Australian Poetry Slam 09
Who will be Australia’s next poetry slam champion?
The search is on for NSW’s best talent!
Speak, scream, howl, whisper or sing your original poem at the Australian Poetry Slam 09 – NSW heats – an electric live event where the audience is the judge!
Slam heats are currently being held in city and regional venues across Australia until November 2009. This year there are 10 regional and metro heats in NSW.
Two finalists from each slam heat in NSW will compete in the state final at the State Library of NSW on 13 November.
On 3 December, NSW’s top two performers will battle against state and territory winners for the coveted national title at the Sydney Opera House and some amazing prizes.
For more information about the Australian Poetry Slam 09, please email us slu35@sl.nsw.gov.au
How does it work?
All heat contestants are given a microphone, a live audience and just two minutes to impress the judges (selected at random at each heat) with their original spoken word, poetry, hip hop, monologues and stories.
Five judges are picked randomly by the MC throwing gifts into the audience. Whoever catches the gift is a judge. The judges’ decision is final!
The rules
- Maximum of 20 contestants per heat.
- Enter at the venue on the night of the heat (30 minutes before the heat).
- Contestants must reside in the state in which they are competing.
- Random draw for performance order.
- ABSOLUTE two minute limit. Time starts at your first word or when the timekeeper feels when 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. - Five judges chosen by the MC at random from the audience.
- 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.
- Poem must be the original work of the performer written within the last 12 months.
- No musical accompaniment. No props.
- Two performers with the highest scores in each State Heats will proceed to the State Final.
- Employees of libraries or venues that are hosting heats may not compete.
- Contestants must sign the addendum prior to performing.
What are the prizes?
Heat winners: will receive cash or a prize to the value of $100. The top two point scorers from each heat will go on to compete in their state final.
The NSW state winner and runner-up will take home $500 and $100 in prize money, respectively, and compete for the Australian Poetry Slam 09 title at the national final in Sydney on 3 December.
The overall winner will receive $5,000 and a place at the Ubud Readers & Writers Festival in 2010, including flights and accommodation. The overall runner-up will receive $500.
NSW Heats
HEAT ONE – Katoomba
Thursday 18 June, 7 pm
Katoomba Winter Magic Festival event
Carrington Hotel
MC: Miles Merrill
HEAT TWO – Cowra
Friday 3 July, 5.30 pm
Cowra Library
Darling St
MC: Miles Merrill
HEAT THREE – Armidale
Saturday 15 August, 12 noon
Armidale Library
122 Faulkner St
MC: Miles Merrill
HEAT FOUR – Wagga Waga
Saturday 5 September, 2.30 pm
Wagga Wagga Library,
cnr Baylis & Morrow Sts
MC: Tug Dumbly
HEAT FIVE – Broken Hill
Friday 18 September, 7 pm
Theatre 44
Wills St.
MC: Tug Dumbly
HEAT SIX – Gosford
Thursday 22 October, 6 pm
Gosford City Library
(Erina Fair Shopping Centre)
Karalta Rd
MC: Miles Merrill
HEAT SEVEN – Newcastle
Friday 30 October, 6.30 pm
Newcastle Library
Laman Street
MC: Miles Merrill
HEAT EIGHT – Parramatta
Friday 30 October, 8 pm
Mars Hills Café
331 Church St
MC: Angela Stretch
HEAT NINE – Glebe
Tuesday 3 November, 7 pm
Friend in Hand Hotel
58 Cowper St
MC: Miles Merrill
HEAT TEN – Lismore
Saturday 7 November, 2.30 pm
Lismore Library
Magellan Street
MC: Miles Merrill
For more information about the NSW heats, please contact:
Miles Merrill, Slam co-organiser
0439 481 395 or milesmerrill@yahoo.com
NB. Slam sign-up is 30 minutes before each heat — limit of 20 contestants per heat.
NSW State Final
Friday 13 November, 7.30pm
State Library of NSW
Macquarie St entrance foyer
MC: Miles Merrill
Past Australian Poetry Slam winners
Omar Musa, winner of Poetry Slam 09 Now in its third year, the Australian Poetry Slam has unearthed some amazing talent and enhanced the career opportunities of two previous winners.
2008 winner Omar Musa recently released his first music video, Hemingway.
Watch Omar Musa's video Hemingway
Read about Omar’s winning performance on the ABC website
2007 winner Marc Testart became the first Australian to compete in the Individual World Poetry Championships in America last December.
The Australian Poetry Slam is an initiative of the State Library of NSW and Word Travels, and is supported by state, territory and public libraries and festivals across Australia.
Supported nationally by:
Supported in NSW by:
