Messages

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General Discussion / Re: NPS 2012 needs YOU to make our "I Am POETRY" campaign a success!!

« on: June 25, 2012, 10:12:47 AM »

As an addendum:

Most videos taken from cell phone camera or digital video camera will be too large to attach and send to a gmail account.  You can still send it to iampoetrynps@gmail.com using a large file transfer service like filemail.com or yousendit.com  The process should be relatively straightforward.

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General Discussion / Re: BNV vs NPS Question

« on: April 30, 2010, 08:49:44 AM »

That is not true.

All NPS competitors need to be 18, but BNV allows poets up to 19 I think.  So the window of 18 & 19 year olds can do both.  It has happened before I know.  Also, PSI doesn't keep track of who was in BNV.  Separate organization and all.

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General Discussion / Re: group piece showcase---selection process

« on: March 22, 2010, 12:30:36 AM »

also the fact that a team can bypass semis to be in group piece showcase is frankly a bunch of bs---we know we cannot win semis so lets try to get some cash in the group piece thing is not making poetry the point it is makin cash the point---IT IS AN HONOR TO GET TO SEMIS NOT TO BE TREADED LIGHHTLY ON

Jason,
   I assume that this specific comment is directed at my team, the only team to ever consciously drop out of  semi-finals to enter group piece finals.  Since you chose NOT to ask and only made assumptions of profiteering on the part of my team, allow me to make effort to clarify for you.

  My team did not make the decision lightly.  As one of only two teams to pull a rank of 3 last year (2008) and NOT make semi-finals, Loser Slam was particularly devastated to see the list of top 20 teams. This year we achieved a total rank of 3 again and were excited but extremely cautious about getting our hopes up. We requested to be put in group piece finals shortly before knowing if we were in Semi Finals.

  The night prior we sat as a team in our hotel room and I proposed the idea of bowing out of Semi's (we had a 1 after the first night of prelims, and were considering the “what if” scenario).  My argument was this.  We had four more individual poems to offer in Semi’s.  Many of the poems were pieces we were not fully excited about.  As a slam scene, our team members make an oath to only bring pieces we wrote during the current year. We like our slam team to represent the writers they are currently and not try to win on old signatures.  However, two of my poets were rookies so that wasn’t an issue.

  I told my team members that as their coach my most important goal was not winning, it was giving them (particularly my rookies) the opportunity to meet and get to know this wonderful community of poets that exist at the national poetry slam scene; to give them exposure and let them become a part of this community.  The first night of prelims we earned a rank of 1 but also earned some minor popularity as the unknown team that beat out Charlotte, the two year National winner.  It was a little bit of notice.  We would have not beaten Charlotte without the group piece “Hype Man”; a poem I was in love with, and that was now getting some buzz at Nationals.
 
  We had an additional group piece, “Baldwin” that poked some satiric fun at group pieces (ironically) that we were really excited to share with the community.  So we were faced with a dilemma.  We could potentially get into Semi Finals and do some poems that we were not excited about, or enter into group piece finals and let our community of friends hear the poem we were becoming known for, and the poem we were excited to share with them.  We knew that group piece finals would have a greater audience of poets and peers than any semi would.  It was an extremely tough decision.  All members of the team were extremely competitive slam poets. But we realized that winning was less important than sharing the poems we were excited about and introducing our rookies to the greatest community of poets that I know.
 
  We honestly never expected to place at Group Piece Finals.  Honestly, until Deb Marsh handed me a check, I forgot that Group Piece Finals even paid. We were just excited about the poems we did;  Even if they were “half-ass written language”. 

Congrats on your Executive Council appointment.  So good to see you at WOWPS.

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General Discussion / Re: Limerick Slam at IWPS?

« on: October 03, 2009, 08:49:27 AM »

I've hosted the limerick slam at NYC Urbana.  I'd be happy to host this one on some given night.  As long as (unlike Urbana) some random drunk audience member I heckled earlier doesn't decide to try to strangle me on my way to my car. I'll contact Nazellah today if folks really want this.

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General Discussion / Re: NaNoWriMo Slammers?

« on: November 26, 2008, 07:26:40 PM »

I put up window trim around my house.  I'm about 17 words in.  You guys amaze me.  In a painful kind of way.  Good luck.  Happy thanksgiving!

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General Discussion / Re: see you in charlotte?

« on: November 15, 2008, 11:48:41 AM »

Joaquin is crashing at my house today on his way to Massachusettes tonight.  He's on the list of competitors so I'm gonna take him down at the knees when he gets in the driveway.  Nothing like starting the healthy competition early to edge your chances at IWPS.  Sorry Billy, one less poet will be there this year.  I missed my chance to shank you in the living room two weeks ago.  ya slippery fellow!

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General Discussion / Re: Slammers Breaking Through

« on: November 09, 2008, 09:08:44 AM »

Darian Dauchan from New York has been doing some television work in the New York area. Had a few speaking lines in an episode of Law & Order and has been hosting some stuff for Nickelodeon, though at this time in the morning I can't remember the details.

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General Discussion / Re: Brooklyn, Stand UP!! OH,FL,NM,CO,AZ,MO, AND VA TOO!!

« on: November 09, 2008, 09:03:08 AM »

congratulations Jared.  Thanks for helping take New Hampshire.  You kinda lost me at Camp chikakee but I'm always overwhelmed and impressed with your enthusiasm.  You've been kinda busy haven't you Mr. Paul?

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General Discussion / Re: In Honor of President Obama and All Americans

« on: November 09, 2008, 08:58:22 AM »

Someone posting poetry on the poetry slam forums... how dare they.  I mean we've got important debating to do about the difference between a haiku and senryu or something.  but, egad poetry!!!

Thanks Gene'. 
Here's hoping more poets get fired up about writing with these new times.

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General Discussion / Re: how's business?

« on: November 09, 2008, 08:53:05 AM »

Jersey is growing.  We recently changed venues, changed dates and changed times, so this has been a bit of a rebuilding year for us.  However, we're back to bringing in a solid crowd and I'm pleased/concerned that we might outgrow the venue before long.  We keep asking them to tear down a support wall, but they're being a little difficult about it! BUT IT"S FOR POETRY!

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General Discussion / Re: Slamming for money vs for fun/arts sake

« on: September 11, 2008, 08:00:07 AM »

I slam to get the attention of girls.  And it's worth more than you can imagine! 

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General Discussion / Re: NPS 2009 will be in...

« on: August 30, 2008, 09:22:59 AM »

I would like to say that I was in West Palm Beach for two days this summer and saw two alligators in that time.  Most importantly, I'd like to ask what Chris is doing to make sure that New Jersey poets will not be eaten by alligators. Should that be on the contract.  I'm not sure who our 09 team will be but I can name 7 of our poets who are particularly delicious to alligators.  If something's not done then look forward to me protesting bouts.  My team can't do flamboyant arm motions during their group pieces if they're missing appendages.  It's just not fair.

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General Discussion / Re: An open letter re:Ching chong accents, midget samurais, yadda yadda

« on: August 16, 2008, 06:25:46 PM »

Johnny,

It has been suggested by some that my initial support of Jayson and his concerns was the catalyst for all of this hostility.  I apologize to you for that.  Understand that you will occasionally write poems that you think are making a valid point and using a clever extended metaphor to do so (in this case kung fu films) and it falls on deaf ears, simply for the fact that it comes off reminiscint of an all too frequent stereotype that people react to with quick oppositions.  In my own confession, I've offended lots of people. I've made petty oh-so-clever homophobic jabs in poems that were unnecessary, attacked fellow poets for my own amusement, and even managed to criticize christianity in Texas.  We do these things and then it occurs to us the total wrong message we didnt' realize we were sending. I recall saying outloud to myself alone in a room "I'm not a homophobe, I'm clever". It's not a rookie mistake, veterans do it all the time as well.  I want to say thank you for taking all these jabs at your character and threats of bodily harm with humility and understanding.  I can't speak on behalf of Jayson, but I respect that you had the decency to confront your accusers and admit these accidental interpretations. Understand that things always work better in your home venue because people know you and appreciate that your not a racist.

Lastly, in all sincerity, I had no intention of booing.  But often when I hear things that could be taken as stereotyping,  the politically correct superhero in my head wants to jump into action and do.... something politically correct (although most of the time I'm the least politically correct poet in the room).  It's a shame really because so quickly I lose sight of what the poem is actually about. But what are you supposed to do when someone says something that you may think was kind of offensive?  Like...egad....talk to them?!?!

Johnny, continue to keep writing, and performing.  I've spoken to every high profile poet you know and they have all told me about their horrific "booed off stage" moment, even myself (which is not to be misconstrued as suggesting I think I'm a high profile poet, I was just trying to empathize.)

Be well.  And talk to Corbet Dean about the number of people who hated him just for doing poems about being a cop.  People are douche's!

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General Discussion / Re: An open letter re:Ching chong accents, midget samurais, yadda yadda

« on: August 13, 2008, 12:47:04 PM »

Jason,

I was quite suprised by some of the same things (I recall being at the same bout), and was suprised no one said anything as well.  I'm not sure what would have been said, or what action was supposed to be taken, but I agree with you that in effort to attempt humor, people often resort to the stereotypical.  It's ironic that it happens in this community, but understand that it's often difficult for people to know what action to take. I myself considered booing but resisted as not to criticize someone's poetic effort, regardless of my personal distaste. 

I think what's important is that you said something; maturely, understandingly and respectfully.  It's allowing other's to hear your feelings and opinions in a sensible manner that will do the most good. In response, I agree with you.  And though some may take it overtly politically correct, I was turned off by the jokes or impersonations and was suprised that the judges scored it so well.  But we live in a country that denies it prejudices but laughs at Borat.

I think the best thing I can say is, it didn't go unnoticed, even if some of the Poetry Slam community did not respond or brushed it off as just in poor taste.  But continue to stand up and be outspoken about these things.  Someone always should.  For the poets and slammaster's reading this.  Be conscious of what your poets bring to Nationals.  What might be incidental humor in your community is not necessarily considerate and respectful to the poetry community at large.  And beside's it's just bad slam strategy to not play it safe.

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General Discussion / Re: What are some "Don't Miss" things in Madison?

« on: June 23, 2008, 07:10:06 PM »

Who said anything about bathing suits....  have you checked the link!?