Van Slam

On January 31st, the Vancouver Poetry Slam will be having a Van Slam Family Meeting to discuss and decide on the following topics/projects…

So for those that are interested…

The January Van Slam Family meeting will be held on January 31st at 6:30 PM at the Brittania Community Centre (1661 Napier Street) , specifically at the Learning Resource Centre. We’ve rented the space for 2 1/2 hours and I hope we finish in 1 hour but on the off chance we can’t eat through everything in the first hour and a half we’ll take a break then for 5 or 10 and then come back and go through the rest.

1) VOTING: The election of the local slammaster
2) INFORMATIONAL: Finals Night at the Rio
3) INFORMATIONAL: Canadian Indies
4) Possibly something from the Rules Committee
5) VOTING: Changing the Youth Slam proceeds from going from half to Van Slam and half to the youth slam to all going to the Youth Slam
6) VOTING: The purchasing of a video camera for the slam for the purpose of video taping and posting on youtube, our myspace, website and facebook groups poems from the 2nd round of each and every slam
7) VOTING: The Rookie of the Year Award
8) VOTING: Proposed Van Slam Budget for 2010 and financial update

All of the topics have been posted for discussion on the Vancouver Poetry House forum so please chime in on any and all topics there.

Hope to see you all there,

Sean and Duncan

The Vancouver Poetry Slam’s second annual Women of the World playoff bout might have been the best show of the winter. Café Deux Soleils was cram-packed, and there was a line of people waiting to get in for much of the show. Jessica was on-point as host and ringmaster, exhorting the crowd to yell “Vagina” through the whole evening. Gyno-power was in overdrive, and it was awesome to behold. Our feature Lisa Slater demonstrated why she’s been one of the best in the city for several years now.

The poets competing had qualified for this bout by scoring highly in slams over the past few months. The top eight point-getters who earned a spot in last night’s battle were: Antonette, Julie Peters, Katrina, Magpie Ulysses, Marcela, Shannon Rayne, Sonya Littlejohn, and Tessa. They all brought poetic thunder to the stage in a back and forth bout that wasn’t decided until the third and final round.

In the end, the winner was the poetic tower of power, Julie Peters!

She will be Vancouver’s rep at the Women of the World poetry slam, held in Columbus, Ohio from March 10-13.

From Sean McGarragle the Vancouver Poetry Slam Slammaster:

This is an announcement for the upcoming Van Slam Family meeting where we will be discussing and voting on many things from a proposed new points system to the election of a new Van Slam International Slammaster. The agenda is listed bellow.

Anyone can attend the meeting. But to be able to vote you need to have attended (volunteered, performed, being a judge or just an audience member) at least 4 times in the past 6 months at a Vancouver Poetry Slam event.

Van Slam Meeting August 30th
Location: The Learning Centre in the Brittania Community Centre Complex
1661 Napier Street
Time: 2:00 PM till 4:00 PM

Items on the Agenda:

1) Proposed Rules Changes from the Rules Committee with regards to the qualification for the Van Slam playoffs (discussion here: http://vancouverpoetryhouse.com/forum/smf/index.php/topic,684.0.html)
2) Proposed Rule Changes with regards to the maximum number of slam one can compete in during the regular season
3) The election of a new International Slammaster (Lisa Slater is not seeking re-election) If you are interested in running for this position let Sean know. (discussion here:http://vancouverpoetryhouse.com/forum/smf/index.php/topic,580.0.html)
4) Introduction of our wonderful new volunteer coordinator
5) Proposal with regards to recording all of the regular season slams from Warren Dean Fulton
6) Promotion of the Honour Code at the Slam
7) Update on T-Shirt and Cd Sales from Chris Gilpin
8) Update from Lisa Slater and RC Weslowski from NPS
9) Update on the weekly slams from Sean McGarragle
10) Preview of the Upcoming season and CFSW from Sean McGarragle

The meeting will not last longer than 1 hour and 45 minutes. We will be starting on time, please do not be late. And if you’re unsure where it is I will be in front of the Brittania Library at 1:30 PM. Hope to see you all there.

The 2008-09 edition of the Vancouver Poetry Slam’s Finals Night was a raging success, selling out the Rio Theatre. Over 450 poetry fans packed the place, booing and cheering, as eight poets vied for four spots on the Vancouver Slam Poetry Team. That’s the largest audience for a Finals Night since the Vancouver Poetry Slam started in 1996. The continued growth of audience interest in this grassroots arts movement proves that performance poetry is more popular than ever in Vancouver.

After three rounds of poetic jousting, RC Weslowski emerged as this year’s Grand Slam Champ. Joining him on the Van Slam Poetry Team will be Johnny Macrae, Nora Smithhisler and Chris Gilpin. Duncan Shields and Steve Miller tied for the team’s alternate spot.

This is Nora’s third team in four years. Chris Gilpin’s second consecutive team. And RC’s sixth team in, well, a decade or so. The only other person who has been on six teams in Shane Koyczan, who put in a killer feature set, breaking out several pieces from his new CD “Shut Up and Say Something”.

Thanks to Sue McIntyre for organizing all our awesome volunteers. Thanks to Sean McGarragle for hosting, and being a fantastic slammaster. Thanks to the Svelte Ms. Spelt for bout managing. And thanks to the staff of the Rio Theatre for helping make the night such a big success.

THE VANCOUVER POETRY SLAM

http://www.myspace.com/vancouverpoetryslam

http://vancouverpoetryhouse.com/

CONTINUES

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CAFÉ DEUX SOLEILS: 2096 COMMERCIAL DRIVE

EVERY MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH

THE NEXT REGULAR SEASON POETRY SLAM

IS

MONDAY DECEMBER 15TH

FEATURING

TAALAM ACEY

Taalam Acey is considered by many to be the central Spoken Word artist of the current generation. He’s published a novel, a comprehensive collection of poems, an award winning memoir and 9 Spoken Word CDs. Taalam has been a full time traveling poet since 1999. Tens of thousands of people own his work and hundreds of thousands have watched him live or via television and the internet. Acey performs regularly in more than 50 cities in the US and abroad. On average, he is on a plane once every 3.5 days. That’s 100 flights per year to promote Spoken Word.

http://www.taalamacey.com/

THIS WILL ALSO BE ANOTHER QUALIFYING SLAM

FOR THE WOMEN OF THE WORLD POETRY SLAM PLAYOFFS IN JANUARY

AND

THE VAN SLAM TEAM PLAYOFFS NEXT APRIL

DOORS AND POET SIGN UP AT 8PM

OPEN MIC AT 8:40

SLAM STARTS AT 9 PM

STILL ONLY $5

THE BEST ENTERTAINMENT DEAL IN TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES

If your between the ages of 13-22 it’s your last chance to step up to the mic at the Vancouver Youth Poetry Slam in 2008.

Where: Cafe Deux Soleils, 2096 Commercial Drive
When: 8pm

Our feature is Dakota Belle Witt from Eugene, Oregon. She is amazing. You might remember her from the 2005 Eugene Slam Team that participated in the Salmon Slam that summer.

http://www.myspace.com/dakotabellewittpoetry

Dakota Belle Witt has been called slam poetry for people who hate slam poetry. Her work is character driven and lends itself to magical whimsy paired with sharp comedy and tragedy fused together. Even though she is a regular performer at the Oregon Country Fair and has served on the Eugene Poetry Slam team both as coach and performer for many years, she does not self-identify as a hippie. She has peddled her poetics across the globe from London to New York to Canada and back again. Most recently she has been seen at the Out/Loud Womens music festival and on tour with the sister cabaret act Vermillion Lies. She loves you.

It’s $3 for 18 and under. $5 for 19 and older. Christmas break will be in full swing so we should have a full slew of poets ready to read and rock and speak for themselves.

For more info contact RC Weslowski:
Phone:     604.215.9230
Email:   weslowhiskey@direct.ca

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 7-9pm Britannia Community Centre – Learning Resource Room

Dahlia Israel and a second Facilitator for Women Against Violence Against Women will lead us in an exploration of the issues of sexual harassment – what it means, how it is experienced, the difference between welcome and unwelcome attention, and how we can be responsible as a community for ensuring a safe and respectful environment for all participants in our community events. As artists, volunteers and audience members we are affectionate, expressive and enthusiastic. We are also accountable for our actions and invested in ensuring freedom and safety in good balance. This workshop is intended to be the start of an ongoing discussion within our community, which in turn will lead to the development of guidelines for preventing and dealing with issues of sexual harassment.

The session is free of charge, but space is limited to 20 participants. Reserve your spot by emailing Sue McIntyre at mcsue@shaw.ca

THE VANCOUVER POETRY SLAM

http://www.myspace.com/vancouverpoetryslam

http://vancouverpoetryhouse.com/

CONTINUES

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CAFÉ DEUX SOLEILS: 2096 COMMERCIAL DRIVE

(5TH AND COMMERCIAL)

http://www.cafedeuxsoleils.com/

EVERY MONDAY OF THE MONTH

THE NEXT REGULAR SEASON POETRY SLAM

IS

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 29TH

FEATURING

VITAMIN F aka THE F-BOMB aka FERNANDO RAGUERO

Vancouver’s “everyman” poet Fernando Raguero spares no expense in his being direct with his poetry’s audience. He has the ability to amuse while offending, educate while mocking, and move you while making you gasp. His deadpan verbiage is akin to that of Bukowski’s, as is his use of the everyday happenstances in life for creating his art. He connects with all people on one level or another no matter how offended they may feign being. Raguero has graced stages across North America, sold thousands of his chapbooks to eager poetry lovers, and ventured out on to the limb of verse-battling veracity with the Vancouver Slam team. He is a local and national favorite fella amongst the teeming crowds of lovers, muffin farters, losers, and mirth-makers.

THIS WILL ALSO BE ANOTHER QUALIFYING SLAM

FOR POETS TO MAKE THE 2009 VAN SLAM TEAM PLAYOFFS

AND

THE WOMEN OF THE WORLD POETRY SLAM PLAYOFFS

COME STRUT YOUR STUFF

VAMP YOUR VERBS

AND WOW US WITH YOUR WORD PLAY

DOORS AND POET SIGN UP AT 8PM

OPEN MIC AT 8:45

SLAM STARTS AT 9 O’CLOCK

STILL ONLY $5

THE VANCOUVER POETRY SLAM

http://www.myspace.com/vancouverpoetryslam

http://vancouverpoetryhouse.com/

CONTINUES

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CAFÉ DEUX SOLEILS: 2096 COMMERCIAL DRIVE

http://www.cafedeuxsoleils.com/

(5TH AND COMMERCIAL)

EVERY MONDAY OF THE MONTH

THE NEXT POETRY SLAM

IS

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 15TH

FEATURING

JACK McCARTHY

http://www.standupoet.net/

Jack McCarthy calls himself a “standup poetry guy.” Others have called him “legend.” The Boston Phoenix named him “Best Standup Poet,” The Boston Globe said, “In the poetry world, he’s a rock star.” Poet Stephen Dobyns calls him, “one of the wonders of contemporary poetry.” He’s an engaging minor character in the film “Slamnation” and was a semifinalist for the Individual Slam Championship in 2000. His work appears in the anthologies “The Spoken Word Revolution,” “Poetry Slam,” and the very prestigious “Complete Idiot’s Guide to Slam Poetry.” His major book, “Say Goodnight, Grace Notes,” was released in 2003 to rave reviews. He now lives in Everett, Washington.

AND THE 2008 INDIVIDUAL WORLD POETRY SLAM PLAYOFF

WITH

THE SVELTE MS. SPELT, FAUST McKENZIE, ZACCHEUS JACKSON, DAVE MORRIS,

SEAN McGARRAGLE, VITAMIN F, JULIE PETERS, RC WESLOWSKI

THE WINNING POET WINS A TRIP TO CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

TO COMPETE IN THE 2008 INDIVIDUAL WORLD POETRY SLAM

DOORS AT 8PM

SLAM AT 9 O’CLOCK

$5 ADMISSION

THIS EVENT WILL SELL OUT.  ARRIVE EARLY FOR A GOOD SEAT.

604 818 5796 for more info

Dear Van Slam Family,

At the request of the Svelte Ms. Spelt and my co-slammaster Lisa Slater we will be changing the agenda for the meeting on September 10th at 6:30pm at the Grind Coffee House (4124 Main Street, Main & Kind Edward ave).

The new agenda items will include

a) a discussion on IWPS in December. Are we going to be sending a slammaster down for it?
b) an Updates on various workshops (the sexual harassment workshop)
c) our Win2 bout on October 24th and/or trip to trip to the bay on October 24th
and
d) the “Code of Honour” and rules committee proposal, explanation, Q&A and voting, which will be presented by Angus and Lisa.

I realize that some of you had wanted to talk about CFSW in Calgary and other have expressed interest in talking about the Friday Night Words series and still other had questions about our financial picture. I also realize that this last minute change in agenda may deter some of you from coming to the meeting.

I completely understand but would encourage you to come out to meetings in the future and hope that if you’re curious about something not currently being discussed at the meeting then you will approach/email me about it and I will do my best to explain what the slam is doing and why.

Sincerely,

“National” Slammaster
Sean McGarragle