We’re hiring a Slam Coordinator

The position will be open until filled. We will review applications on July 16, 2021.

Description

The Slam Coordinator oversees VanSlam, a Vancouver Poetry House weekly open mic and spoken word event at Café Deux Soleils on Commercial Drive in East Vancouver. The Slam Coordinator has strong interpersonal skills, coordinates with hosts, performers, volunteers, technicians and restaurant staff, managing the event in a lively environment. Outside the Monday-night event, the Slam Coordinator oversees scores and helps with social media and marketing. Booking performers is done in coordination with the Artistic Director with a focus on diversity and equity.

This position reports to the Artistic Director.  This is a one-year renewable contract position paying $800 a month for total compensation of $9,600. The time commitment is equivalent to one day per week.

Responsibilities

Event Curation
The Slam Coordinator will book feature poets and hosts and curate themed events. We anticipate that most events will consist of an open mic, a slam competition and a feature poet but the Slam Coordinator will have latitude in developing the event series with the Artistic Director. 

Slam Competition Management
The Slam Coordinator will keep track of competing poets’ scores throughout the season. For each evening competition is held the Slam Coordinator will find judges and timekeepers in the audience. 

Event setup
Each Monday will begin at 8pm and conclude at 11:30pm. The Slam Coordinator will set up the stage for the evening with the help of volunteers and the sound technician. This requires some lifting of equipment such as mic stands and a portable ramp. Equipment is stored at the venue between events.

Cash handling
The Slam Coordinator is in charge of the cashbox used by volunteers at the door. The Slam Coordinator will hand out prize money to completing slam poets.

Qualifications

  • Our business cards say more poetry to more people in more places. We are an organization that celebrates Spoken Word. You must have familiarity with the larger Spoken Word community, its art form, and its practices.
  • You will need to be located in the Lower Mainland to do this job.
  • You will need to come with ideas for the future, and basic knowledge of what Vancouver Poetry House values and promotes.
  • You must demonstrate the skills you bring that will allow you to book events with an emphasis on diversity
  • Performance skills are an asset
  • Strong written and spoken communication skills are an asset
  • Strong organization skills are an asset
  • Leadership skills are an asset
  • Social media skills are an asset

What to Send the Hiring Committee

Something that tells us you understand and meet the requirements for the position. It can be a resume, or it can be something else.

Email ONE pdf file titled “yourname.pdf” to hiring@vancouverpoetryhouse.com

References will be requested at the online interview.

What happens next

We will collect all applications and contact successful applicants to set up online interviews. We will review the applications on July 16.

 

Vancouver Poetry House Statement of Values

Participatory and Cooperative

Vancouver Poetry House is a member-driven organization. We work to reduce barriers to literary art so that we can ensure accessibility and full participation for the communities we serve. We value diversity and the array of knowledge that different life experiences bring.

Social Justice and Community

We value respectful dialogue, attempt to resolve conflict and misunderstandings in ways that respect each individual’s lived experience and act to build bridges of communication across misunderstandings. We nurture healthy, sustainable environments for the arts to thrive. We challenge systems of oppression through sharing the health-bringing arts to the wider community and by offering a place of solace and sharing to anyone who attends or takes part in our programs.

Professionalism in the Arts

We seek to develop and share myriad skills essential to living a sustainable life as an artist. VPH seeks to provide opportunities to build skills that help members fulfil their capacity for artistic development and career goals.

Vision

A sustainable literary arts community rooted in social justice where new creativity can grow from old forms