Watermark Poetry SLAM at Fozzies

SLAMs are held at Fozzie’s BBQ in Bemidji at 114 3rd St, Bemidji, MN. Sign in begins at 6:30; performances at 7pm. Call Watermark 218-444-7570 if you’d like to pre-register to perform. No fee to perform. No fee to watch.

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, 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 move forward to a second, then third round. The top three in the final round win cash prizes of $100, $75, and $50. Additional prize money may be distributed if available.