locals' Month

2009-03-11T09:20:00.000-07:00

March is Locals' Month at Tongues of Fire, and to celebrate, Vic Slam is offering 2-for-1 admission to the March 19th Slam.

That's right, you and a friend get in for half price! If you come together... so this is perfect opportunity to convince your roommate to turn off the T.V. and join you for a night on the town, to bring your latest crush out for a cheap and unique date, or spend some time with your parents.

Ok, maybe not that last one.

But come out and bring a friend March 19, for some of the rockingest poetry this side of the Rockies!

Standing Scores for the Slam Season

2009-03-09T22:35:00.000-07:00

Here they are folks, straight off the score sheets, the standing scores for the 09 season of the Victoria Poetry Slam. First off, our 1st place winners, who've been ensured a place in the finals...

January 15th - Dave Morris
February 5th - Skawt
February 19th - Missie Peters
March 5th - Dave Morris
March 19th - Matthew Christopher Davidson

And second, a slam-by-slam breakdown of the second-round scores

January 15th

Dave Morris - 56.2
Missie Peters - 56.1
Anushka - 54.8
Skawt 52.5
Kat - 51.9

February 5th

Skawt - 56.3
Matthew - 55.7
Missie Peters - 53.7
Marla - 51.7
Brett - 50.8

February 19th

Missie Peters - 59.0
Dave Morris - 57.4
Kimberly - 56.7
Matthew - 55.6
Skawt - 54.3

March 5th

Dave Morris - 58.3
Skawt - 58.2
Marla - 57.9
Matthew - 57.3
Missie Peters - 56.3

March 19th

Matthew - 56.8
Anushka - 55.6
Steven - 55.3
Marla - 54.0
Misha Lilly - 53.1
Skawt - 52.5
JP Lawrence - 51.0
Vanessa - 50.0

March 5 Slam Results

2009-03-06T12:56:00.001-08:00

Quick and Dirty:
1st Place- Dave Morris
2nd Place- Skawt
3rd Place- Marla O'Marla
4th Place- Matthew Davidson
5th Place- Missie Peters

The night was a great success including poems about money, healthcare, breaking up, and being a woman. Next Slam is March 19.

Stay tuned for points and standings...

Is it ok to heckle at a Slam?

2009-03-04T13:57:00.000-08:00

At the Tongues of Fire AGM this week the issue of heckling came up in discussion. Is it ok to heckle?

Now, Slam is about involving your community in your performance, so there should be some active dialogue going on. And Slam is about being accountable to your community, so if the audience doesn't like something, or likes something, they should voice it- literally.

And Slam is a competition. Someone brought up a great point, that in other slam scenes, it is the other competitors that heckle the performer as a way to throw them off their game, or get them to engage in the audience. In Vancouver you will often hear, "I've seen you naked!" (although it's probably not very shocking here in Victoria where so many poets have participated in Poetry in the Raw).

We want to encourage interactivity at our slams. The show can't happen without volunteer audience judges, and every audience member is an integral part of what makes a great Slam. And unlike most slam scenes in Canada, we don't have alcohol as 'social lubrication' so we need to build a culture that supports audience participation.

The best comment in the discussion was that negative heckling, "You suck" is unacceptable, but emotional response to the poem (cheering or booing) is not only acceptable but desirable.

So come out and cheer away, but be mindful of that your 'heckling' is supportive. Because, "We are all a ten!"

Huzzah!

2009-01-21T15:11:00.000-08:00

So the poetry powers that be got together and were like "Hey dudes, I think it's seriously time to think about having more poetry in Victoria. People are thirsty for it... they're hungry... they're, dare I say, horny for poetry. We have to give them what they want. Which is clearly more poetry!" THEREFORE... it has been decreed that any Thursday of the month you can swing by Solstice and there will be poetry being thrown down. (Unless it's one of those weird months where there are five Thursdays, then you're on your own.) We have added an extra slam to the first Thursday of the month so swing by to judge, compete or watch any first or third Thursday and of course, Tongues of Fire will continue with its regularly scheduled time every second and fourth Thursday at 7:30.

In celebration this very odd poster has been crafted to celebrate the good news.

Also, it has been loosely decided how semi-finals and finals will go down to determine the slam team and how we will decide who will make it to finals. We're just tightening the last few nuts and bolts, dotting some t's and crossing some i's, pulling up the carpet and putting in hardwood floors, throwing the baby out with the bathwater, biting off our noses to spite our faces, etc. It shouldn't take long. Stay tuned.

2009-01-16T16:13:00.000-08:00

Holy smokes Victoria! You showed up in full force last night for the first slam of '09 and faces were rocked right off. It was incredible to see over 80 people cram into Solstice to cheer on our local poets. Dave Morris took first prize by a hair (a poster sized 90210 puzzle) but everyone who competed gave it their all and I'd like to hope everyone had a tremendous amount of fun. For anyone who missed it, here were the official scores of the evening.

First Round
Tom- 23.1
Adam Ungstad- 23.9
Kadie K- 24.2
Meisha Lily- 24.4
Luke- 24.5
Strong Cottonwood- 25.9
Brett- 26.1
Anushka- 26.3
Kat- 26.3
Skawt- 27.4
Missie Peters- 28.0
Dave Morris- 29.5

Final Scores
Kat- 51.9
Skawt-52.5
Anushka- 54.8
Missie Peters- 56.1
Dave Morris- 56.2

Thanks to everyone who performed, judged, volunteered their time, cheered, laughed, boo'ed and whatever else you did. Stay posted for details on the next slam.

Hey...check this out:

2009-01-06T00:16:00.000-08:00

2008-12-28T21:44:00.000-08:00

Stay tuned for more specifics on the upcoming '09 slam season which begins Thursday, January 15 at the Solstice Cafe. In the meantime, since the slam team in Victoria is relatively new, here's how it all works.

RULES and GUIDELINES

The main event consists of two crazy rounds of spoken word, starting with 10 poets. All performers must have two pieces prepared. In the event that more than 10 sign up, performers will be drawn lottery style.
Poets are rated on both content and performance by five judges selected randomly from the audience. The audience is encouraged to influence the judges with applause or jeers; the poets are encouraged to influence the judges with gifts of cash.
The highest and lowest scores for each poem are dropped, and the remaining three averaged. The 5 highest scoring poets progress to round two; .the top three poets walk away with whatever crappy prizes we could find around our houses or small amounts of cash depending on our mood and our bank balance.
Each poem must be maximum 3 minutes. This begins the moment the poet engages the audience. There’s a 10-second grace period, after which the poet will suffer a .5 point penalty for every 10 seconds over 3:10. There is no minimum time.
No props, costumes, or musical instruments. Otherwise you lose a point.
Reading from the page is allowed. So is memorizing.
All poems must be original. Each poem must be of the poet’s own creation. 'Riffing' is allowed but use sparingly and be prepared to defend yourself.

All styles are welcome and encouraged: acapella hip-hop, theatrical monologues, literary poetry, sound poetry, dub poetry, rants, haikus, power raps, etc. Whatever you like. Remember you’ll be judged on delivery as well as content.

Newcomers are encouraged to check out a slam before competing, but all are welcome to sign up at any slam.

While competition is a main feature of the slam, remember the points are not the point; the poetry is the point.

Audiences are encouraged to be vocal about what they like and don't like at a slam so performers should expect for a more engaged (read: louder) crowd than the ones found at our typical open mic night.

In the end, the slam is about having fun and coming out to support your local poets. The winners will go on to compete in finals and to ultimately become your Victoria Slam team for 2009. The Canadian Festival of Spoken Word will be right here in our beautiful city this year and we want to be fired up and excited about our local slam scene so we can show the rest of Canada that we don't just sit around and drink tea all of the time. (just most of the time.) To summarize, it's all going down at Solstice Cafe, every third Thursday starting in January. Be there to perform on the open mic, compete, judge, cheer, boo, get rowdy or just for a nice cup of Earl Grey. As long as you're there we won't complain. See you soon!