BUSBOYS AND POETS & @BeltwaySlamDC Present: the BELTWAY POETRY SLAM 7.31.18

BUSBOYS AND POETS & @BeltwaySlamDC Present: the BELTWAY POETRY SLAM 7.31.18

Date and Time

Jul 31, 2018 9:00 pm

Location

Brookland

625 Monroe St NE, Washington, District of Columbia, 20017

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Description:

Busboys and Poets Presents the Beltway Slam:

ALL THOSE PARTICIPATING IN THE SLAM MUST ARRIVE BY 7:30 AND BUY THEIR TICKETS IN PERSON!!

$5 Cover. On the day of the event, tickets can be purchased online starting at midnight and in the restaurant starting at 10:00 AM (cash only). No refunds. Ticket purchase limit of 4 per person. Guests must have their wristbands (tickets) on upon entering the event.

Seating is available on a first come, first seated basis. No saved or reserved seats are allowed. Failure to check in within 30 minutes of advertised start time may result in forfeiture of seats.

Rules and Procedures for 2018-2019 Season

Each open slam will be two rounds. Standard PSI rules apply (3 minutes, own work, no props, etc). The first round will have a maximum of twelve poets and the order will be by random draw. The top eight poets from the first round will move on to the second round and the order will be high to low from the first round. The two poets with the highest cumulative scores will move on to semifinals (see below).

Participation by Lottery:

The list for the night will be held by the Bout Manager. Poets MUST speak with the Bout Manager in person on the night of the slam to be placed on the list. The list will open at 7:30 and close at 7:50 SHARP.


  • If twelve (12) or fewer poets sign up, those individuals will all compete. If thirteen (13) or more poets sign up, there will be a lottery. The first twelve poets whose names are pulled when the list closes will compete.

  • If a poet’s name is not pulled during the lottery, they can have their name entered twice in the next slam if a lottery is called for that night as well. This only applies to the very next slam. If the poet cannot make the very next slam, they forfeit the bonus entry. If a poet’s name is not pulled two months in a row, that poet can have their name entered three times in the slam for third consecutive month. A poet with very bad luck could have their name in the lottery as many as five extra times in the April open slam.
  • The Draw:

    The draw will happen at 7:50 SHARP. If there is a lottery, the pull to determine who is slamming will also determine the order in which they will compete. Poets MUST be present at the time of the lottery/draw. If a poet’s name is pulled for a lottery and they are not present or very easily locatable, they forfeit their place and are not eligible for the bonus entry described above. If there is no lottery and a poet is not present or easily locatable during the draw, that poet will compete first; if they are still not present when their name is called during the first round, they will not slam that night.

    Qualification for Semifinals:

    The poets with the two highest cumulative scores from each slam are automatically in semis. These poets may not compete again in the season until semifinals.


    • If for some reason either the first or second place winners are not interested in or cannot commit to competing in semifinals, the poet in third place will move up and be deemed qualified for semifinals. If necessary, this will continue until two poets have been qualified for semifinals.

    • A list of people who place third (or whatever place is below the lowest qualifying poet) in each slam, along with their differential from the two qualifying poets (usually first and second place), will be kept. This list will be consulted in the event someone who has qualified for semifinals cannot compete.
    • Speciality Slam Dates and Info:

      Team semi-finals: Tuesday April 28

      The top 12 poets from the season will compete with 3 minute poems. Any poem from the season can be repeated for the semifinals/finals but you cannot repeat the same poem(s) you do in semifinals in finals.

      Team finals: Second week in May

      Poets will compete in a three round slam (all three minute poems) where the four poets with the highest cumulative score will be named the team for the National Poetry Slam that year. Poets may not repeat poems from semi-finals. The team may opt to allow the 5th place poet on the team as an additional member.

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