Read all of the rules BEFORE crafting your audition piece
and don’t forget to
submit your online audition sign-up form!

This is an opportunity for poetry and gogo lovers to enjoy the competitive art of late-night performance poetry! Enjoy high-intensity performances, with special guest judges choosing the winner!

PERFORMANCE RULES

  • Each poem must be of the poet’s own construction alongside a pre-selected gogo track.

  • Each poet gets 3 minutes 30 seconds (plus a ten-second grace period) to read one poem; if the poet goes over, points will be deducted from the total score.

  • The judges will then score the pieces anywhere from 0.0 to 10.0, evaluating such qualities as PERFORMANCE, CONTENT and ORIGINALITY. The high and low scores of each performance are tossed and the middle three are added giving the performer their score. A poet’s time begins as soon as they say anything on stage or engage the audience in any way.

  • The poet may NOT use props, costumes, or musical instruments. This includes the removal of clothing.

  • The poem can only be performed by one person.

  • Poets ARE allowed to read from paper and electronic devices such as laptops or cell phones. There will be no point penalty assessed unless it’s used as a PROP (as outlined above).

  • The poet with the most points combined from the first and second-round wins the slam

HOUSE RULES

  1. Please remember to turn off your devices.

  2. Respect the mic, but most of all respect the person that is at the microphone. Give them your attention, it may be someone’s first time, or they may be getting very vulnerable. The only time you can make noise, is if it’s to show a lot of love to the person on stage in agreement with their poem. We are in an interactive space: you can clap, snap, yell hallelujah, but of course be respectful in your exuberance!

  3. We do not censor our stages, but still reserve the right to dispel anyone from the stage at the Host’s discretion if the space is made unsafe at any point.

  4. Last but not least, have a whole lot of fun!!!