Australian Poetry Slam '09

Got something to say? You've got two minutes and a microphone, Victoria, so slam it!

Speak, scream, howl, whisper or sing your original poem at the Victorian heats of the Australian Poetry Slam '09 - an electric live event where the audience is the judge.

Heat winners will compete in the state final at the State Library of Victoria on 12 November.

In December, Victoria’s top two slam poets will battle against state and territory winners at the Sydney Opera House for the coveted Australian Poetry Slam '09 title and $5000 cash.

How does it work?

Slam heats will be held in city and regional venues across Australia between September and November 2009. Two finalists from each slam heat will compete in their state final, and the two top point-scorers from each state final will receive the opportunity to travel to Sydney in December to battle it out for the national title.

What are the prizes?

Heat winners receive $100 and go on to compete in the state final. The winners of the state final will receive $800 (winner) and $400 (runner-up), plus airfares and accommodation for the national final held in Sydney in December.

The overall winner will receive $5000 and a place at the 2010 Ubud Writers Festival in Bali, including flights and stunning accommodation for a week.

Victorian heats

Ferntree Gully
Date: Monday 21 September, 7pm (register 6.30pm)
Venue: Ferntree Gully Library & Community Centre, 1010 Burwood Hwy, Ferntree Gully
Bookings & inquiries: 03 9294 8140

Frankston
Date: Tuesday 29 September, 6.30pm (register 6pm)
Venue: Frankston Library, 60 Playne St, Frankston
Bookings & inquiries: 03 9784 1020

Ballarat
Date: Thursday 24 September, 7.30pm (register 7pm)
Venue: Blue Note Piano Bar, 213 Mair St, Ballarat
Bookings & inquiries: 03 5332 2615

Portland
Date: Wednesday 7 October, 6.30pm (register 6pm)
Venue: Portland Arts Centre, Glenelg & Bentinck Sts, Portland
Bookings & inquiries: 03 5522 2265

Special wildcard heat
Date: Tuesday 27 October, 6.30pm (register 6pm)
Venue: City Library, 253 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Bookings & inquiries: 03 9658 9500

Swan Hill
Date: Wednesday 28 October, 6.30pm (register 6pm)
Venue: Swan Hill Library, 53 Campbell St, Swan Hill
Bookings & inquiries: 03 5036 2480

Victorian state final
Date: Thursday 12 November, 8pm
Venue: Experimedia, State Library of Victoria, 328 Swanston St, Melbourne
Bookings required: 03 8664 7099 or bookings@slv.vic.gov.au
Tickets: $15 ($12 concession; $10 Library Foundation members)

Heat rules

1. Maximum of 20 contestants per heat.

2. Enter at the venue on the night of the heat (30 minutes before the heat).

3. Contestants must reside in the state in which they are competing.

4. Random draw for performance order.

5. Absolute two minute limit. Time starts at your first word or when the timekeeper feels your performance has begun (no additional time for introductions). Points will be deducted from the final score for exceeding the time limit — one point for every 30 seconds over time. For example: you will lose one point if you exceed two minutes by between one second and 30 seconds; you will lose two points if you exceed two minutes by between 31 seconds and 60 seconds; and so on.

6. Five judges chosen by the MC at random from the audience.

7. Judges hold up score cards using a 1 – 10 scale, with 10 being the highest. Of the five scores for each poet, only the middle three scores are counted.

8. Poem must be the original work of the performer written within the last 12 months.

9. No musical accompaniment. No props.

10. Two performers with the highest scores in each state heat will proceed to the state final (see Addendum to state heats rules for additions to this rule).

11. Employees of libraries or venues that are hosting heats may not compete.

12. Contestants must sign the addendum prior to performing.

Addendum to state heats rules
All material must be original and any entrant deemed by the producer to have plagiarised material or concepts from any source will be immediately disqualified.

A panel from the audience on the night will judge the heats. In all instances the judges' decision is final.

Registration process

• A maximum of 20 poets can perform at any one heat.
• Registrations open thirty minutes before the heat starts. Pre-registrations are not allowed.
• The first 15 people to register are guaranteed a performance spot at the heat.
• All following registrations are added to a second pool which will be entered in a random draw for the final five performance spots.
• Before the heat begins, a selected audience member will draw five competitors out of the second pool for the final five performance spots.
• The 15 guaranteed names and the five newly selected names are added to a 'hat' for random draw of performance order.
• If fewer than 20 people register by the time the heat starts, more names can be added to the hat at the half-way mark only. The rules above apply in this situation.

Sponsors

The Australian Poetry Slam is generously supported by a range of sponsors.

More information

You can find us on Facebook and Twitter by searching for 'AustPoetrySlam'.