With few noted exceptions, SLAMs are held at Fozzie’s BBQ in Bemidji at 114 3rd St NW, Bemidji, MN.

Music begins at 6:00; performances at 7pm. Call Watermark 218-444-7570 if you’d like to pre-register to guarantee a performance spot. Register on site as space allows. Please limit your performance to 3 minutes or less so there is time for all who want to perform.

No fee to perform. No fee to watch.

HOW DOES A SLAM WORK? (the rules)

A poetry slam is a competitive art event in which poets perform spoken word poetry before a live audience and a panel of judges. Poets are not required to memorize their poems and are welcome to use notes.

While formats can vary, slams are often loud and lively, with audience participation, cheering and dramatic delivery.

Poets should prepare three original SLAM! poems – one for each round, new in the last three years, never previously performed at a state or local event, and each under three minutes reading time.

Judges, selected from the audience, give each reading a score on a scale of 1 to 10.  The poets with highest scores advance to a second, then third round. The top three in the final round of a regular slam win cash prizes. Prize money varies.