1. Start a Poetry Club

If you’re a student, talk to your loudmouth friends, talk to your word-nerd friends, talk to your secretly-writing-poetry-in-the-back-of-their-binder friends. Show them some YouTube videos of slam poetry. Form a club, open to everyone at the school, and start having meetings to share your words. If you can get a teacher on board, even better!
If you’re a teacher, organize a poetry open mic in the library at lunch for students to read their work. Show your students videos of slam poets. Encourage collaboration and make it open to all. This is a chance for your students to tell their stories.

2. WriteWriteWrite, PracticePracticePractice

Get inspired and let your imagination run wild. Tell stories that matter to you. Rewriting and editing is crucial to making your poem the best it can possibly be. Memorizing your poem can make for a more dramatic, engaging performance. All your practicing will shine through when it comes time to get in front of the microphone.
Once you feel comfortable reading at your club, you could organize a poetry café at school to present your work, or perform at assemblies. Check out open mics around the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island to practice your work.  It could be at the Vancouver Poetry Slam, Slam UBC or Slamapalooza at Kwantlen University.

3. Choose Your Team & Register!

Hullabaloo teams consist of 3 to 6 poets aged 13 to 18. If your poetry club has more than six eager students, you’ll need to figure out how to choose a team. Or if you have enough, you can try to register a second team!

To register, simply fill out this Google form. Have questions? Get in touch with us at wordplay@vancouverpoetryhouse.com.

4. Perform!

Ok, it’s four steps, but this step is so much fun, it barely counts. We promise to create a super-positive and supportive atmosphere for you to display your poetic awesomeness. There will be group cheers for the whole audience. We will boo the judges (we always do, then we remind everyone that we can’t have a slam without them). We will emphasize camaraderie over competition. There’ll be t-shirts, prizes, surprises and festival spirit galore!
Whether you come as a performer or a spectator, this is one poetry event you won’t want to miss!

Have more questions?

Totally understandable. Just contact the Youth Coordinator for more information at wordplay@vancouverpoetryhouse.com