Two likely obvious questions. And yet, I am uncertain.

[Risssa]

I have spent a bit of time reading through the forum and website and I have a question.

Background: I see there is a of information on the rules, process and information about competing. And there are open mic portions

Question #1: Are their beginners nights?  "Be gentle, I am a virgin" [slam virgin] nights?

Question #2: Are there non-competing nights besides the open mic section?  Slammin' for the sake of slammin'?

Thanks

[Chris Gilpin]

Hi Risssa,

There is an open mic portion before each slam at Café Deux Soleils, but if you're looking for an open mic show, you're best bet would be Thundering Word or Twisted Poets or the Hogan's Alley Poetry Series. There are details about these other series here:

http://www.pandorascollective.com/what-we-do/events

You can also search for them on facebook.

I like your idea of having a Beginner's Night for poets who want to get their feet wet, but we don't have anything like that yet. Something like this could be the Alt Slams that happen irregularly. They are less competitive than the regular slam and revolve around different themes. Keep an eye out on our calendar for the next one.

Other than that, I guess I would say that we encourage and welcome all styles and voices at the poetry slam. It can be intimidating to get up there, but it is a very supportive audience. Go for it!

[RCW]

Rissa

As to question #1 the Youth Slam is a good place to start (if you are between 13-22) as we have a lot of first time poets taking the stage in both the poetry open mic and the poetry slam portion of the evening.

But as Chris mentioned the Cafe Deux Soleils crowd is usually pretty supportive to new poets...the judges aren't always that way but everyone else is!