The last time we slammed Austin was the Nationals in 1998, which gave me quite a bit of national exposure and some dandy little invites — DefPoetryJam, MTV, etc.
Well, it’s back, promising to be a simply incredible few days of wording. And to think i scheduled opening week of The Drawer Boy right over the top of it! Well, that won’t keep you guys from enjoying the fun.
Here’s the highlights from the phenomenal calendar mistress Stazja McFadyen:
So, I went to the NPS2007 site and compiled some, not all of the
bazillion events scheduled in Austin next week.
(Say, “Thank you, Stazja.”)
Venue addresses and ticket info are at the bottom. Prelims, Semi
Finals, Individual Finals and Team Finals - do your own research at
http://nps2007.com/index.php
Day and Late Night Events
Tuesday, August 7
Opening Ceremonies: Come help us make history and enjoy free lunch
courtesy of Maudie’s Tex-Mex. According to Guiness, the current World
Record for a Group Chapbook Signing is 153 people. Apparently, 153
authors got together to sign their books at the same time in some
fancy city with arts funding and public transportation. Big Whoop.
We’re not only going to beat the record, we’re going to donate the
signed books to the Texas Prison Project, an organization that brings
much-needed supplies and compassion to the incarcerated population of
Texas. What you need to do is bring one of your great works that you
will sign and donate. Our world record attempt will help people who
need it the most. Plus welcoming comments from your organizers, PSI
heads, and other surprise guests. 2:00 – 2:45 p.m., Antone’s.
Rookie Open Mic: Hey poets, if this is your first time at Nats, come
introduce yourself to the world at this mic specifically designed for
debut appearances. If your team is new or you have new members, this
is your stage. If you’re a veteran slammer, come check out and
support the rookies. Hosted by Scott Woods (Columbus, OH), 3:00 –
4:30 p.m., Antone’s.
LATE NIGHT EVENTS
Tuesday
I ROCK - The Live Music Open Mic: Always wanted the chance to get on
stage and kick a poem backed by a killer band? Or maybe you’re a
musician yourself and would like to sit in and kick out the jams? Get
in on this show and you’ll have the chance to front the band and pick
what musical style you’d like to work with. The bandleader for the
evening will be Austin’s musical madman Wammo, plus a rotating
musical cast. Including you. Plus a featured set by Urban Folk
Collective featuring Blair (Detroit, MI), 11:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m, .
Antone’s
Erotic Open Mic: Expect a hot night on the mic as poet after poet
takes the stage and gets their naughty on. Your slammistresses for
the evening, Gabrielle Boullaine (Buffalo, NY) and Mahogany Browne
(NYC) will keep the action coming your way and a panel of expert
judges – Ed Mabrey (Columbus, OH), Adriana Ramirez (Pittsburgh, PA),
and Ragan Fox (Hollywood, CA) – will let you know American Idol-style
if you were hot or not. Expect eye-popping surprises courtesy of
Austin’s home for all things sexy, Forbidden Fruit. DJ Scott Woods
(Columbus, OH) opens his groove locker to bring the funky mess, 11:00
p.m. – 2:00 a.m., Ruta Maya.
Anything Goes Slam: Got a prop, a cover poem, an animal act, a slide
show and a giant pink bunny outfit that you want to use? Wanna get
your crazy on and do something that nobody’s ever seen before? Bring
it. Your ringmasters for the evening will be Suicide Kings Jamie
DeWolf and Geoff Trenchard, co-instigators at Oakland’s infamous
Tourettes Without Regrets series. 11:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m., Ego’s.
Wednesday, August 8
Yoga: If you haven’t partied all night (or maybe if you have and are
still awake), please drop by! The class will be all-levels, very
relaxing, but not “easy.” Expect to sweat! The class is best
described as “Hatha Flow,” but will be adjusted for conditions and
ability of students present. Led by Berkeley Slammaster Charles
Ellik, 9:00 – 9:45 a.m., Hyatt / Hill Country B.
How to MC at Nationals Workshop: Have you wanted to get into the
glamorous life of NPS hosting but didn’t know where to start? Are you
an energetic host at your local slam looking to help Nationals by
volunteering? This workshop is for you! Hosted by rules nerd Erik
Daniel, this workshop delivers a detailed breakdown of MC and Bout
Manager jobs, rules discussion, with live demonstrations of rules
violations, and Q & A about tournament problems and solutions.
Mandatory for MCs and Bout Managers working at NPS 2007, highly
recommended for everyone interested in hosting tournament bouts.
9:00 – 11 a.m., Hyatt / Hill Country C.
How to Create a One (Wo)man Show Workshop: Come learn about
envisioning, writing, performing, and touring a one (wo)man show.
Expand your three minute poem into something more, 10:00 – 11:00
a.m., Hyatt / Hill Country D.
Stage Combat and Capoeira Workshop / Part I: Want to break down the
imaginary walls in performance and look at movement in a new way?
Wanna learn stage combat, zulu stick fighting, konba baton, Kalinda
and Capoeira? Our main focus is for you to have fun learning
something new that may help your creativity down the line. Come ready
to sweat and get down with your training groups, Cry Havoc Action
Choreography and Kilombo Njinga, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., Hyatt / Hill
Country B.
Head to Head Haiku: Created by Chicago poet Dan Ferri, Head to Head
Haiku has become one of the pillars of the NPS experience.
First 10 poets get signed up, next 7 get pulled from a draw. Come
with at least 30 haiku to win the 2007 NPS national head to head haiku
Hosted by Tazuo Yamaguchi, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Antone’s.
Grief and Remembrance Open Mic: In this reading we honor grief and
loss, remembering loved ones who have experienced tragedy or passed
on. T. Paul lives. Hosted by Ms. Spelt, 11:30 a.m. ? 1:00 p.m.,
Hideout Downstairs Theatre.
Slam and the Academy Panel: This year’s Slam & the Academy panel
promises to avoid beating a dead horse while attempting to shed light
on the following issues: the role of performance poets in today’s
MFA/PhD programs, the page/stage gap and how (or whether) we should
bridge it, popular misconceptions about “slam poets” and “academic
poets” and what both camps stand to learn from one another. Panel
features Tara Betts (NYC), Ragan Fox (Hollywood, CA), Tara Hardy
(Seattle, WA), Jeremy Richards (Seattle, WA), Robbie Q. Telfer
(Normal, IL) and Susan B.A. Somers-Willett (Austin, TX). Karyna
McGlynn (Ann Arbor, MI) will moderate,11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Hideout
Upstairs Theatre.
FameCast Open Recording Session: Do you need a high-quality
performance video of yourself kicking a poem? Come sign up for a slot
and get videotaped by the crew from NPS sponsor Famecast.com. They’ll
email you the video file and you can use it for whatever you want –
post it on your Myspace, use it to get a gig, or submit it in the
upcoming season of FameCast’s $10,000 spoken word competition. The
sign-up sheet goes live at 11 am; get on the list as videotaping will
continue through the afternoon, 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Hideout
Upstairs Classroom.
Legends Showcase: Last year, NPS honored poets who had spent a decade
in the slam community by creating the first-ever NPS Legends
Showcase. Back by popular demand, we’ve expanded the idea to combine
old school and new school in an invitational showcase of voices that
have made Slam great. Poets featured include Jason Carney (Dallas,
TX), Ragan Fox (Hollywood, CA), Andre “Paradox” Jackson (Ventura,
CA), Mike McGee (San Jose, CA), Anis Mojgani (Seattle, WA), Tara Seth
(Austin, TX), Danny Solis (Albuquerque, NM), Morris Stegosaurus (Salt
Lake City, UT), and Genevieve Van Cleve (Austin, TX). Hosted by
Mahogany Browne (NYC), 1:15 – 2:45 p.m. Antone’s.
Latino /Indigenous Open Mic: Lyric and passion at its very finest.
This showcase always provides some of the most unforgettable moments
of the National Poetry Slam. Hosted by Adriana Ramirez (Pittsburgh,
PA) Joaquin Zihuatanejo (Dallas, TX), 1:15 – 2:45 p.m. Hideout
Downstairs Theatre.
Stage Presence Workshop: You (yes, YOU!) need to amp up your stage
presence and connect with your audience better. This is a fast-paced
class where everyone participates. Bring in your hottest poem for
tips, tricks and critique from one of slam’s most dynamic performers.
Hosted by Rives (NYC), 1:15 – 2:45 p.m., Hideout Upstairs Theatre.
African-American Open Mic: One of the most highly anticipated events
at the National Poetry Slam. This reading showcases the incredible
diversity of our family with a sign-up list exclusively for poets of
the Pan-African diaspora. Hosted by Lynne Procope & Roger Bonair-
Agard (NYC), 1:15 – 2:45 p.m., Antone’s.
Jewish/Twelve Tribes Open Mic: A reading for all of the Chosen People
and their meshpukah (family), blood and otherwise. No worries about
your poem not being “Jewish enough” or being a goyim (non-jew) with a
Jewish-themed poem. All are welcome here. Hosted by Paulie Lipman
(Denver, CO) and Tara Seth (Austin, TX), 3:00 – 4:30 p.m., Hideout
Downstairs Theatre.
Is There a Creative Life After Sobriety? Panel Discussion: Does
stepping away from substance abuse have to mean stepping away from
your art? Several well-known members of the poetry slam community
discuss the issue of creativity after sobriety in this open forum.
3:00 – 4:30 p.m., Hideout Upstairs Theatre
LATE NIGHT EVENTS
Wednesday
Hip Hop Headquarters: Spoken word is one of the primary elements of
hip hop and our annual celebration of that fact brings the work that
bobs your head and opens it up at the same time. Freestyle sessions,
open stage battles, whatever you got, here’s your spot. Perform with
beats provided by our house DJ or go a capella. Austin’s Da’Shade
Moonbeam is your host, 11:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m., Antone’s.
Decathlon Slam: Embrace the madness that is the Decathlon slam. Three
teams picked kickball style compete in ten challenging events. Some
of them even have to do with poetry. Expect a few of the classics to
reappear (such as the Sock Puppet Slam round and the competitive
eating round), plus a barrel of new surprises. Hosted by Dasha Kelly
(Madison, WI), Mighy Mike McGee (San Jose, CA), and Phil West
(Austin, TX). 11:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m., Ruta Maya.
Slammaster’s Slam: This annual rumble amongst the organizers, emcees,
and workhorses that make the slam machine run is another staple of
NPS week. If you’re a Slammaster, get on the mic and represent your
venue. If you’re not a Slammaster, get in the audience and cheer your
SM to victory. Or heckle. That works too. Hosted by Dawn Saylor
(Harrisburg, PA), 11:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m., Ego’s.
Thursday, August 9
Yoga: If you haven’t partied all night (or maybe if you have and are
still awake), please drop by! The class will be all-levels, very
relaxing, but not “easy.” Expect to sweat! The class is best
described as “Hatha Flow,” but will be adjusted for conditions and
ability of students present. Led by Berkeley Slammaster Charles
Ellik, 9:00 – 9:45 a.m., Hyatt / Hill Country B.
Gen & Ragan’s Comedy Camp: Infusing Texts and Performances with
Humor: Former First Lady of the Promise Keepers Genevieve Van Cleve
(Austin, TX) and anti-gays rights leader Ragan Fox (Hollywood, CA)
enthusiastically invite you to attend a comedy workshop. The workshop
will cover various writing and performance strategies, including ways
to infuse your pontifications with gut-busting personae, campy
characterizations, and witty wordplay. Gen and Ragan will also break
dance, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., Hyatt / Hill Country C.
Stage Combat and Capoeira Workshop / Part II: Want to break down the
imaginary walls in performance and look at movement in a new way?
Wanna learn stage combat, zulu stick fighting, konba baton, Kalinda
and Capoeira? Our main focus is for you to have fun learning
something new that may help your creativity down the line. Come ready
to sweat. Hosted by your training groups, Cry Havoc Action
Choreography and Kilombo Njinga, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., Hyatt / Hill
Country B.
Queer Open Mic: You can call it the GLBTIQ reading, but it’s faster
and sexier to call it what it is ? the queer open mic, with readers
of all genders and orientations welcome (bonus points given if you’ve
found a new way to offend the current government.) Bring your poems
that celebrate, excoriate, tarnish, admonish and lullaby the truth
about this nelly, butch, genderqueer, femme, leather-daddy and none-
of-the-above nation. Bring the stuff you’ve been aching to whisper
into other Queer ears, and get all the queer applause you can handle.
Hosted by Jason Edwards (Austin, TX) and Ragan Fox (Hollywood, CA),
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Antone’s.
Signature Poems Open Mic: We all have that poem. The joint that
everyone thinks of when they hear our name. It’s the hit single, the
one the Stones would play at every concert. Come play your poem at
this new open mic, hosted by Deb Marsh (Ann Arbor, MI) and Mike McGee
(San Jose, CA), and we’ll sing along, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Hideout
Downstairs Theatre.
30 Publishing Tips for Slam Poets: This workshop will guide you
seamlessly from the world of performing your poetry into the world of
publishing it with 30 practical (and controversial) tips for slam
poets hoping to write for the larger literary community “beyond
slam.” Come prepared to take notes! Led by Karyna McGlynn (Ann Arbor,
MI), 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Hideout Upstairs Theatre.
Editing Sessions with Kevin Coval: Here’s a chance to spend one on
one editing time with one of the most highly-acclaimed writers in the
scene whose poetry, essay, and CD narration can be found on the new
Spoken Word Revolution: Redux anthology. Bring two copies of a poem
of yours that you’d like to workshop. Note: a sign up sheet will be
posted outside the classroom on the day of workshop by 11 a.m. Sign
up for a fifteen minute session — first come, first served. Workshop
runs from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Hideout Upstairs Classroom.
Women’s Open Mic I - Ladies Who Spit at Lunch: Austin’s Genevieve Van
Cleve will be at the helm of this celebration of women’s voices in
slam. SafePlace volunteers will be on hand at both of this year’s
women’s readings to offer support and assistance. SafePlace exists to
end sexual and domestic violence through safety, healing, prevention
and social change. Thursday from 1:15 ? 2:45 p.m. at Antone’s.
Persona Open Mic: One of the best things about being a poet is that
you have an active imagination that you can use to pretend to be
someone else. Bring your alter ego to read a poem in one of your
other voices at this new open mic, hosted by Ann Arbor’s Deb Marsh.
1:15 – 2:00 p.m., Hideout Downstairs Theatre.
Asian-American Open Mic: Vibrant, intense, and vital, this annual
open mic always amazes. Hosted by Alvin Lau (Chicago, IL), 2:00 –
2:45 p.m., Hideout Downstairs Theatre.
Beyond the Bar - Poetry in the Community: What happens when poets
reach beyond the community of people looking for a night out at a
bar? Tara Betts (NYC) will facilitate this panel discussing the
impact of writing and performing outside of slam venues and working
with community organizations, youth and underrepresented groups.
1:15 – 2:45 p.m., Hideout Upstairs Theatre.
Touring Workshop: Mighty Mike McGee (San Jose, CA) has been on the
road most of the time since 2003. Come find out how he survives and
rocks his featured set every time, plus learn about how you can get
your show on the road. Note: This is a limited enrollment workshop.
No more than eight people will be accepted. Sign up sheet will be
posted outside classroom the day of workshop by 11:00 a.m. Workshop
runs from 1:15 – 2:45 p.m., Hideout Upstairs Classroom.
Legends Showcase: Last year, NPS honored poets who had spent a decade
in the slam community by creating the first-ever NPS Legends
Showcase. Back by popular demand, we’ve expanded the idea to combine
old school and new school in an invitational showcase of voices that
have made Slam great.. Poets featured include: Tara Betts (NYC),
Kevin Coval (Chicago, IL), Kim Holzer (Durham, NC),), Deb Marsh (Ann
Arbor, MI), Jack McCarthy (Washington), Marty McConnell (NYC), Lynne
Procope (NYC), Rives (NYC), and Wammo (Austin, TX). Hosted by Dallas
slam legend Jason Carney, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m., Antone’s.
Comedy Open Mic: Slam has gone a long way towards showing the world
that poetry can be funny and that laughter is just as powerful of an
emotional experience as anger or sadness. So, think you’re funny,
bucko? Got a piece that always leaves `em laughing? Come rock your
stand-up, your diatribe, your socially inappropriate and all-too-
descriptive verse about your bodily functions, celebrity crushes, and
cratered relationships. Hosted by Big Poppa E (Austin, TX) and Sonya
Renee (Los Angeles, CA) who we think are both hilarious, 3:00 – 4:30
p.m., Hideout DownstairsTheatre.
Is There Such a Thing as Slam Poetry? Panel Discussion: For years,
poets in the NPS community have debated whether or not something
called “slam poetry” exists. At the same time, those in the media and
popular culture frequently use the term without question. Can we talk
about a body of work called “slam poetry,” or is the work performed
at slams just performance poetry placed within a competitive
framework? Two slam veterans, Susan B.A. Somers-Willett (Austin, TX)
and Scott Woods (Columbus, OH), go tête-à-tête to discuss the uses
and limitations of defining slam poetry as a genre. Come participate
in this not-to-miss open discussion, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m., Hideout
Upstairs Theatre.
Performance Workshop with Paradox: Do you secretly ask yourself, “who
is my audience?” Who are you trying to affect with your words and
your body when performing? Come find out how to connect with that guy
in the third row, who looks like he’s bored to death, or that girl
who finds her cell phone a little more appealing then your poem. Find
out how to bring the stage and audience to life. Connect the dots
with your performance every time. It’s simple, ask Paradox (Ventura,
CA). Note: This is a limited enrollment workshop. No more than eight
people will be accepted. Sign up sheet will be posted outside
classroom the day of workshop by 11:00 a.m. Workshop runs from 3:00 –
4:30 p.m., Hideout Upstairs Classroom.
LATE NIGHT EVENTS
Thursday
Famecast Final Five: This international online spoken word
competition has come down to five poets battling for a $10,000 prize.
At Famecast.com, anyone can submit a video and the online audience
decides who moves on to the next round. The votes are in and the five
poets bringing it to the mic in hopes of being crowned the first-ever
Famecast Fenom and taking home ten grand will be Talaam Acey (Newark,
NJ), Boogie Man (San Diego, CA), Corbet Dean (Phoenix, AZ), Ragan Fox
(Hollywood, CA), and Anis Mojgani (Portland, OR). This performance
will be streamed on Famecast.com for one week of audience voting to
decide the winner. Come support these poets and cheer for your
favorite, 11:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m., Antone’s
Women’s Open Mic II: Women of the slam it’s FINALLY HAPPENED!!!
Ladies, remember how there used to be only ONE Women’s reading at the
Nationals? We’d all jam in to a hot, little room and just get cookin’
when all of the sudden a band sweaty nerds would barge in and RUIN
IT!?!? This year we’re having TWO Women’s Readings. If you went to
Antone’s this afternoon the sign-up list was full, or, you got up
there and did one poem, but you’re itchin’ to do one more, don’t miss
this opportunity. Hosted by NYC’s Piper Jane Project with DJ Muse
(Boston, MA) providing the soundtrack. SafePlace volunteers will be
on hand at this year’s Women’s Readings to offer support and
assistance. SafePlace exists to end sexual and domestic violence
through safety, healing, prevention and social change. 11:00 p.m. –
2:00 a.m, Ruta Maya.
Return of the JediMaster’s Slam: Calling all Nerf Herders! In
celebration of 30 years of STAR WARS, join your fellow FANBOYS for
lightsaber battles, Jedi trivia and a dash of poetic Jar Jar bashing!
You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy! Shappy
Seasholtz (NYC) will serve as Red Leader, 11:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.,
Ego’s
Friday, August 10
Editing and Revision Workshop: The premise of this workshop is that
writing is good. Editing is also good, but writing should come first.
The object of the workshop is to get as many good writers as possible
into a room and then pick their brains and collect all their best
ideas, so that the facilitator can go home and write better poems. If
some of the workshoppers write better poems too, that would be
something of a plus. So bring your best writing and editing ideas and
spend an hour and a half with Jack McCarthy (Washington),10:00 -
11:30 a.m., Hyatt / Big Bend A & B.
Nerd Slam: Celebrating it’s SIXTH YEAR as a poetry shire for all of
slam’s poetry hobbits, this is where all the geeks gather to read
their Star Trek sonnets, love poems to Optimus Prime and eulogies for
Firefly. However, to read at the Nerd Slam you must first win in a
brutal TRIVIA-OFF! Two Nerds enter; one Nerd reads! There are awesome
prizes for all who dare enter the Thunderdome! Shappy (NYC) and
Robbie Q (Normal, IL) will serve as your protocol droids and promise
lots of SPECIAL GUESTS & SURPRISES! 12:45 – 2:15 p.m., Antone’s..
5th Wheel Slam: Year after year, one of the most amazing shows at
NPS. Alternates and coaches, this is your stage and your chance to
show us whatcha got. Hosted by Nazelah Jamison (Oakland, CA).,12:45 –
2:15 p.m., Hideout DownstairsTheatre.
Mic Dynamics Workshop: Slam takes the performance of poetry from a
whisper to a scream, often in the same sentence. Want to learn how to
ensure that the content of your poem isn’t getting wiped out by
feedback, popping p’s, or strained ears? Presented by Austin slam’s
founding father, Wammo, 12:45 – 2:15 p.m., Hideout Upstairs Theatre.
Organizing & Teaching Spoken Word Workshop: Poet Kevin Coval,
adviser/narrator of ‘The Spoken Word Revolution Redux’ (Sourcebooks,
2007), will teach the fundamentals of putting a spoken word syllabus
together, preparing spoken word lesson plans, and classroom
methodology; followed by transferring the learned skills of the
students into a large organizational events. Note: This is a limited
enrollment workshop. No more than eight people will be accepted. Sign
up sheet will be posted outside classroom the day of workshop by
11:00 a.m. Workshop runs from 12:45 – 2:15, Hideout Upstairs
Classroom.
Group Piece Open Mic: The NPS family has made the collaborative
performance of poetry something new under the sun. Here’s our annual
throwdown where teams get together and rock their group work. Get on
the list for a poem and if there’s time we’ll go down the list again.
Hosted by Team Normal’s Robbie Q. Telfer and Joel Chmara, 2:30 – 4:00
p.m., Antone’s.
Legends Showcase: Revenge of the Nerds edition. Raise your slide
rules in the air and wave `em like you just don’t care! We believe
that slammers are all nerds at heart, and here’s a stellar lineup of
poets who fly their geek flag proudly. Representing the horn rimmed
nation will be Astoria, NY sweethearts Shappy Seasholtz & Cristin
O’Keefe Aptowicz, Guy Gonzales (NYC), Dawn Gabriel (Boston, MA),
Jeremy Richards (Seattle, WA) and newly relocated Austinites Ernie
Cline and Susan B. Anthony Somers-Willett. Excelsior! Hosted by local
nerd Genevieve Van Cleve, 2:30 – 4:00 p.m., Hideout Downstairs
Theatre.
Writing Workshop: The Difference Between Poetry and Rhetoric. Come
discuss how poems transform and are transformed by their worlds and
how to best equip your poem for the task. Led by Roger Bonair-Agard
for NYC’s Louder ARTS project. 2:30 – 4:00 p.m., Hideout Upstairs
Theatre.
Youth Writing Workshop: Join Kim Holzer (Durham, NC), slam-champion
and accomplished teacher, for a workshop that challenges you to write
from the hilltop and make your presence known. You will walk out
having written what some students have called, “the impossible poem,”
and learn performance techniques that make you look like you’ve been
doing this for awhile. Be ready: this ain’t English class. Note: This
is a limited enrollment workshop. No more than eight people will be
accepted. Sign up sheet will be posted outside classroom the day of
workshop by 11 a.m. Workshop runs from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m., Hideout
Upstairs Classroom.
LATE NIGHT EVENTS
Friday
Karaoke with Shappy: They say that Austin is the Live Music Capital
of the World, but tonight is all about KARAOKE, baby! Come blow off
your slammy steam by singing along with your swinging host Shappy
(who is the only slammer in history who simultaneously hosted Karaoke
while competing in Indie Semis!) There will be Bohemian Rhapsody in
the Love Shack, Baby (one more time)! 11:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m., Ego’s.
Saturday, August 11
Slam Family Picnic: Here’s a chance to just hang out and enjoy the
company of the NPS community. We’ll have the grills loaded up with
Chef Whoopeecat holding court and a kickball ready for action.
Location is in the park just across South First Street from the
Hyatt, an easy walk. Note: we’ll provide the drinks as well; this is
a non-alcoholic event. 12:30 – 4:30 p.m., Auditorium Shores.
PG-Slam: Poetry Speaks to Teens and Tweens: The lovable and
entertaining Eric ZORK Alan hosts this all ages event that celebrates
poetry as an inspiration and transformative influence for kids.
The “PG Slam” kicks off a project to create an age-appropriate film
and CD featuring the work of slam legends and rising stars who have
exceptional appeal and powerful messages for children in high school
and junior high. The invitational reading features performances by
Big Poppa E (Austin, TX), Marty McConnell (NYC), Sonya Renee (Los
Angeles, CA) and more. In addition to their original work, poets will
also “cover” classic poems ranging from Lord Byron’s “She Walks in
Beauty” to Shel Silverstein’s “Jimmy Jet and his TV Set.” Organized
and co-hosted by LV: mother, poet and White Plains team member, 1:30 –
3:00 p.m., Ruta Maya.
Youth Slam: If you’ve been paying attention, we’re sure you’ve seen
young slammers tearing up the mic in your local community. Here’s the
stage for the next generation, open to all poets under the age of 21.
Co-sponsored by the Texas Youth Word Collective and hosted by Kim
Holzer (Durham, NC), 3:15 – 4:45 p.m., Ruta Maya.
LATE NIGHT EVENTS
Saturday
Finals Night Party: Last year we boogied the night away at the Slam
Prom. This time around we celebrate the 21st birthday of the Slam
movement by throwing ourselves the greatest birthday party ever. DJ
sets throughout the night by DJ Muse (Boston, MA), Jive Poetic (NYC),
Wammo (Austin, TX), and more. Be ready to celebrate; it’s time to
party like its 1986, 11:00 p.m. – 4:00 a.m., 501 Studios.
Venues
The Hyatt Regency
208 Barton Springs Road
Austin, TX 78701
Paramount Theatre
713 Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78701
Ego’s Lounge
510 South Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
Dominican Joe
515 South Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
Antone’s
213 W 5th St
Austin, TX 78701
Ruta Maya World HQ
3601 South Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
The Hideout
617 Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78701
The Parish
214 E Sixth St
Austin, TX 78701
Ticket info update:
Single admission tickets for bouts will be available at the door; $5
for prelims, $10 for semis. Wristbands will be available for purchase
at NPS Registration and at all competition venues; for only $10, get
a wristband that gets you into all prelim bouts, semifinal bouts, and
late night events. That’s a bargain, people.
Individual Finals (August 10) and Team Finals ARE NOW on sale next
week at the Paramount Theater box office, or online at
www.gettix.net.
Tickets are $26 each (same price for both Finals nights), General
Admission seating.
Daytime events at Hyatt, Antone’s, and the Hideout are free of charge
and open to the public.
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