IWPS News

[Stefan Sencerz]

Just a moment ago (Sept 17, Th) I was able to make a reservation for a room (two double-beds). The trick was to talk with the reservation folks on the phone -- 866-466-9199 (tall free) or 510-845-7300.

See you soon. 

[charlesellik]

Folks--

--If you'd like to download a high-res copy of our poster, we have that on the home page of our ever-expanding and incredibly informative website!
http://iwps.poetryslam.com

--Use it, or pieces of it wherever you want to help promote the event.  Notice my new user icon, for example! 

--If you email me with specs, I can get you web-ready graphics to drop into your website.  Support the organization that supports your chosen art form!  And besides, our poster-boy Jason Bayani is just plain purty.

[charlesellik]

--Oh, did I mention that DC Comics is going to provide shwag for the poets' bags?  We're hoping for Green Lantern rings!  We're also talking to Image Comics and a couple other imprints.  Poet CD.com, Manic D Press, and Burrows Ink are all going to provide product for the goodie bags.  Our Director of Hospitality, Nazelah, promises that we will have he BEST GOODIE BAGS EVER!  She's now working on a naughty battery-operated toy sponsor.

--Bake Sale Betty is gonna give us breakfast goodies.  If you KNEW how DELISH their brownies are, then you would understand why our committee gave a collective cheer when Tatyana announced this!  The Starry Plough will provide pizza, and Cafe Valparaiso will serve up Chilean food... for... FREE!  Trader Joe's is sponsoring the Poet's BBQ!   Wash it all down with beer from Faultline Brewery!  Basically, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and (some) drink will be provided for poets, staff, and volunteers. 

[dlhoratio]

Is it necessary for competing poets to arrive on Wednesday?  Or is bout draw/registration on Thursday?

[Steve]

We strongly recommend Wednesday arrival, and bouts will be preset. But poets will draw into the schematic on Thursday morning. There will be early registration on Wednesday and Regular registration and orientation on Thursday.

[charlesellik]

GREAT NEWS!

Knowing how tough it is for poets to raise funds to go to IWPS, and for volunteers to take time off work to help, we've sought food sponsors.  We've had great success!  Volunteers and Poets will have free food available ALL DAY both days of Prelims!  Of course it is limited quantities, but we've contracted enough for 100 people. 

Cafe Valparaiso and Starry Plough are providing lunch.  Starry Plough will also serve pizza for dinner.  PLUS, we've now confirmed Bakesale Betty's as a BREAKFAST sponsor!  Yes, that means that we'll have food for Breakfast, Lunch AND Dinner on both Thursday and Friday during IWPS!

But it gets BETTER!  We're in final negotiations with a local market to provide the goods for our Poets' BBQ on Saturday!  THIS food is available to ANYONE with a Festival Pass, Poet, Volunteer, OR Staff Pass! 

That means food for poets all three days!  And GOOD food, too!

[charlesellik]

Folks--

--The East Bay's largest free weekly newspaper just signed on as a major sponsor.  the East Bay Express.  Full color half page ads leading up to the event, web banner ads, and editor's picks in the works.

[charlesellik]

Gotpoetry.com will run a front-page spread on IWPS 09 next week.  They and the East Bay Express have put our web ad into heavy rotation.  WHOO!

[charlesellik]

We finalized our deal with Trader Joe's to supply enough food and drink for TWO-HUNDRED people!!!  Folks, you do NOT want to miss the Poet's BBQ!  This means we will have at least one free meal for poets on all three days of IWPS.

[charlesellik]

For the first time ever, there will be a Slam Bingo card on the inside back cover of the Festival Guide.

[TSPrunier]

For the first time ever, there will be a Slam Bingo card on the inside back cover of the Festival Guide.

Outstanding. Hope it becomes a staple at all PSi events, instead of the underground thing it's been.

No job/money. Will miss all of you. Please toss inspiration into the jet stream for my broke ass in Virginia.

TSP

[charlesellik]

We finalized our deal with Trader Joe's to supply enough food and drink for TWO-HUNDRED people!!!  Folks, you do NOT want to miss the Poet's BBQ!  This means we will have at least one free meal for poets on all three days of IWPS.

Oh yeah!  At the Poets' BBQ there will be a live a concert featuring Phroahe Monch, Kev Choice & Linda Tillery Heritage Choir!  PLUS a B-Boy Battle, Graffiti Battle, and much more!  Thanks to our partners, Youth Speaks and the Living Word Project.    http://livingwordproject.org

[charlesellik]

The Original Woman
Theo Wilson
Alvin Lau
Amy Everheart
William Evans
Kim Johnson
Iyeoka Ivie Okoawo
Tara Hardy
Sierra DeMulder
Rudy Francisco
6 is 9
Ed Mabrey

These are the top 12 poets going to Finals. There is an even gender split. Our sacrificial poets will be the #13 ranked poet, Ayinde Russel and TBA. We'll open the night with a showcase of multi-voice poems by Bay Area teams, the Youth Slam winner, and our posterboy, Jason Bayani.

[Buddy_Wakefield]

Is there anywhere online tonight we can watch this live?

[Detroitphoenix]

Shout out to Will Evans!  I hope you smash it for the midwest!  I love you and good luck!

~phoenix