Ray McNiece to feature in february

We just got a confirmation that Ray McNiece from Boston will feature at the February Slam (February 15, 2006)!

Feature for April: Selah Geissler!

I just received confirmation that we have a feature for April's slam: Selah Geissler from Hawaii. Here's some of her info:

...three time grand slam champ at First Thursday's in Honolulu - the largest registered slam
...HawaiiSlam team member since 2003 - competed in the NPS semi-finals in 2005
...co-host of re:verses, a monthly event featuring poets followed by an open mic and, once in a while, we slam
...performer for GirlFest Hawaii 2004 & 2005, an annual womyn's festival benefit
...host of hawaii's first GirlSlam during GirlFest 05 -- we featured Rachel Kann, Bridget Grey, Andrea Gibson and Mush
...scheduled to perform for GirlFest Bay Area 2006 at Berkeley
...give free writing and expression workshops at a drop-in center for homeless teens on the island
...affiliated with Youth Speaks, Hawaii Chapter -- free poetry workshops for teens and a monthly teen slam
...featured in "HawaiiSlam: Poetry in Paradise," a documentary on Hawaii's first team at nationals

As far as I know, she doesn't have a website, but if I find out she does, I'll post it.

Laterz,

Michael

reflections on december "slam"

So, we didn't have quite the turnout for a slam in December as we'd hoped. This is understandable, since students are on break and such, but Colin hosted an open mic, which I think went stupendously. It was totally rad, with some awesome poetry, and I think some people shared who normally wouldn't have. It was a great night overall, and I'll admit it, I'm a bit tipsy (tipsier than I should be for driving to my office to blog right now!).

Just FYI, yes, the slam is moving to the Third Wednesday of the Month! Check out the sidebar for dates and such!

See y'all for the fourth slam (since this one didn't actually count, I guess) in January. It'll be semi-finals for the finals in March. Nine slots are filled from the September and October slams (if they all show). The other slots (up to 12 total slammers) will be filled in by sign-up that night (first come, first serve). Those who are definitely slamming in January include:

1. Brian D
2. Sam R
3. Lisa T
4. Marietta
5. Eric N.
6. Hub
7. Ed
8. Three
9. Ajai

Of course, if some of thoe don't show, their slots go to people who sign up.

Those who have definite slots in February:

1. Brian D.
2. Eric
3. Mike P
4. Hubb
5. Jerry

And then filling in for slots up to 12, of course.

Top five from January and top five from February (excluding duplicates) will slam in March to make the Corvallis team! Bitchin!!!!

So, sorry tonight wasn't a real slam, but I think Colin did an excellent job of hosting an open mic, and yes, Keith, I am blogging about the slam not the day before! Yay!

negligent blogging

Hey y'all!

Sorry we've been negligent on the blogging about the slam and such - what a busy quarter it's been! But it's over, and tonight is the 4th volume of the Pints and Poetry Slam! As Colin said in the previous post, come and enjoy, because this is Wes's last slam for six months (he'll be in Mexico), and he and Iovino's have been awesome in supporting art and poetry in Corvallis. So come, have a $2 pint or other drink, and enjoy or share some poetry.

Since I never posted the winners of Volume 3, here are the top five from November's slam:

1. Brian D.
2. Eric
3. Mike P
3. Hubb
3. Jerry

Those top five are guaranteed spots in the second Semi-Finals in January.

So, here's how forming a Corvallis Poetry Slam Team for Nationals (in August) is going to work:

• The top five poets from each of the September and October slams will have automatic slots in the Semi-Final Round 1 Slam in January. The remaining slots (max of 12 poets in a slam) will be filled that night in January.
  
• The top five poets from each of the November and December slams will have automatic slots in the Semi-Final Round 2 Slam in February. The remaining slots (max of 12 poets in a slam) will be filled that night in February.
  
• The top five poets from each of the Semi-Final Rounds (in January and February) will go to the finals in March.
  
• The top four or five poets from the March slam will comprise the Corvallis Pints and Poetry Slam Team! (if they want to, of course, but who wouldn't!)
  

We'll probably have to start fundraising for the national slam team soon because going to nationals is hella expensive, so if you have fundraising ideas, feel free to comment or email us (or if you wanna be a fund-helper, email us too!)

Oh, and Wes informed me last week that the slam will probably be moving to the third Wednesday of the month in January, but I'll post here to let y'all know for sure.

Hope to see you tonight!

Michael

Alright kids! Tomorrow night's slam will be fun and awesome as usual, even if it seems like it's being done at the last minute (which it isnt). There is some bittersweetness, however, because Wes, the events coordinator over at Iovino's is leaving. This is his last onth in the states before travelling across mexico in a van with a bunch of music and recording equipment. Since it's Wes' las chance to be at a slam, I hope crazy people come out to show love and support to Wes, Iovino's and the Pints and Poetry series as a key founding force is taken away.

We'll miss you Wes.

Peace, Pints, and Poetry!

-- Colin

Here's a promo flyer fr the Pints and Potery Slam Series at Iovino's. It has the upcoming dates for the next few slams, as well as a couple of projected exhibition or other kind of slam/poetry readings after the finals in March. Download it and print it out. Use it as a desktop image. Use it a Birdcage lining. But be sure to check it out.

Peace, Pints and Poetry!

-Colin