If a poet gets naked on stage, is that a costume?

[sue]

Or, if a poet gets partially naked, and is wearing interesting underwear, or, anyways, underwear that ties in with the poem somehow, is that a costume if the poet says that he/she wears that underwear all the time?

These questions are not facetious, although I have no personal, immediate plans to get down to skivvies (or less) on stage. I am interested on how a host, or the rules committee might rule on this.

[Duncan Shields]

As I understand it, if the poet refers directly to and/or touches the specific underwear in question, it's a prop.  I think.

[Lisa]

The poet wears clothes on stage. If, at any point, those clothes are altered, referred to, etc, that makes those clothes a costume. It's the reason that a tattoo can never be a prop - it can't be taken off. It's a given, as it were.

Also, a poet can be disqualified if it's decided that removing the clothing, using a costume, etc, enhances the performance. Otherwise, if it was unintentional and doesn't enhance the performance, it's a 2 point deduction.

[sue]

So if a poet walks onstage naked, that's okay?

[Son of Mallin]

Not exactly: I believe there's a separate no-nudity rule to combat that tactic.

Where it gets ambiguous for me is when to accept an alteration of clothing: if, for instance, a coat is taken off because you're too damned hot up there, that might be okay: but if you make a show of taking off said coat, no go. There was a poet once who got up on stage, put up their hood, and then did a poem about being a hoodie: bad poet. Bad poet. No beer. However, if they're always seen with the hoodie up (and we're talking Kenny from South Park here), and it was up the whole night, that's okay. These might seem like subtle differences, but they determine intent (or lack thereof) to artificially enhance the poem.

[Lisa]

They would have to be regularly naked, all the time, everywhere - ie, for the entire show, and also for other shows.. It becomes a prop if it's used specifically for performance. So, a no-nudity rule wouldn't apply at a nudist colony, for instance.

[sue]

Okay, I got it. Thanks friends!

[Kimothy]

Hmmm...yeah, we had someone get naked before they stepped up to the stage at the Queer Slam this last year. I think we were all a little *wtf?* and just let it be- don't think the guy was slamming. Nonetheless, I was not a fan, his penis made a little to much contact with the mic stand for my comfort. I should be able to make a choice of whether I want to see your junk.